Bala Lake Railway

In a Nutshell

Gauge: 2'

Length:  9 miles

Opened: 13 Aug 1972

Location: Llanwchllyn,Gwynedd

View Larger Map

Yr Orsaf / The Station
Llanuwchllyn
Gwynedd
LL23 7DD

Web: www.bala-lake-railway.co.uk
Email. balalake@btconnect.com

 

Dates of visits: 19 May 2012, 27 May 2012

 

Key Facts

• The railway was originally part of the standard gauge line from Corwen to Dolgelley.
•  The line possesses five steam locomotives which are former 0-4-0 Hunslet quarry locomotives from the Dinorwic slate quarries.
• The line also has three diesels
• The railway runs for most of its length along the banks of Bala Lake

  Route

Map of the line: Courtesy Bala Lake Railway [http://www.bala-lake-railway.co.uk/images/railwayroute.jpg]

My Impressions

 Although I have visited the railway several times I have not been systematic in taking photos or video. On this occasion I started my visit at Bala station where the 1.25pm train was due to arrive. After the arrival of the train, the loco (maid Marian) ran round its train,

Hunslet 0-4-0 Maid Marian runs round its train at Bala Station

 before coupling up and departing for Llanuwchylln.

Main Marian about to depart Bala Station

 I then pursued the train by car to take snapshots and video clips at various locations along the line.

Maid Marian approaching Bryn Hynod Halt

I eventually caught up with the train at the line's southern terminus and main station, Llanuwchllyn where I was able to buy a guide, have a coffee and watch the run-round process.

Maid Marian at Llanwchllyn Station

Maid Marian;s footplate

Maid Marian ready to depart from Llanwchllyn

 Following departure, I once more pursued the train on its way back to Bala and got some more snaps and clips.

Maid Marian between Bryn Hynod Halt and Bala

Further up the line towards Bala Station

Maid Marian approaching Bala Station

If you like seeing Hunslet quarry locos in action then this railway will appeal. They run steam hauled trains most days during the operating season (see timetable on their website) and have specials days when they have several locos in steam. I found the staff to be extremely friendly and helpful - I felt to be almost part of the family! There are no facilities at Bala station but the main station at Llanuwchllyn has a small cafe and souvenir shop, as well as a signal box which can be visited. As can be seen, the railway is very photogenic - with plenty of good vantage points on the roadside to get good shots with the lake as a backdrop.

Video

Unfortunately on this first visit, once I had taken the lineside shots, I had insufficient time to take a ride on the railway. It looks as if I am destined for a return visit.

Return visit (27/5/12)

 On my second visit I ensured there was time to travel the line. We left the car at Llanuwchllyn, enjoyed a leisurely coffee and I had time to see the loco for the day (Alice) steaming-up in the loco shed.

Visiting the loco shed is positively encouraged though those taking photos are strongly encouraged to leave a contribution to funds in the donations box. Here we see 'Maid Marian' which was on duty during my previous visit, ........

....... Holy War - another former Dinorwic quarry Hunslet ........

.... and Winifred, the line's most recent addition.

 

After a quick tour around the yard - a goldmine for anyone interested in modelling narrow gauge railways .......

....... then back to the platform to board the train.

The train rattled along the line at a sedate pace. The railway staff have a very relaxed attitude and yet are efficient and affable. For example, at Llangower station a few minutes were spent talking about the railway and the timetable with some holiday-makers who seemed pleasantly surprised to see a steam train chugging along.

After watching the run-round process at Bala, we set off along the southern scenic footpath gaining some interesting views of the lake and distant views of the railway.

 However, after a couple of miles along the path, the lure of the railway dragged us back off the hillside and down to the lakes for a few more pictures and video clips.

Bracket signal at Llangower station

Pentrepiod Halt

Llanuwchllyn Station

There is a variety of footpaths which can be taken along the valley, ranging from 'easy' to 'moderate'. See http://www.visitbala.org/things_to_do/walks

Another coffee (and cake) and whilst we awaited the departure of the 4.00pm train, I took the opportunity to visit the signal box.

