Fairbourne Railway

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Fairbourne Railway
Official Crest of the railway
Location
Place Flag of Wales Wales
Terminus Fairbourne and Barmouth Ferry
Commercial Operations
Name Fairbourne Miniature Railway
Built by Narrow Gauge Railways Ltd
Gauge 15 in (381 mm)
Preserved Operations
Operated by Fairbourne Railway Limited, supported by Fairbourne Railway Preservation Society
Stations 2 and 4 halts
Length 2 miles
Gauge 1895-1916: 2 ft (610 mm)
1916-1986: 15 in (381 mm)
1986-Present: 12¼ in (311 mm)
Commercial History
Opened 1895
Closed 1940
Preservation History
1925 Arrival of Bassett-Lowke locomotive Count Louis
1927 Brief period of dual gauge operation (15 and 18ins)
1935 First Internal Combustion locomotive Whippit Quick arrives.
1947 Purchased and re-opened by John Wilkins
1959 Fairbourne Station expanded
1976 Line extended to its present length
1984 Purchased by John Ellerton and regauged to 12¼ in (311 mm)
1995 Purchased by Professor Tony Atkinson and Dr Roger Melton
2006 Fairbourne Railway Supporter's Association becomes Fairbourne Railway Preservation Society

The Fairbourne Railway is a 12¼ in (311 mm) gauge miniature railway running for 2 miles from the village of Fairbourne on the Mid-Wales coast, alongside the beach to the end of a peninsula at Barmouth Ferry where there is a connection with a pedestrian ferry across the Mawddach estuary to the seaside resort of Barmouth (Welsh: Abermaw). [1]

Contents

[edit] History

Train between Loop Halt and Estuary Halt.
Train between Loop Halt and Estuary Halt.

The line has provided a service between Fairbourne village and Penrhyn Point since 1895 opening as 2 ft (610 mm) gauge horse-drawn construction tramway. It was converted in 1916 to 15 in (381 mm) gauge, and again to its present gauge in 1986. Originally built to carry building materials, the railway has carried holidaymakers for over a hundred years. At its peak in the 1970s it was carrying in excess of 70,000 passengers a year. [2]

[edit] The Early days - Fairbourne Tramway

Following the construction of the Cambrian Coast Line in 1865 and the completion of the Barmouth Bridge in 1867 there were lavish schemes to develop the area for tourism, the area being easily accessible to day-trippers and weekend visitors from the Midlands. [3]

There were several horse drawn construction tramway in the area serving the Henddol Quarry above the neighbouring village of Friog. The tramway that was used to construct the Fairbourne village soon introduced passenger cars to transport people to the ferry station.

[edit] The Pioneering Days - Fairbourne Miniature Railway

The line was converted to a 15 inch gauge steam railway in 1916 by Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke of Narrow Gauge Railways Ltd (NGR)They were keen to promote tourism in the area. The railway played an important part in the development of the 15 inch gauge railways in the UK. Services were operated by Bassett Lowke Class 10 locomotive Prince Edward of Wales designed by Henry Greenly and passengers were conveyed in four open top carriages.

The railway had mixed fortunes during the inter war years and went through a series of changes in ownership. At one time it was leased to the ferrymen. The railway experienced motive power problems and at one stage experimented with dual gauge track after purchasing an 18 in (457 mm) gauge locomotive. This was a model of a GNR Stirling 4-2-2. A third rail was laid as far as the Golf Course.

The line closed in 1940 after operating its final year with Whippit Quick a Lister 'Railtruck' petrol locomotive as the steam locomotive Count Louis was out of service.

[edit] The Wilkins Era - 1947-1984

The railway was rescued by a consortium of businessmen from the Midlands in 1946 and after rebuilding, was reopened by 1947. The line's owner John Wilkins funded the redevelopment of the railway and the purchase of new steam locomotives. The line's heyday was in the 1960s and early 1970s but the advent of mass foreign holidays meant there was a steady decline in passenger numbers during the 1970s and 1980s.

[edit] The Ellerton Era - 1984-1995

Yeo heading along Beach Road towards Penrhyn Corner.
Yeo heading along Beach Road towards Penrhyn Corner.

