Plas Halt
| Plas Halt | |
| |
|---|---|
| Plas Halt looking towards Porthmadog | |
| Previous Station | Penrhyn |
| Previous Location | Tyler's Curve |
| Status | Halt Open |
| Next Location | Hafod y Llyn (FR) |
| Next Station | Tan y Bwlch |
| Latitude | 52:56:52.28N |
| Longitude | 04:00:04.62W |
| Grid Reference | SH654408 |
NGR:SH654408 Lat / Long :52.94811 / -4.00330
| Customer Facilities |
Plas Halt, an unstaffed halt on the Ffestiniog Railway between Penrhyn and Tan y Bwlch, lies at a height of 375 ft (114m), and a distance of 6 miles 19chains (10km) from Porthmadog.[route 1][wikipedia 1]
Construction of the platform and installation of a fence and seat took less than 24 hours, on the evening of Friday 30th and the morning of Saturday 31 May 1963, and it was opened later that day by John Bibby, the then owner, of Plas Tan y Bwlch. Public service commenced the following day. Construction of the stone passenger shelter by volunteers from the Thames Valley Group of the FRS in 1989, took rather longer!
It is located at Zig-zag Crossing immediately to the north of Tyler's Curve above Plas Tan y Bwlch. A century earlier, W.G. Oakeley of Plas Tan y Bwlch had a private station nearby, Plas Private.
The Halt was intended to serve a proposed holiday chalet development on the estate, but this didn't materialise. Subsequently it has been much used in connection with courses at the Snowdonia National Park Study Centre[external 1], and by ramblers enjoying the woodland around the Plas and, on several occasions FR members attending Conventions and FR Heritage Group AGMs there. [video 1]
The halt was established in 1963. Construction took place on the evening of Friday 30 May 1963 and the morning of Saturday 31 May 1963 and it was officially opened later that same day by Mr John Bibby the then owner of Plas Tan-y-Bwlch. The halt was intended to serve a proposed chalet development on the estate. Subsequently it has been much used in connection with courses at the Snowdonia National Park Environmental Study Centre now based at Plas Tan-y-Bwlch. A stone passenger shelter was built at Plas Halt by volunteers from the Thames Valley Group of the Ffestiniog Railway Society in 1989.
Plas Halt is used chiefly by visitors and guests of Plas Tan-y-Bwlch and also by walkers using the footpaths from Zigzag Crossing. Visitors can also walk down into Maentwrog using these paths. The gardens at Plas Tan-y-Bwlch are open to the public and combined train and garden tickets are available. Trains call at this halt only on request and intending passengers are advised to check with the Ffestiniog Railway Company before embarking on their journey.
[edit] Company Access Statement
For general details see here
This halt is in the middle of the woods and is only accessible by rough woodland footpaths. 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. 1 - History and Route. Blandford: The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-8536-1167-X. OCLC 2074549.
- 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.
