Penrhyn Station
From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group
| Penrhyn Station | |
 ]] | |
|---|---|
| Penrhyn Station in February 2005 Photo: Kim Winter | |
| Previous Station | Minffordd |
| Status | Station Open |
| Next Location | Plas Halt |
| Next Station | Tan-y-Bwlch |
| Latitude | 52:56:06.42N |
| Longitude | 04:03:53.09W |
| Grid Reference | SH613395 |
| Wikipedia Entry | |
| Harbour Station | |
OSGrid:SH613395 Latt / Long :52.93515 / -4.06473
(Penrhyndeudraeth meaning 'Headland between two beaches' )
Located on a narrow shelf cut into the hillside above the village of Penrhyndeudraeth, this station was opened in 1865. The initial station, only a small hut, was located much closer to the level crossing than the present building and there was a walled coal yard immediately opposite. The station was rebuilt, in its present location, in 1879, allegedly using components from the original Porthmadog Harbour Station and a small, stone, Goods shed served by a siding facing Up trains was added a few years later. During the 1870's the name of the station was shortened to Penrhyn, in order to avoid confusion with the station on the Cambrian Railways coast line at the bottom of the town.
Post-preservation Penrhyn was equipped with a loop and served as a temporary terminus from 20th April 1957 until the line was re-opened to Tan-Y-Bwlch in 1958. The loop continued in use for passing timetabled trains until 1974, although the track and associated signalling remained in situ until ???.
*Date: 14th May 1960 *Photo: DJ Norton Collection
*Date: 1975 *Photo: Cyril Perrier
the passing loop is still in place, and apparently in regular use, so presumably Rhiw Goch was not yet operational.
For more details of how the station was operated in the early 1970's, please see the Penrhyn Operations page.
From 1975 Penrhyn loop was replaced for normal timetable purposes by the new loop at Rhiw Goch. The station building now serves as a volunteer hostel. Beyond the station the railway crosses the Penrhyndeudraeth to Llanfrothen road on what is now the line's only gated & manned level crossing.
*Dare: August 2004 *Photo: Martin Ellis
*Date: February 2005 *Photo: Kim Winter
The town promotes itself as the Networked Village (external site)
During the late 1980s the station building was extensively and sympathetically, renovated by teams of volunteers working for the BP&G Dept. under the leadership of Eileen Clayton. It had long been used as a Hostel by FR Society Groups and the renovation improved both the fabric of the building and the facilites available to volunteers.