LLANBERIS

Built for: Lnwr/carnarvon & Llanberis Railway Worked by (at nationalisation): LMS Terminus: Llanberis Main line connection: Caernarvon Morfa (Bangor-afonwen line) Opened: July 1 1869 Length of line: 9 miles Intermediate stations: 3 Closed: September 1939 (passengers), September 7 1964 (completely) Key locomotives you’ll need? LMS 2-6-4T Why’s Llanberis special? Wales has some fantastic branch lines but few ended in such a superb location as this one. Llanberis had all the usual features - a goods shed, a turntable and an engine shed - and unique views. On one side was the tranquillity of Llyn Padarn, with the huge industrial scars of Dinorwic Quarry beyond, while in the opposite direction was Snowdon, the second highest mountain in Britain and home to a narrow gauge railway. Operation was interesting too: nominally closed for passengers in 1939, it still appeared in timetable listings, into the 1960s, but had no regular service, although excursions frequently terminated there. What’s left? The station building is now a café but the trackbed and yard is buried under a road. Where can I find out more? Bangor To Portmadoc by Vic Mitchell & Keith Smith (Middleton Press).