What else is there to say? This railway is a delight to visit. Its informality and the welcoming attitude of its staff, together with the setting for the railway, make this railway a must-see for anyone interested in narrow gauge railways. I can thoroughly recommend the coffee and the carrot cake - 'nuff said!

Leek & Manifold Valley Light Railway

In a Nutshell

Gauge:    2' 6"
Length:   8¹⁄₄ miles . At present 0 miles operational
Opened:  27 June 1904
Closed:    March 1934

Location: Manifold Valley, Staffordshire

 

View Larger Map

 More detailed map of the route of the railway


Web: There is no preservation society but there are several websites which include an outline of the history of the railway

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leek_and_Manifold_Valley_Light_Railway - The Wikipedia entry for the Leek & Manifold
• http://www.teajunctionhulmeend.co.uk/railway.html - Website for the tea room at Hulme End station (in the former engine shed)
• http://freespace.virgin.net/hanson.mike/index.htm - Rudyard Lake Steam Railway website: a miniature railway which was inspired by the L&MVLR
• http://www.kachuzyn.fsnet.co.uk - A freelance website with several archive photos and information about the railway.

 

Date of visit:16 May 2012

 

Key Facts

• Although quarrying and mining were carried out in the valley, by the time the railway was built its principal source of goods traffic was milk
• The railway owned two large 2-6-4 tank locomotives built by Kitsons of Leeds.
• It also had 4 balconied passenger carriages, a bogie van and two bogie flat wagons. The flat wagons were sometimes pressing into service to carry passengers during Bank Holidays - tarpaulins spread over them to protect passengers from the elements
• It was unique in the UK in using five transporter wagons which carried full size standard gauge wagons - each station had a short length of standard gauge track on which the wagons could be parked for loading and unloading. 
• The trackbed was made into a footpath (the Manifold Way) in 1937 and is now covered in tarmac for its entire length, making it popular as a cycle route (cycles can be hired at the Waterhouses end of the railway)

  Route

 

My Impressions

 This was my first visit to the railway and to this corner of the Peak District. I have now realised what I have been missing. The surrounding countryside is quite interesting and picturesque; mostly undulating farmland, but the Manifold Valley itself is a fairly deep defile with craggy limestone cliffs and tumbling streams.

The Manifold Valley above Weag's Bridge Looking towards Beeston Tor

What I found fascinating is that the Manifold River becomes more an more diminished in its flow as it progresses down the valley, disappearing into sink holes (or swallets) which feed underground rivers in underlying caves and potholes.

The Manifold River at Ecton

We began our exploration roughly half way along the line at the village of Wetton where there is a car park and toilet. A footpath led from the village, past the local landmark of Thor's Cave, down into the valley. This provided our first view of the former railway in the valley below - the site of the former Thor's Cave Station:

The site of Thor's Cave Station viewed from outside Thor's Cave

We descended the path to the valley floor and proceeded northwards (ie into the distance in the above photo). Standing at the position of the former station and looking back was the oft-photographed view of the cave in the cliff above:

Thor's Cave viewed from the site of Thor's Cave Station

Thor's Cave and station with Southbound train approaching [Source: http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/images/localpeople/ugc-images/275796/Article/images/13039686/3062116.png]

A little further down the line we noticed one of the swallets into which the river disappeared and the site for another of the railway's most well known postcards.

The former railway track and river between Thor's Cave and Redhurst Crossing

Train approaching Thor's Cave (Source: http://www.kachuzyn.fsnet.co.uk/Thors3.jpg)

 We found evidence of the foundations for the station building or 'bungalow' as it was known.

The building viewed from the opposite side.

Thor's Cave and Wetton Station 'bungalow'. (Source: http://www.kachuzyn.fsnet.co.uk/Thors4.jpg)

 Ten minutes' walk along the line and we came to a bridge across the river followed immediately by what would have been a level crossing, known in the days of the railway as Redhurst Crossing.

