Dinas Station
| Dinas Station | |||||||||
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 Bleasdale photograph of Dinas Station building, looking from the Portmadoc direction, 1887 | |||||||||
| Type | Former terminus staion | ||||||||
| Status | Closed, no trace remains | ||||||||
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| Stations | Locations | Bridges | Tunnels | Map | |||||||||
- This article is about the original terminus of the FR in Blaenau Ffestiniog. For the NWNGR/WHR station see Dinas Junction
Dinas was the original 1836 terminus of the Festiniog Railway situated near the hamlet of Rhiwbryfdir. Originally the end of the mainline the line here was later downgraded to a branch after the opening of the line to Duffws.
History[edit]
Dinas Station opened for passengers on 5 January 1865[1], the initial service was five trains to and from Portmadoc each day except Sunday.[2]
In 1866 the FR opened the new branch line to Duffws, nearer to the centre of the town.[3][4][5] Trains from Portmadoc alternated between the two stations,[6] but Duffws was better sited for passenger traffic,[7] so Dinas closed in 1870, probably in August or September.[8] Slate traffic to the Dinas station area nevertheless continued well into the 20th Century.[9]
In 1899 the branch leading to the station was diverted to allow slate waste tipping on the original formation.
The station building here was an impressive stone construction combining the station offices and a two story locomotive shed. The engine shed long outlived the station, finally closing in 1900, when it was replaced by a new building at Glan y Pwll.[10] The original shed housed the railway's Top Shunter.[11]
The station building and goods shed survived until at least 1961[12] and their position is still visible.
Station Staff[edit]
The station's first stationmaster was Mr John Lloyd.[13]
In 1872 the station staff were :-
- Henry (Thomas?) Cooke, Station Master
- Ellis Griffith, Oilman
- Thomas Manley, Wagon Inspector
- Job Owen, Demurrage, Clerk
- John Price, Signalman at junction
- Samuel Parkins, Shunting Driver
- John Griffith, Shunting Stoker
The station continued to be staffed (at a reduced level) until about 1900.
Gallery[edit]
-
Holland's 1839 incline connecting his Cesail Quarry with the Festiniog Railway at Dinas -
The Princess at Dinas
Date: c1878. Photo: Unknown -
The site of Dinas Station in 2013, the large rock outcrop can be seen behind the station building in the Bleasdale photo at the top of the page.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Richard Maund "Blaenau Ffestiniog's Festiniog Railway passenger stations in the pre-preservation era", Festiniog Railway Heritage Group Journal, Issue 156, page(s): 36
- ^ Boyd 1975, p. 84.
- ^ Stretton 1999, p. 76.
- ^ Boyd 1975, pp.120, 136 & 156 and Plate 11R.
- ^ Boyd 1988, p. 66.
- ^ "Triangular junction: bear left for Dinas (FR), swing right for Duffws". Google.
- ^ Richards 2001, p. 63.
- ^ Richard Maund "Blaenau Ffestiniog's Festiniog Railway passenger stations in the pre-preservation era", Festiniog Railway Heritage Group Journal, Issue 156, page(s): 37
- ^ Scott-Morgan 1978, p. 63.
- ^ Griffiths & Smith 1999, p. 194.
- ^ Boyd 1975, Plate 6H.
- ^ Llandudno – Blaenau Ffestiniog by D M U in 1961. YouTube. 1961. Event occurs at 7:08. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ^ Boyd 1975, p. 82.
