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Cwm Prysor Viaduct

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Cwm Prysor Viaduct
Cwm Prysor Viaduct in 2014
Coordinates52°56′N 3°49′W / 52.93°N 3.82°W / 52.93; -3.82
CarriesEx-Bala and Festiniog Railway
CrossesAfon Prysor
LocaleCwm Prysor, east of Trawsfynydd, Gwynedd, Wales
Official nameCwm Prysor Viaduct
Characteristics
Design9 36 feet (11 m) brick arches on stone piers[1][2]
Total length490 feet (150 m)
WidthSingle Standard Gauge Rail
Height105 feet (32 m)[3]
History
Opened1 November 1882[4]
Closed28 January 1961[5]
Statistics
Daily trafficFootpath
Location
Map

Cwm Prysor Viaduct, which is occasionally referred to as Blaen-y-Cwm Viaduct, is a former railway structure which crosses the Afon Prysor in thinly populated uplands east of Trawsfynydd, Gwynedd, Wales.[6][7]

History

The viaduct was the most substantial single structure on the line. It is sharply curved, necessitating the provision of a check rail in its active railway days.[8][9] In 1953 extensive repair work was undertaken in which the opportunity was taken to raise the parapet and add metal railings on top.[10][11]

The structure consisted of nine stone arches carrying a single bi-directional track over which passenger trains ran between Bala Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog from 1882 to 1960, with freight trains lasting a year longer. A "Last Train" special crossed the viaduct a week before final closure.[12] The track was lifted in the 1960s. The prospect of rail traffic returning over the viaduct is very remote, not least because part of the route has been flooded by the construction of a dam at Llyn Celyn.

Modern access

The structure is Grade II Listed. In 2015 the public had a Permissive Right of Access to the viaduct, but no right of way.[13] It is included in widely publicised walks.[14][15][16]

Gallery

  • The viaduct in modern times
    The viaduct in modern times
  • "Cwm Prysor Viaduct". Geotopoi.
  • "Cwm Prysor Viaduct". flickr.
  • "Cwm Prysor Viaduct". geotopoi.
  • "Cwm Prysor Viaduct". Treasure Maps.
  • "Cwm Prysor Viaduct". Geograph.

References

  1. ^ Baughan 1991, p. 131.
  2. ^ Boyd 1959, p. 546.
  3. ^ The viaduct, via Forgotten Relics
  4. ^ Boyd 1988, p. 47.
  5. ^ Southern 1995, p. 64.
  6. ^ The viaduct on an Edwardian 6" OS map, via National Library of Scotland
  7. ^ The viaduct, via Rail Map Online
  8. ^ Green 1996, p. 38.
  9. ^ Southern, Leadbetter & Weatherley 1987, pp. 62–3.
  10. ^ Southern 1995, pp. 58–9.
  11. ^ Mitchell & Smith 2010, Photo 19.
  12. ^ "1961 last train at Bala, Arenig and Cwm Prysor Viaduct". NW Rail.
  13. ^ The viaduct, via flickr
  14. ^ A walk incorporating the viaduct, via Delgellau.com
  15. ^ A walk incorporating the viaduct, via YouTube
  16. ^ A walk incorporating the viaduct, via Keith O'Brien

Sources

  • Baughan, Peter E. (1991) [1980]. A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: North and Mid Wales v. 11. Nairn, Scotland: David St John Thomas Publisher. ISBN 0-946537-59-3. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Boyd, James I.C. (October 1959). Mansell, K.G. (ed.). "Bala & Festiniog Section - W.R.". Railway World. 20 (233). London: Railway World Limited. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Boyd, James I.C. (1988) [1972]. Narrow Gauge Railways in South Caernarvonshire - Volume 1. Headington, Oxford: The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-8536-1365-6. OCLC 20417464. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Green, C.C. (1996) [1983]. North Wales Branch Line Album. Shepperton: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0 7110 1252 0. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Mitchell, Vic; Smith, Keith (2010). Bala to Llandudno: Featuring Blaenau Ffestiniog. Midhurst, West Sussex: Middleton Press (MD). ISBN 978 1 906008 87 1. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Southern, D. W. (1995). Bala Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Stockport: Foxline Publishing. ISBN 1 8701 19 34 7. Scenes from the Past, Railways of North Wales, No. 25. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Southern, D. W.; Leadbetter, H.J.; Weatherley, S.A. (1987). Rails to Bala. Rhuddlan, Clwyd: Charter Publications. ISBN 0 907157 03 3. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

Further material

  • Ferris, Tom (2004) [1961]. British Railways Volume 4 - Bewdley To Blaenau (DVD). demanddvd. DEMDVD084. {{cite AV media}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Turner, Alun (2003). Gwynedd's Lost Railways. Catrine, Ayrshire: Stenlake Publishing. ISBN 9781840332599. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

External links

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