Redhurst crossing bridge viewed from the roadside.

When the railway was in service, a small platform was provided beside the railway for local farmers' milk churns.

The bridge and crossing viewed from across the railway. (Source: http://chasewaterstuff.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/l-m-train-osn.jpg?w=500)

The road now follows the railway trackbed for about a quarter of a mile until Wetton Mill is reached where there is a small cafe and a toilet.

Wetton Mill - the southbound train has pulled out from the station to pose for the photo - the mill building is in the background (Source: http://www.kachuzyn.fsnet.co.uk/wetton2.jpg)

The trackbed continues to be used as a roadway at this point.

The site of Wetton Mill Station (looking South towards the mill and the site of the above photo)

Wetton Mill Station looking south  (Source: http://www.kachuzyn.fsnet.co.uk/Wetton3.jpg)

About a mile further north we came to the 167yd long Swainsley Tunnel built under part of the Swainsley Hall estate at the insistence of the then occupant (Sir Thomas Wardle) so he and his guests would not have their view interrupted by the railway.

 The tunnel was built to a height of 15' 3" above rail level to allow clearance for large standard gauge vehicles to be carried through the tunnel. At the further end of the tunnel the railway crossed yet another bridge, this time over Warslow Brook which it shared with a road leading to Butterton Station ..........

....... a few yards up the line.

Butterton Station (looking South). [Source: http://www.kachuzyn.fsnet.co.uk/Butter1.jpg]

About half a mile further north .....

Between Butterton and Ecton (looking North)

...... we came to the site of Ecton Station ......

Ecton Station (looking North)

........ where there was once a quarry ........

Ecton Station (looking North) [Source: http://www.kachuzyn.fsnet.co.uk/ecton1.jpg]

and in later years a creamery which produced milk for shipment via the L&MVLR and LMS to London.

The Creamery at Exton [Source: http://www.kachuzyn.fsnet.co.uk/ecton2.jpg]

As we progressed further north the valley opened out into farmland the trackbed no longer played hopscotch with the river.

Between Ecton and Hulme End (looking north)

 And then, about three quarters of a mile from Ecton we reached the end of the line at Hulme End.

Hulme End station - station building on the left and rebuilt loco shed on the right (now a cafe)

Hulme End Station [Source:http://www.kachuzyn.fsnet.co.uk/hulme_4.jpg]

After a coffee and a bun, we trekked back across country to Wetton and then drove down to the other end of the line at Waterhouses. As we were running out of time I could only take a couple of snaps before heading back home.

Waterhouses. The L&MVLR bridge across the River Hamps and the start of the Manifold Way. The railway crossed the road and then swung right behind the camera, running parallel with the road and climbing up to the station which it shared with the mainline railway.

A L&MVLR train about to cross the road on its way down the line from Waterhouses Station [Source: http://www.kachuzyn.fsnet.co.uk/water1.jpg]

Waterhouses station (with the road and river on the left below the station) [Source: http://www.kachuzyn.fsnet.co.uk/water4.jpg]

As can be seen, sections of the line can be viewed from, and travelled along in, a car but to see the most interesting parts and get a feel for the railway as it was, then it is better to walk (or cycle). Cycles can be hired from Waterhouses, and the visitor centre at Hulme End contains information boards, photos and a 4mm scale display model of the station and rolling stock.

John Holroyd's 4mm model of the  Butterton and Hulme End at Hulme End station [Source: http://www.kachuzyn.fsnet.co.uk/Hollroyd%20model.jpg]

As can be seen above, I have only managed to see and walk the northern end of the line so far. I aim to make at least one return visit to walk (or cycle) the southern end and fill some of the gaps in my photographic record.

 

Video

If you have not seen it, I can thoroughly recommend the BFI film of the railway in its heyday, showing a transporter wagon and views from the train as it travels the valley.