North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways
Map of the NWNGRs
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| Locale | Wales |
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| Dates of operation | 1877–1916 |
| Successor | Welsh Highland Railway |
| Track gauge | 1 ft 11 1⁄2 in (597 mm) |
| Length | 12 1⁄2 miles (20.1 km) |
The North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways (Moel Tryfan Undertaking) (to give it its full name) was a 1 ft 11 1⁄2 in (597 mm) narrow-gauge railway running from Dinas to Bryngwyn, Wales, which was authorised by Act of Parliament 1872. The same act authorised a branch from Tryfan Junction to South Snowdon. Subsequently the railway chose to regard the line from Tryfan Junction to Bryngwyn as the branch.
Although, as originally planned (1872), the line to Bryngwyn was the nominated main line, very early on a decision was made for the South Snowdon line to become the main line. By the time commercial operations started, it had been reclassified a branch
Main line: Dinas–Tryfan Junction–Waunfawr–Bettws Garmon–Snowdon Ranger–South Snowdon/Rhyd Ddu (approx. 9 miles).
Branch line: Tryfan Junction–Rhostryfan–Bryngwyn (approx. 2 miles). From Bryngwyn, an incline (owned by the railway company) led (via quarry owned lines) to a number of slate quarries around Moel Tryfan mountain.
The line from Dinas to Rhyd Ddu was built and operated, but this was just a small part of the grand scheme for a network of narrow-gauge railways spanning much of north Wales. An Act of Parliament in 1885 authorised an extension northwards to Caernarfon and a Light Railway Order of 1900 authorised an extension southwards to Beddgelert.
A further part of the scheme was the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways (General Undertaking) which planned a route from Porthmadog to Beddgelert, where it would meet the Rhyd Ddu-Beddgelert extension. From there the line would travel via Capel Curig to Betws-y-Coed. A further branch would have extended the line from Betws y Coed to Cerrig-y-Drudion where the railway would meet the planned Ruthin and Cerrig-y-Drudion Railway.
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