Template:Featured picture/April 2013
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After the Festiniog & Blaenau Railway had come under Great Western control and been converted to standard gauge there was a problem at Tan-y-Manod where there was not enough space for a trans-shipment yard for the traffic from the quarrry there. The solution was to install an end-loading dock where narrow gauge wagons from the quarry could be run on to transporter wagons and taken to Blaenau Ffestiniog where they could be unloaded into GWR standard-gauge wagons for despatch. The GWR built their own slate wagons for this traffic. They were generally similar to the FR 2-tonners but differed in points of detail. Several survive, and until December 2011 two (44 and 59) were on display with Hudson-Hunslet loco 2207 in Blaenau Ffestiniog on the site of the mineral lines at Duffws station. The loco was cosmetically refurbished and returned to Duffws in October 2012 but with two different wagons (genuine FR examples), now in a slightly different location. Photo credit: George Cash |