Bala lake Railway.

Will this railway extend to Bala town in the fullness of time?

 

There was talk of it some years back. I haven't heard anything recently.

 

Perhaps east to Corwen ....

 

dont think its a priority currently but never say never!

 

Which? Bala town or Corwen?!

 

Forgive me if my ageing brain is misleading me but, from somewhere in its misty depths, I seem to recall that the original "official agreement" for the establishment of this railway was subject to its northern limits were to its existing terminus and no farther. I am sure there are others who can probably reveal chapter & verse on this subject but I believe there might have even been a restriction that it did not enter Bala itself.
It has been a long time since I was in the area but I believe that the trackbed around the original junction with the Corwen line is now obstructed. I have long thought that an extension to Corwen and a joint station with an extended Llangollen Railway could have been a great tourist attraction. Ah!, but.......

Ian

 

A very long time ago(about 1985) I have had a chat with M Hardiman (It seems me) and he was sure , convinced that sooner or later the Bala Lake rly will be extend to near the "café "on the main road...But some locals onjected to this project
Now I thing it is a dead duck (normal a lot of ducks around this beautiful lake!)
regards
Noel

 

Talking to a well informed volunteer during a visit this Easter, it won't happen for a very long time, if at all. Too much council/ landowner opposition would force them into an unattractive route past an industrial estate or similar, which would also add significantly to costs of an already expensive undertaking. Then there is the question of the timetable, extra intervals between services or the expense of providing an extra loco and stock, ( plus crewing it from a small group of volunteers) for probably not much extra revenue.

In short, forget it, unless you win the lottery.

 

Work on extension to Bala Town is under way:

http://www.denbighshirefreepress.co...o_extend_Bala_Lake_Railway_is_well_under_way/

David R

 

Excellent news. I thought they still had a stretch of land to get their mitts on.


P.S. to Moderator ..... we seem to have a few separate Bala threads. Any chance of merging some, where sensible?

 

Not sure, from the latest news pages it implies there maybe one small plot:

http://www.balalakerailwaytrust.org.uk/news.html

Item 27 October 2017 states "The Trust is delighted to report that following discussions with Bala Rugby Club and a local farmer, an agreement in principle has been reached to purchase a strip of land along the very edge of the rugby field and a small piece of the adjacent field. With slight realignment of the intended route, this will put the extension within a very short distance of the proposed new town station."

David R

 

Just couldn't resist replying to this comment and highlighting the last part, on the grounds of just how circumstances and chances of something happening can change just so drastically, and I'm happy to say the predictions on this project likely happening turned out to be unfounded.

With all due respect to you Tim of course, must have surprised you how this project went from virtually impossible to now in full swing, amazing huh?

 

I will be firing at the BLR next week (Monday-Wednesday, Thursday evening & Saturday). Please say hello if you are up there!

 

I note on their website that the railway is planning for new coaching stock - and very nice they look too!
It will be a good change from the rather cramped mini-tube coaches they use at the moment!

 

Have to say it does look like a mightily impressive design they got there for their future coaching stock, though I have to assume they'll have slight variances, like a couple with disability access for example.

I'll be especially curious as to how they plan on bringing these new carriages into service, like will it be one at a time or several in one big bulk order so that you got a set of these carriages roughly all at once?

Then of course there's the question of where the old carriages will go, seeing as all in all they've served their purpose well and would continue to do for another potential new owner out there.

Just thoughts to consider for the future at any rate.

 

I'm sure they must have thought about it, and I may be going blind, but I can't see any doors...

Steve B

 

AIUI they are concept drawings put forward by Boston Lodge using standard FR underfames and bogies. They will no doubt be "firmed up" at some point. The side buffers are no longer needed now that the BLR is standardising on FR style chopper couplers.

In other news, the proposed crossing of the River Dee road bridge has been amended following consultation with GCC Highways Dept.
Rather than the "tramway" in the road with traffic lights, the parapet wall will be moved out by 750mm and the track will replace the pavement on one side:-

http://www.balalakerailwaytrust.org.uk/route.html

 

still not convinced about using the old 'humped' bridge! Might be an optical illusion on Streetview but would have thought that the gradient changes would be too severe??? I would have thought that A greater radius curve by sticking closer to the main road would have been preferred?

 

Yes, I thought that to0, so I went and had a look when I was passing last week. The gradient isn't too bad over the old bridge,, especially if the road surface of the B4403 can be raised a bit when the level crossing goes in. It will still be quite a climb for the little Hunslets on a curve, up past Pen-y-Bont station and joining the existing gradient.
I was more interested in the change in proposals for the Dee bridge. There are steep stone retaining walls each side of the bridge and the pavement doesn't look wide enough for a track formation without moving them out as well as the bridge parapet. A rather expensive job I would have thought, unless GCC are also suggesting making the road narrower as well.

 

That's just nitpicking