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Rhyd Ddu
From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group
| Rhyd Ddu | |
| |
|---|---|
| Rhyd Ddu station | |
| Previous Station | Waunfawr |
| Previous Location | Snowdon Ranger |
| Status | Station Open |
| Next Location | Pont Rhyd y Gors |
| Next Station | Meillionen |
| Latitude | 53:03:05.29N |
| Longitude | 04:07:59.51W |
| Grid Reference | SH571525 |
OSGrid:SH571525 Latt / Long :53.05146 / -4.13329
Rhyd Ddu means Black Ford. Formerly known variously as South Snowdon or just Snowdon, this station was for many years the terminus of the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways. Opened in 1881, this preceded the opening of the Snowdon Mountain Railway in 1896, and became a popular point for ascending Snowdon. The original station stood where the SNPA car park is now; there was a run round loop and a few sidings. An attempt by the Portmadoc, Beddgelert And South Snowdon Railway in 1904-08 to link Rhyd Ddu with Porthmadog (via Beddgelert and Croesor Junction) came to nothing, and it was not until 1923 (with the opening of the completed Welsh Highland Railway) that this was achieved, and Rhyd Ddu consequently lost its status as a terminus.
However, Rhyd Ddu was the temporary terminus of the Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarfon) between 2003 and 2009.
Reconstruction of the line commenced in 1997 and, up to this point, was completed in 3 stages. The Third Stage commenced in the last quarter of 2000 and continued through to July 2003. The first train run all the way through from Waunfawr to Rhyd Ddu was for an HMRI inspection on July 18th, comprising Harold and a DZ wagon. On the 28th the first test steam train to get as far as Rhyd Ddu ran (Prince and Carriage 23, 24, and what was then 10), prior to a visit by Prince Charles for the official inauguration on the 30th.
Opening Day was August 18th 2003.
The present station was built into the hillside behind the old one. The layout consists of an island platform with a passing loop 200m long on either side. There are water tanks at both ends of the platform; they are of traditional Braithwaite railway type but are not universally considered as an improvement to the landscape. At the south (Up) end there is a set of sidings which were used for construction traffic in 2005-7, after which the construction traffic moved to Hafod y Llyn Isaf.
The fourth stage of the reconstruction, which will take the line through to Porthmadog, commenced in 2005, and is scheduled for completion in 2009.
At approximately 12 route miles from Caernarfon, Rhyd Ddu is roughly half way between Caernarfon and Porthmadog.
[edit] Company Access Statement for Rhyd Ddu
Details Last updated June 2009. For general details see here
The station is to the south of the village beside the A4085. The car park here belongs to the Snowdonia National Park Authority and there is only very limited parking available. The National Park Authority has an accessible toilet in the car park for RADAR key holders.
The platform is accessed via a tarmac ramp and level foot crossing. There is a waiting shelter, and also a small booking office which is open on busy days.
[edit] References
Boyd, James I.C.. Narrow Gauge Railways in South Caernarvonshire. Lingfield, Surrey, England: The Oakwood Press. ISBN 9780853611158. OCLC 707587. "Subsequent editions split into 2 volumes"
[edit] See also
For more information on the area then visit Ben Fisher's site
