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Carriage 8
From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group
| Carriage 8 | |
| Built By | FR Co. |
| Seating | 14 x 3rd class |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Date Built | 1885/6 |
| Operating | Heritage Fleet |
Contents |
[edit] Background
The Ffestiniog Railway carried quarrymen to work in specially built carriages. Initially the quarryman's train ran to Blaenau Ffestiniog, early on Monday morning and was stabled there for the return working on Saturday lunchtime. The men stayed in barracks at the quarries during the week. Later the train ran each working day.
The first quarryman's carriages were little more than open waggons with seats. A second generation provided sides and a roof, but no doors. Carriage 8 is the sole survivor of the third generation of quarryman's carriage although another exists in converted form as a brake van (Van 6). Built by the Ffestiniog Railway at Boston Lodge, the seating is arranged around the sides and end of the vehicle, and in the centre of the floor over the brake cylinder. The carriage was fully rebuilt in 1991/2.
*Date: Unknown *Photo: Martin Ellis
The Rev J Timothy (Timmy) Phillips also described the workmen's carriages which, he said,
"were box-like arrangements, each having a door, and a couple of windows on either side, with very little provision for comfort. They were designed to hold 16 passengers and there was a round iron pouffe in the middle which was referred to as "y mul" (the donkey). It was a cover for some sort of mechanical arrangement. This sacred spot was reserved for the Oracle of the company, usually the oldest inhabitant, always the man they reverenced the most."[1]
More infromation on quarrymen's carriages and trains can be found here.
[edit] References
- ^ Winton, John (1986). The Little Wonder: The Story of The Festiniog Railway. London, England, W1: Festiniog Railway & Michael Joseph Ltd.. ISBN 9780718109943. OCLC 1858833. p67
