Dduallt
| Dduallt | |
| |
|---|---|
| Linda waits to depart, 1970 | |
| Previous Station | Tan y Bwlch |
| Previous Location | Rhoslyn bridge (lower) |
| Status | Halt Open |
| Next Location | (Old line) Line to old tunnel |
| Next Location | (New line) Deviation sites 1-4 |
| Next Station | Tanygrisiau |
| Latitude | 52:57:36.69N |
| Longitude | 03:58:06.88W |
| Grid Reference | SH678421 |
NGR:SH678421 Lat / Long :52.96023 / -3.96860
Dduallt, meaning 'Black Hill' , which lies at a height of 540ft (164.6m) and a distance of 9 miles 44 chains (15.37km) from Porthmadog, is an unstaffed halt on the Ffestiniog Railway between Tan y Bwlch and Tanygrisiau.[route 1] [wikipedia 1]
Contents |
[edit] Background
When steam traction was introduced in 1863, a slate water tank (which still exists) was established near Dduallt farm about 42 chains below the present station, on Tank Curve, and all up trains stopped for water. Regular use of this facility probably ceased about 1872 with the opening of Tan y Bwlch (although up goods trains are said to have been required to stop at Dduallt for examination prior to passing through Moelwyn Tunnel). The quiet station at Dduallt was first mentioned as a passenger station in 1880. It seems to have declined steadily becoming an unstaffed halt in the 1930s (when it was landscaped by Clough Williams Ellis) until final closure to passengers on 15th September 1939.
For a time, William Thomas Edwards was stationmaster here during his time working for the company. He was a poet, whose bardic name was Gwilym Deudraeth; sometimes he would indent for repairs in verse, at others he would engage in poetic competition with the Loco Superintendent William Williams (Gwilym Meirion). Dduallt is one of those places in Welsh legend where, if you spend the night, you wake either a madman or a poet.
| Deviation Locator | |
| Towards Porthmadog | Rhoslyn Bridge (lower) |
| Toward Blaenau Ffestiniog | Deviation sites 1-4 |
|
Dduallt | |
|---|---|
[edit] Reopening
Dduallt reopened to passengers on 6th April 1968. Initially the loop was not ready and early trains ran with an engine at each end. Later the southern end of the loop became usuable as a short siding, and a spare engine would wait there for the next train to head it out. The engine that had brought it in then went into the siding to await the following train. This continued until the full loop was available later in the year.
Due to the amount of traffic, from 1968 to the early 70's, an additional service was run from Tan y Bwlch to Dduallt for a period, colloquially known under various names including the Dduallt Diddy and the Dduallt Shuttle. It ran between the other trains in the Peak period and was usually formed with Moelwyn, Van 6 (then No 2 van), Quarrymans No. 8 and Bug Boxes, with Toastrack No. 37 substituting from 1972.
As Deviation work progressed, a pull & push service, officially called the Gelliwiog Shuttle (hauled by Moel Hebog and carriage 110) was operated from Dduallt to Gelliwiog from 26th May 1975 to enable tourists to experience part of the Deviation route in advance of the opening of the new Moelwyn Tunnel. It operated from a special bay platform at the north end of the station.
The body of the Old No 1 Van was set up on blocks at the south end and used as the signal box at the time of reopening, but later this was replaced by a temporary signal box at the north end, built by the North Staffs Group.
Dduallt was the upper terminus of the main service until 1977. The original slate water tank at Tank curve was re-commissioned in May 1969 as an emergency supply, but was later replaced by another tank at the north end of Dduallt platform, fed from the water supply at the old tunnel (which was distinctly acid). This tank was removed when trains ceased to terminate at the station. Later a tank was added at the south end of the station with the same water supply, but this is now disconnected.
Dduallt remained as a block post and passing place for some years, but more recently has been reduced to the status of a Halt. The signal box has gone and the loop is disconnected at the north end but has been extended as a siding with run-round loop around the inside of the curve of Site 1 embankment, which has been filled in to form a level area across to the quarry used for Deviation Site 1. It is still an intermediate block post with staff instrument so that works trains and other specials can be locked in the siding.
An attractive stone-built passenger shelter has been added.
Rhoslyn Cottage, opposite the platform and derelict for many years, and once planned to be converted to a hotel, is now in company ownership.
[edit] Company Access Statement
For general details see here
This remote halt is accessible only by mountain footpaths and stiles. There is no road access.
Trains will not normally stop here, as this location is classed as a halt, and not a scheduled stop.
Passengers are asked to notify the guard, as soon as possible, if they wish to alight at this location.
Intending passengers, from here, are requested to hold out your hand so the driver can see you. The driver will often give a short "toot" to acknowledge he has seen you.
[edit] References
- Boyd, James I.C. (1975 / 2002). The Festiniog Railway 1800 - 1974; Vol. 2 Locomotive and Rolling Stock and Quarry Feeders. Blandford: The Oakwood Press. ISBN 085361-168-8.