The line was sold again in 1984 to the Ellerton family and underwent dramatic changes to the infrastructure which included construction of a new station at Fairbourne and the re-gauging to 12¼ inches in 1986. Four new steam locomotives were introduced and most of the 15 inch locomotives left the site. Two of the new locomotives had run on the Réseau Guerlédan Chemin de Fer Touristique in Brittany, France in 1978. All four steam locomotives are half sized replicas of narrow gauge engines: Yeo, Sherpa, Beddgelert and Russell. Of the extant 15 in gauge locomotives only Sylvia (rebuilt as Lilian Walter) remained. Most of the 15 inch gauge locomotives are still intact and have found homes on lines around world.

In 1990 the railway built their first steam locomotive, Number 24, a replica of a locomotive from the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad in Maine. The locomotive has since left the line and now operates on the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway in Lincolnshire.

The railway was again put up for sale in 1990 and the line's fortunes appeared to be declining once more. During the five years it was up for sale the railway deteriorated dramatically.

[edit] Present: 1995 onwards

The current owners Professor and Mrs Atkinson and Dr & Mrs Melton bought the line in April 1995. There has since been considerable investment in the railway improving the reliability of the locomotives and the quality of the track, and a new attraction, the Rowen Nature Centre was set up at Fairbourne station. In 2007 some of the displays were changed to accommodate a large G scale model railway which is gradually being added to and improved by local model engineers. [4]

[edit] Preservation Society

Like most heritage railways, the Fairbourne Railway has an active volunteer society: Fairbourne Railway Preservation Society (formerly the Fairbourne Railway Supporter's Association). The society are actively involved with the running of services and maintaining the locomotives, rolling stock, stations and track work. [5]

[edit] Ferry

For hundreds of years the ferry has been providing a crossing service over the Mawddach estuary and was originally operated by monks. In recent years it has been operated by independent operators. During the summer of 2007 the Railway Company acquired a ferry boat and commenced operating its own ferry service in July 2007. The new ferry boat "Y Chuff" was bought to ensure that a reliable service across the harbour to Barmouth would operate even during quiet periods of the season. [6]

[edit] Stations and facilities

Fairbourne Railway
BOOT
Ferry to Barmouth across the Mawddach Estuary
xKBFa
Barmouth Ferry Northern terminus
TUNNEL1
Jack Steele Tunnel
HST
Estuary Halt
STR
PSL
Passing Loop
HST
Loop Halt
HST
Golf Halt
HST
Beach Halt
BUE
Penrhyn Corner Crossing
BUE
Car Park Crossing
BUE
Springfield Crossing
eGRENZE
Foot Crossing
eABZlf
Former section to old Brickworks
KBFe
Fairbourne Main Terminus
HBHF
Fairbourne Cambrian Line station
Image Name Notes
Fairbourne Fairbourne station is the main headquarters of the line and location of the locomotive and carriage sheds and workshops. There is a small museum containing many photographs of the line, a nature centre, G scale model railway, tea room, booking office and gift shop. From here trains head along Beach Road crossing over three level crossings before arriving at Beach Halt.
Beach Halt Beach Halt serves the beach, car park and amusement arcade. The station was formerly known as "Bathing Beach" during the time as a 15 inch line. Typically, trains pass approximately 4 minutes after departing Fairbourne. From here trains head northward through the dunes skirting the beach before arriving at Golf Halt.
Golf Halt Golf Halt serves the 9 hole golf course and beach. Trains pass approximately 7 minutes after departing Fairbourne. From here trains continue northwards alongside the sea wall before reaching Loop Halt.
Loop Halt Loop Halt serves the embankment footpath to Morfa Mawddach and the Barmouth Bridge. Trains pass here approximately 9 minutes after leaving Fairbourne. Trains continue into the passing loop and during the two train service pass each other. The line then sweeps out into the sand dunes.
Estuary Halt Estuary Halt is adjacent to the Jack Steele Tunnel and serves the car park at the end of Penrhyn Drive North. Trains pass here approximately 16 minutes after leaving Fairbourne. From here trains continue through the tunnel and more dunes before arriving at Barmouth Ferry.
Barmouth Ferry Barmouth Ferry is the northern terminus of the railway and is site of the Harbour View café. Passengers can catch the pedestrian ferry across the estuary to Barmouth.

[edit] Current Locomotives

Steam Locomotives haul most of the passenger services, some of the locomotives are approximately half-size replicas of famous narrow gauge prototype locomotives such as the Class B Tanks from the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and the Manning Wardle Tanks of the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway.

