Prototype: The Deeside Tramway...

My garden railway, the Dyfrdwy Tramway, is inspired by the local Deeside Tramway, which I've mentioned before, and will give a short potted history of again...

The horse shoe curve looking towards the quarry, note the culvert. The curve is quite gentle but the gradient steep, descending under gravity relying on just wooden brake blocks on wooden rails would have been somewhat interesting!

Originally built to connect the Deeside Slab Quarry with the mill at Nant-y-Pandy, it was timber rail with iron sheath. Later improvements saw it extended to the GWR via an incline (that passed under the A5) into Glyndyfrdwy, and another incline just above the Slab Quarry made a connection with the much larger slate quarry at Moel Fferna.

Looking down the tramway in the opposite direction, towards the mill, down out of view in a steeper sided part of the valley, and Glyndyfrdwy in the far distance.

The tramway was abandoned shortly after the second World War, although the Moel Fferna operation meant the slate wharf at the station in Glyndyfrdwy stayed open a little longer, with lorries transporting the cut slates down to the wharf, direct from the quarry.

Above the horseshoe bend, just below the slab quarry, these lovely old metal gates will likely end up in model form on my own garden railway. Looking up the valley, round the corner is Moel Fferna.

Today, most of the line is still traceable, and either farm track or public right of way. The slab quarry above Nant Y Pandy gives good views over the valley below, and you can glimpse Moel Fferna, about a further 45 minutes walk, in the distance.

The view from the level area, where one assumes a number of sidings existed for loading up of wagons for transportation down to the mill. Looking into the slab quarry, which isn't visible until you're in it, the size of the quarry become apparent.

I'd recommend a strong pair of walking boots, although the walk itself isn't overly taxing. The views are fantastic on a clear day, and make sure you take a camera. There isn't much in the way of industrial architecture left at the Slab quarry, a few outlines of buildings can be seen but that's about all... I believe there may be more to see at Moel Fferna, that will be my next target, perhaps in the next few weeks.

View from the other direction, across the level area and beyond to Glyndyfrdwy and the Dee Valley in the distance. The mill tramway went to the right, around the waste heaps. The link to Moel Fferna was to the left, where the line went up a steep incline.

In the meantime, I'll share a few of my photos here, as I've not seen photos of the walk in recent years. There were a few cameo scenes I intend to include on my garden line, including the metal gates at the start of the quarry. Lots of inspiration and a lovely walk with the dog. More soon...