Carnarvon and Llanberis Railway
| Carnarvon and Llanberis Railway | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Termini |
Caernarfon Llanberis |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 1 July 1869 |
| Closed | 20 October 1964 |
| Operator(s) |
London and North Western Railway 1869-1923 London Midland and Scottish Railway 1923-1948 British Railways 1948-1964 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 8 mi (13 km) |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The Carnarvon and Llanberis Railway, built under the Caernarvon and Llanberis Railway Act 1864, was an eight-mile branch line from the Carnarvonshire Railway running from Caernarfon to Llanberis, Gwynedd via Pont Rhythallt (for Llanrug), Cwm y Glo, and Padarn Halt, and terminating at Llanberis.
The Carnarvon and Llanberis railway bill passed through parliament in 1864. The estimated cost of construction of the line 8 miles (13 km) long was £110,000 (equivalent to £9,754,064 in 2015).
Construction started on 15 September 1864 when the first sod was cut by the Hon. Emily Wynne of Glynllifon, daughter of Spencer Bulkeley Wynn, 3rd Baron Newborough. The event was marked with a procession of 700 children with the Llanrug Brass Band, and the Revd. W. Lloyd William, vicar of St Padarn's Church, Llanberis. The plan was for the railway to be operated by the London and North Western Railway.
The railway opened on 1 July 1869 but was overshadowed by a nitro-glycerine explosion at a quarry near Cwm-y-Glo railway station which resulted in 5 deaths and 12 severe injuries.
The line from Llanberis to Caernarfon was built from Llanberis towards Caernarfon. For a while the railway terminated at Caernarvon (Morfa) railway station. When the "Caernarfon Town Line" was built through a tunnel under the centre to join the various routes. Morfa station was closed on 5 July 1870, though it appears that formal paperwork was not concluded until the following January.
In 1870 the London and North Western Railway took full ownership of the line, and the Carnarvon and Llanberis railway company was dissolved.
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