Joined
·
9 Posts
I spent most of my childhood holidays on the Cambrian Coast line - Criccieth, Pwllheli, and Towyn. Two books I'd recommend for anybody interested in Pwllheli are "Return to Pwllheli" - Scenes from the Past 53 and "The Cambrian Coast Railway" - Scenes from the Past 4. The last book is I think out of print. Both contain a reasonable selection of photos - combined there's more than enough photos to model a layout accurately.
If I may be allowed a plug for my book "Layout Designs for Operation" published by Atlantic you will find a detailed account of operations at Afon Wen, including full 1950/60s timetables for summer Saturdays.
Some points about Pwllheli:
The loco depot was rebuilt in the late 1950s in a very modern style - it looked more like a diesel depot, which is what I believe was the intention for it to become. I "bunked" it several times mid week in July 1965 when there were a selection of dead steam locos awaiting the following Saturday's holiday trains. There is a photo of the interior in Scenes from the Past 4. On 28/7/65 2236, 7812, 75004, 80101, 80104 and 80105 were all dead on shed.
With regard to LMR steam I can confirm that there was a strong presence in addition to the WR locos. My notes show that LMR Class 2 and 3 2-6-2Ts - Ivatt and Stanier, together with Stanier and Fairburn 2-6-4Ts worked in every day from Bangor and Caernarvon - they ran round their trains at Afon Wen. Stanier Class 5s also worked regularly to Pen-y-chain for Butlins and may also have appeared at Pwllheli for servicing. For a time in the late 1950s/very early 60s some Stanier 2-6-2Ts also worked on the Cambrian itself. Once the Bangor services started to be dieselised LMR early Derby lightweights in the 79... series took over some of these services.
My notes for 1959 show these LMR locos at Afon Wen - 40132, 42544, 42677, 45180, 80087, 80089, 80094, 80095 (all tanks were from Bangor shed)
In 1960 I saw these LMR locos at Pwllheli 40085 and 40086 (both alocated to 89C Machynlleth), 41233, 41234, 42567, 42601 (all 6H Bangor). Numerous other LMR locos were seen at Afon Wen 42069, 42075, 42081, 42425, 42482, 42489, 42579, 44661, 44687.
1963 continued to see LMR Fairburn and Stanier 2-6-4Ts
By 1964 there were dmus working some of the locals but I still saw a lot of 2-6-4Ts - as well as Class 5s and on one Saturday 45721 from 16F shed was piloted by 42489 on a Pen-y-chain train. I doubt this went into Pwllheli though.
On the Cambrian itself don't forget the gradual transition of loco types - 45/55xx and 90xx lasted until 1959/60 to be replaced increasingly by 464xx/465xx/78xxx/82xxx locos and the from 1963 80xxx appeared replacing the 2251 and 63xx WR locos. The larger 75xxx were regularly joined by Manors from about 1963 on Coast line trains. By summer 1965 the Afon wen line was closed and dmus had taken over most coast line trains A few Manors continued to appear on the expresses and freights with 75xxx and 80xxx handling the rest of the services. After 1965 the Manors disappeared and were replaced by 75xxx and 76xxx. It's a complex subject!!
Hopefully these notes fill in a few gaps about this line.
If I may be allowed a plug for my book "Layout Designs for Operation" published by Atlantic you will find a detailed account of operations at Afon Wen, including full 1950/60s timetables for summer Saturdays.
Some points about Pwllheli:
The loco depot was rebuilt in the late 1950s in a very modern style - it looked more like a diesel depot, which is what I believe was the intention for it to become. I "bunked" it several times mid week in July 1965 when there were a selection of dead steam locos awaiting the following Saturday's holiday trains. There is a photo of the interior in Scenes from the Past 4. On 28/7/65 2236, 7812, 75004, 80101, 80104 and 80105 were all dead on shed.
With regard to LMR steam I can confirm that there was a strong presence in addition to the WR locos. My notes show that LMR Class 2 and 3 2-6-2Ts - Ivatt and Stanier, together with Stanier and Fairburn 2-6-4Ts worked in every day from Bangor and Caernarvon - they ran round their trains at Afon Wen. Stanier Class 5s also worked regularly to Pen-y-chain for Butlins and may also have appeared at Pwllheli for servicing. For a time in the late 1950s/very early 60s some Stanier 2-6-2Ts also worked on the Cambrian itself. Once the Bangor services started to be dieselised LMR early Derby lightweights in the 79... series took over some of these services.
My notes for 1959 show these LMR locos at Afon Wen - 40132, 42544, 42677, 45180, 80087, 80089, 80094, 80095 (all tanks were from Bangor shed)
In 1960 I saw these LMR locos at Pwllheli 40085 and 40086 (both alocated to 89C Machynlleth), 41233, 41234, 42567, 42601 (all 6H Bangor). Numerous other LMR locos were seen at Afon Wen 42069, 42075, 42081, 42425, 42482, 42489, 42579, 44661, 44687.
1963 continued to see LMR Fairburn and Stanier 2-6-4Ts
By 1964 there were dmus working some of the locals but I still saw a lot of 2-6-4Ts - as well as Class 5s and on one Saturday 45721 from 16F shed was piloted by 42489 on a Pen-y-chain train. I doubt this went into Pwllheli though.
On the Cambrian itself don't forget the gradual transition of loco types - 45/55xx and 90xx lasted until 1959/60 to be replaced increasingly by 464xx/465xx/78xxx/82xxx locos and the from 1963 80xxx appeared replacing the 2251 and 63xx WR locos. The larger 75xxx were regularly joined by Manors from about 1963 on Coast line trains. By summer 1965 the Afon wen line was closed and dmus had taken over most coast line trains A few Manors continued to appear on the expresses and freights with 75xxx and 80xxx handling the rest of the services. After 1965 the Manors disappeared and were replaced by 75xxx and 76xxx. It's a complex subject!!
Hopefully these notes fill in a few gaps about this line.