[edit] 12¼ Inch Gauge

Image Name Builder Wheel
arr.		 Built For Year built Livery Notes In Traffic?
Sherpa Milner Engineering 0-4-0 Réseau Guerlédan 1978 Darjeeling Himalayan Railway blue Model of a Darjeeling Class B Tank locomotive, fitted with a tender to accommodate the driver and carry water. Yes
Russell Milner Engineering / Fairbourne Locomotive Works 2-6-4 Réseau Guerlédan 1979 Red Model of Welsh Highland Railway locomotive Russell. Rebuilt from 'Elaine' a Leek and Manifold model in 1985 No - Under Overhaul
Beddgelert David Curwen 0-6-4 Réseau Guerlédan 1979 Black with red lining Model of North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways locomotive. Yes
Yeo David Curwen 2-6-2 Réseau Guerlédan 1978 Malachite Green with Southern Railway lettering Model of Lynton and Barnstaple Railway locomotive, Yeo Yes
TJ Thurston John Thurston 4-6-2 Believed to be Hayling Island 1949 Unlined green with Fairbourne crest on the tender It has narrow scale wheels which are not suitable for the railway's track at present. No
Lilian Walter Guest Engineering / Fairbourne Locomotive Works A1-1A Fairbourne Miniature Railway 1961 Green with yellow details and Fairbourne crest Lilian is the railway's main diesel locomotive. Originally built as a double cabbed 15 inch gauge locomotive Sylvia, it was re-gauged and re-bodied in 1985. Restoration of the original bodywork is planned. Yes
Gwril Hunslet 4W ? Singapore 1994 Orange and blue. Awaiting Repaint Diesel locomotive, acquired from Alan Keef in November 2007. Re-gauging from 2ft and general overhaul in progress. Likely to be named Gwril making it the third locomotive on the line to carry the name. No - Under Overhaul

[edit] Former locomotives

[edit] 12¼ Inch Gauge

Image Name Builder Wheel
arr.		 Built For Year built Years at Fairbourne Notes Current Location
Number 24 Fairbourne Locomotive Works 2-6-2 Fairbourne Railway 1990 1990 - 1992 Model of Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad locomotive. The first steam locomotive to be built at Fairbourne. Sold to the Bure Valley Railway in 1992 and re-gauged to 15 inch gauge. Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway, Lincolnshire
Galloping Goose David Curwen Réseau Guerlédan 1979 1984 - 1989 Model of Rio Grande Galloping Goose Railcar. Made several trips along the line in 1987, before scrapping in 1989. Picture Scrapped at Fairbourne in 1989.
Gwril Fairbourne Locomotive Works 4W Fairbourne Railway 1987 1987 - 2008 Battery electric shunting locomotive. The second locomotive on the line to carry the name Gwril. Fairbourne

