Boston Lodge Halt
From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group
| Boston Lodge Halt | |
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|---|---|
| David Lloyd George heading an up train through Boston Lodge Halt. Photo: Martin Ellis | |
| Previous Station | Harbour Station |
| Previous Location | Boston Lodge |
| Status | Halt Open |
| Next Location | Bron Madoc |
| Next Location | Rhiw Plas |
| Next Location | Minffordd Cemetery |
| Next Station | Minffordd |
| Latitude | 52:55:14.75N |
| Longitude | 04:06:18.00W |
| Grid Reference | SH585380 |
| Harbour Station | |
OSGrid:SH585380 Latt / Long :52.92081 / -4.10501
In pre-preservation times, and for passenger purposes, this location was known as Port Meirion Halt
Boston Lodge Halt is the first stopping place on an Up journey after leaving Porthmadog. The Halt is a request stop, meaning that waiting passengers must give a clear signal to the driver and those wishing to alight here must inform the Guard at the previous station. The Halt, immediately Up the line from the former Engine Shed and Weighhouse at Boston Lodge was first opened between the Wars. The farm track that crosses the line on the level here leads to Penryhn Isaf farm and can be used to reach Portmeirion. Post-preservation the Halt was a temporary terminus from the re-opening in 1955 until the section to Minffordd was opened in 1956.
Nowadays the Halt's main use is for the convenience of the Works, morning trains often pause briefly to deposit milk and other essentials for staff refreshments and during the Summer, when locos sometimes work three round trips but crews ae only allowed to work two the change occurs at the Halt on the second Down trip.
The building seen at the bottom end of the platform, in the pictures below, is the former weigh office and its curious, tapered, shape is a result of the original course of the railway. Until the line was improved for locomotives its original course was to the right of this photograph and in front of the weigh office where there was a pair of weigh tables. Slate waggons were weighed here, before they went through a gate just in front of the No.2 Boston Lodge Cottages. This gate marked the start of Madocks' estate property and the FR had to pay a toll, based upon weight, on all goods carried over the Cob. The improvements and realignment of the line coincided with the development of Minffordd Yard and the weigh tables were relocated to the mineral line there in 1872.
The former office was used as a very basic hostel by many early volunteers and was progressively improved; decent electrics, cooking facilites, bunk beds and a shower all appeared over the years. However, providing a WC has never been possible and residents have had to use the facilites at the Works; a situation that does not suit modern regulations. As a consequence the hostel has been closed.
Forthcoming renovation of the Old Engine Shed, attached to the Down end of the building, will significantly alter the appearance of this end of the site. As yet (May 2008) no new function has been found for the former weigh office.
 London Area Working Party Transport at Boston Lodge Halt, Easter 1962. Ron Fisher's 1949 Hillman Minx is in front of Ron Walker's Ford 105E van. The car to the right is Fred Boughey's Austin A40 Devon c.1950 vintage. *Date: April 1962 *Photo: Ron Fisher |
David Lloyd George heading an up train through Boston Lodge Halt *Date: Unknown *Photo: '''Martin Ellis''' |