Tan y Bwlch

Tan y Bwlch
An 1890s photochrom image of Tan y Bwlch
Previous Station	Plas Halt
Previous Location	Tan Y Bwlch Bridge
Status	Station Open
Next Location	Creuau Bank
Next Station	Dduallt
Latitude	52:57:15.95N
Longitude	04:00:40/57W
Grid Reference	SH649415
Stations Locations	Harbour Station

NGR:SH649415 Lat / Long :52.95452 / -4.01126

Customer Facilities
Access	Parking

Tan y Bwlch, meaning 'Under the Pass' lies at a height of 434ft (132m) and a distance of 7 miles 35 chains (11.97km) from Porthmadog. For more pictures at Tan y Bwlch, please click here.

Stamp - old company Parcels
Issue No.	old company Parcels
First Issued	unknown
Railway Letter Service

General

From 1865 until 1873 the only regular passing station for trains was at the former horse stage at Hafod y Llyn (FR) which opened for passengers on 6 January 1865. It was approximately 7 miles from Portmadoc, and horses were changed there from 1836 to 1863.

Tan y bwlch was officially opened in July 1873 but recent evidence suggests it was probably in use the previous year. The new station at Tan y Bwlch was the principal passing station from its opening (see below) until it closed to passengers on 15th September 1939. Passenger service to Tan y Bwlch was resumed on 5th April 1958. Tan y Bwlch has a large, handsome, 1980s, stone-built built water tank with two water pipes, with six-inch pull valves to feed both ends of a Fairlie in two minutes. The original, smaller, tank of which the stone plinth stands nearby, had a four-inch pipe and took five minutes to fill the loco. The fitting of larger valves here has knocked three minutes off the journey time!

There is a 1960s concrete block signal box, together with the original wooden station building, ex Hafod y Llyn (c.1873-4) and station house (c.1895-6**). The 1873 station building, having been restored, was entered for a railway heritage competition and evoked the classic response from one of the judges 'Not very 1930s, is it?'

The stone-built former goods shed serves as a shop and café and has been extended to accommodate kitchens, a store and passenger amenities. Nearby there is a good little children's playground (2009).

The nearby nature trail to Llyn Mair shows all manner of wonders. Note Bewick swans on the lake in winter and buzzards circling in the thermals in the summer.

The present footbridge is not on the site of the 19thC original but is a few yards nearer Porthmadog and serves a public footpath (formerly a Roman road) as well as providing access to the island platform. A new bridge in the original location is due to be installed in 2012.

Before 1854, there was a level crossing for the Maentwrog-–Llanfrothen road which passed between the present café and the later road bridge. In that year the road was diverted to go under the new bridge, the cast-iron girders of which were, according to the legend upon them, cast at Boston Lodge, a remarkable achievement at that date.

At one point, there appeared at least two coin-operated entertainment machines outside the station. These were known as mutoscopes, and were provided by the North Wales Mutoscope Co. Pre-dating the cinema, they provided a moving-picture experience for a single viewer and were popular at the time, particularly the 'What the Butler Saw' variety.

Drawing of layout from 1963. Click on it for a full size view

Tan y Bwlch between 1873 and 1875.Double Fairlie James Spooner in original condition on a down train and one of the England Engines on the up train using the original wood clad, water tank. The station building has a ticket window and on the right hand side is a Gentleman's toilet. In the distance there are the white painted wooden steps leading to the signal and top points.

An 1890s photochrom image of Tan y Bwlch. The crew of typical down train of the period stand proudly beside their charge Double Fairlie Livingston Thompson, in 1893-6, as an up train receives attention. The twin smoke trails, seen just beyond the ticket office, indicate that the up service is also hauled by a double engine. The small wooden building to the right of the station served as a refreshment kiosk: perhaps the driver of the Oakeley Arms Hotel's horse-drawn carriage has just 'wet his whistle'. 'The Barn', on the left, served as a passenger shelter before being replaced by the Station House.

In June 1920 the station staff appears to have been only H. D. Jones, Station Master and William Evans, Porter

This view shows Tan y Bwlch with a train hauled by single Fairlie 'Taliesin' approaching. c 1900 - 1910. A pen and ink drawing, taken from the above photo, by Michael Seymour, has formed the 'masthead' for the FR Heritage Group Journal since its inception.

Trains passing - 2004

Car Park

There is space for about 25 vehicles at this station. The area is only rough gravel, and there are no marked bays.

Company Access Statement

For general details see here
Situated off a minor road, the B4410, this station has an island platform which is mainly accessed by means of a footbridge. However, there is a flat crossing with a gate into the car park situated half way along the platform. Please note this facility is not available when there is a train in the platform so please arrive early if you wish to join here

There is a small café which is open at busy times. There is ramped access into the café and a designated table for wheelchair users close to the door. There are also tables and seating outside, some of which are under cover. The toilets are outside and to the left of the café entrance. There is a small step into the Ladies’ and the Gentlemen’s toilets. The accessible toilet has level access and also contains nappy changing facilities.

See also

• Bessie Jones
• FR Stations