Gravity Slate Trains

From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group

When the Festiniog Railway opened in 1836 all "down" trains were worked by gravity. The "up" trains were horse-hauled - the horses riding back down again in special dandy wagon's. Passenger trains (introduced in 1863) were initially run in Down the line under gravity; goods, followed by passengers, followed by the locomotive (to give a shove if required?). This practice was very swiftly curtailed by the Board of Trade. The practice of running slate trains down by gravity continued right up to the start of WW2.

A view of a gravity slate train passing Rhoslyn House at Dduallt station, dating from between 1900 & 1910.

The above photo has been posted here with permission of Hefin Williams of the Penrhyndeudraeth community website. The photo was donated to the community site by Owen Jones, Adwy Ddu, Penrhyndeudraeth. The caption above was supplied to the community site by ACG.

The photo above shows at least two brakesman manning the train. The Rev J Timothy (Timmy) Phillips also gave a graphic description of a Festiniog brakesman and his work in the railway's heyday:

'This rara avis' (the brakesman)

appeared at his best in his winter plumage, when he looked like an Esquimau in mourning. He must have been en¬cased within layers upon layers of winter clothing, for he always looked as broad as he was long; and the process of disrobing, at the close ofthe day, must have resembled the continuous peeling of a Spanish Onion. And, believe me, he needed them all, for I know of no more blood-curdling, marrow freezing occupation than his anywhere this side of Siberia. He would go to work at 5.30 a.m., sitting on the ledge of the last empty truck of the long 'run' behind the workmen's train - exposed to all weathers. On reaching Blaenau, he and his mate would take charge of the loaded slate train and bring it down to Minffordd. There was no such thing as a brake-van in those days, no shelter of any kind. Watching old Griffith Jones, Bryn Nazareth, going about his business used to send a cold shiver down my spine. Seated calmly on an engineless train careering headlong in the direction of Cae Mawr where there was a drop of 100 feet; he would jump up suddenly and stand bolt upright, placing his famous brass trumpet to his lips, and sounding an alarm that would drive the fox from his lair, scatter the chickens in all directions and fling wide the gates at Corn Pickin! This solemn ritual having been duly observed, he would turn on his heel, and run, as fast as his legs could carry him, in the opposite direction - on top of the train that moved like "The Thundering Herd" or the "Charge of the Light Brigade" - occasionally bobbing up and down to adjust a brake, and then doing physical jerks to keep himself warm, and he would arrive at Minffordd and take his seat once more on the ledge of the last wagon going up!'

John Winton - The Little Wonder - revised edition 1986 pps 69-70 ISBN 0 71812728 5

After the restoration of the Railway the only gravity workings were those of the PW and S&T depts returning wagons after a day's work. The running of trains of slate wagons by gravity was reintroduced about 1986 as an attraction at a Gala. The number of wagons in the train increased over the years and after a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund a train of 51 wagons was restored and ran during the Vintage Weekend, 2002. Todate, the re-creations have not included a Dandy Waggon within the rake, although the only original one is now to be found at the Gelerts Farm museum.