[edit] 15 Inch Gauge

Image Name Builder Wheel
arr.		 Built For Year built Years at Fairbourne Notes Current Location
Prince Edward of Wales Bassett-Lowke 4-4-2 Narrow Gauge Railways Ltd 1915 1916 - 1923 Bassett-Lowke improved "Little Giant" Class 20. The first locomotive to operate at Fairbourne. Apparently destroyed by fire at Southport in 1931, rebuilt and renamed Princess Elizabeth Now in the United States. United States of America.
Katie Arthur Percival Heywood 0-4-0 T Eaton Hall Railway 1896 1923 - 1926 Built for the Duke of Westminster's Eaton Hall Railway in Cheshire and also operated on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Frames with Ravenglass Heritage Group for restoration.
Count Louis Bassett-Lowke 4-4-2 Count Louis Zborowski 1924 1925 - 1987 Bassett-Lowke "Sans Pareil"Class 30. Rebuilt with larger tender and other improvements at Fairbourne. This locomotive was the flagship of the Fairbourne Railway for many years. Restoration progressing at private site reverting to original appearance.
Prince Charles Guest Engineering 4-6-2 Dudley Zoo Railway 1946 1960-1 Scale model based on a Stanier Class 5 locomotive. Now renamed Prince William. It has also carried the name Winston Churchill. Evesham Vale Light Railway, Worcestershire
Ernest W Twining Guest Engineering 4-6-2 Dudley Zoo Railway 1950 1961-1984 Loaned to the railway 1961-1964 and subsequently purchased. Sold and exported to Japan in 1987. Shuzenji Romney Railway, Japan. Stored out of traffic
Siân Guest Engineering 2-4-2 Fairbourne Railway 1963 1963 - 1985 Sister locomotive to Katie. Rebuilt extensively in 1984 to an Americn outline and renamed Sydney. Now owned by the Siân Project Group and restored to her original form. Windmill Farm Railway, Lancashire
Katie Guest Engineering 2-4-2 Dudley Zoo Railway 1954 1965-1985 The second locomotive on the line to carry the name Katie. Visually similar to Siân but without air tank on the tender. Operated the 1985 season named Shon Windmill Farm Railway, Lancashire
Whippit Quick R A Lister and Company 0-4-0 Fairbourne Miniature Railway 1935 1935-1975 The first internal combustion locomotive to operate on the railway. Received futuristic bodywork in the 1950s to protect the driver from the elements. Sold in 1975 Windmill Farm Railway,Lancashire
Gwril R A Lister and Company 0-4-0 1943 1947-1985 Similar to Whippit Quick, Gwril was originally 2ft gauge, regauged for use at Fairbourne Windmill Farm Railway,Lancashire
Dingo Wilkins and Mitchell Bo-Bo Fairbourne Railway 1949 1952-1974 Dismantled in 1974. Parts of the frame were used in the construction of the six-way carriage shed turnout. Scrapped at Fairbourne in 1975.
Sylvia Guest Engineering AI-IA PH Fairbourne Railway 1961 1961 - 1985 Double cabbed locomotive, rebuilt in 1985 to an American outline and renamed Lilian Walter. Fairbourne Railway
Rachel Guest Engineering 0-6-0 Shillingstone Railway, Dorset 1961 1961 - 1984 Small shunting locomotive designed for a 10¼" gauge line in Dorset, however completed as a 15" loco. Now named W. Bragan M.B.E. Haigh Hall Railway, Wigan
Tracy Jo Guest Engineering 2-6-2 Dudley Zoo Railway 1964 1964-1966 Tested on the Fairbourne Railway in the 1960s. Tracey Jo was styled on the Vale of Rheidol tank engines as a steam outline locomotive. Rebuilt into a 2-6-4 steam locomotive Wroxham Broad which can often be seen masquerading as Thomas the Tank Engine Bure Valley Railway, Norfolk

[edit] 18 Inch Gauge

Image Name Builder Wheel
arr.		 Built For Year built Years at Fairbourne Notes Current Location
No 1 Regent Street Polytechnic 4-2-2 1896 1926 - 1936 Built by the students at Regent Street Polytechnic to a design by WG Bagnall. Purchased by the Fairbourne estate in 1926 from store at Kings Cross shed. See GNR Stirling 4-2-2 Sandy Bay Museum, Exmouth

[edit] Rolling Stock

[edit] Carriages

The railway has a fleet of about 20 passenger carriages, most of which are wooden bodies examples originating from the Réseau Guerlédan. The standard livery is blue and cream, although some examples still carry maroon or brown and cream however these liveries are gradually being phased out.

[edit] Wagons

There are a small pool of goods vehicles in use for engineering works.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Fairbourne Railway History page.
  2. ^ W J Milner (1996). Rails Through The Sand. Rail Romances. 
  3. ^ Mawddach Cresent History page.
  4. ^ G Scale Model Railway.
  5. ^ Preservation Society.
  6. ^ Ferry Service.

[edit] Bibliography

Books:

  • Boyd J. I. C.; Narrow Gauge Railways in Mid Wales, 1965.
  • Buck, S; Siân and Katie - The Twining Sisters, Siân Project Group, 1995
  • Buck, S; E. W. Twining, Modelmaker, Artist & Engineer, Landmark Publishing, 2004 ISBN 1-84306-143-0
  • Butcher, Alan C. (ed); Railways Restored 2005. Ian Allan Publishing Co, Hersham, Surrey, 2005. ISBN 0711030537
  • Milner, W.J.; Rails through the Sand. Rail Romances, Chester, 1996. ISBN 1-900622-00-9
  • Wilkins J; Fairbourne Railway - A Short History of It's Development and Progress, c1961
  • Fairbourne Railway; Souvenir Guide Book, 2005.

Magazines:

  • One Foot Between The Rails published quarterly by the Fairbourne Railway Preservation Society.

Multimedia

  • Tracks in the Sand The Story of the Fairbourne Railway - A film by Eric Montague Website

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
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Flag of Wales Railway museums and heritage railways in Wales
Narrow gauge
Standard gauge
Centres and museums
Heritage Railways: England · Scotland · Wales · Northern Ireland · Isle of Man · Channel Islands

Coordinates: 52.69512° N 4.05085° W

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