Lifting the original FR line at Dduallt?

I was reading the recent colour 'Past & Present' book about the Ffestiniog Railway the other night which got me wondering whether anyone knows exactly when the old FR line was lifted and the point taken out (it just says 'in the 1980s' in the book). Similarly, what was the last train to run over the old line? Did anything run up to the tunnel once the deviation was opened? No particular reason for wanting to know - just curious!

 

Don't know when the line was last used but notice of the Abandonment Order appeared in the London Gazette dated 5/4/1991:
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/52494/page/5300

 

It would have been lifted when the site was cleared after the deviation was opened, so after 1977/8 say; there wasn't a last train, I don't think anyone appreciated the significance. The abandonment order was obtained when someone realised that it was needed before the land could be transferred to the owner of the adjacent property as required by the Light Railway Order. (I saw, and photographed, the notice about the abandonment order taped to the door of the Tan y Bwlch station building.)
Peter Johnson

 

Thanks for the info so far. From other books, I've narrowed it down to between 1983 and 1987!

 

Could someone post the full title of this book ? I've looked on Amazon without success, so would guess it's quite new ?

Thank you

 

According to "The Oxford Companion to British Railway History" the FR services to Blaenau Festiniog were restored in 1982 after 'The Deviation' was built.

 

Sadly that doesn't help matters.

The OP poses an interesting question. I can't recall reading anywhere about the last train movements on the old line at Dduallt and can't recall seeing any photographs of trains at Tunnel South except the infamous shots of the Simplex in the mid-1950s with AGW and co. My guess is that if Peter Johnson doesn't know then it's probably not been recorded anywhere.

 

Here you go!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ffestiniog-...1399585353&sr=1-1&keywords=ffestiniog+railway

 

There's a picture in the 'Ffestiniog in the 50s' book of 'Prince' at Tunnel South with two coaches in December 1958 but I haven't seen anything later in a book. Did trains run up there when the 'Tunnel Mess' was built there?

 

Here you go!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ffestiniog-...1399585353&sr=1-1&keywords=ffestiniog railway
GHWood, Yesterday at 10:43 PM Report

Thanks for your reply, my mistake, I realise the thread is about the book quoted, the one I'm struggling to find is titled "The Ffestiniog Railway in Colour 19?? to 19??"
if anyone can enlighten me with the correct title?

Thanks

 

Hmmm. That title does not ring any bells, Peter Johnson has published several similar pictorials, I should be able to give you details ........... but
@pete12000
Try this instead >>>>>>>
http://www.mainlineandmaritime.co.uk/railway/railway/ffestiniog-in-colour-1955-82

 

I thought I would try a different approach, when was the power station comissioned. The answer to when did the last train run must therefore be pre 1963.

 

January 1957 was the last known train through the tunnel before it was blocked later the same year. However the old route from Dduallt to the tunnel mouth remained in place and occasionally in use at least until completion of the deviation.

 

Purely by chance, I was flicking through volume 2 of Peter Johnson's 'Immortal Rails' history of the FR the other day and came across the following on page 159:

'A link with the past was lost over the Christmas holiday when lifting the line between Dduallt and the old Moelwyn tunnel was completed.'

From the surrounding text, that looks to be in reference to Christmas 1979.

Cheers.

Rich

 

Thanks, that's the one!

 

Slight update. There is a pic here (number 87) of Prince with a train at the south entrance of the old Molewyn tunnel in May 1960. Apparently the track at tunnel south was lifted in 1962 but I guess this must have just been the section in front of the tunnel?

http://locodriver.co.uk/Railway_Encyclopedia/Part202/Part258/Part03/index.html

 

One of Ron Fisher's superb pictures - 'Moelwyn' on a special train at the old tunnel in June 1961

https://www.flickr.com/photos/train-pix/5537771448/in/photostream/

 

Here's another shot of MOELWYN at the old Moelwyn Tunnel :

R589 MOELWYN at the old Moelwyn Tunnel. June,1961. by Ron Fisher, on Flickr

While I'm at it, you might also be interested in this shot of 'the bung' :

R530. Moelwyn Tunnel - the bung. April 1961. by Ron Fisher, on Flickr