OSGrid:SH626405
Latt / Long :52.94449 / -4.04493
Rhiw Goch (Red Bank) stands at a height of 225ft asl, and is 4 miles 16 chains from Porthmadog.
Click on the following links for a look inside the boxes, both old and new, from Peter Matthews.
Inside Rhiw Goch Box (Old)
Inside Rhiw Goch Box (New)
Prior to the first box being constructed, the AGM Flying Flea Special crosses Cei Mawr on a beautiful spring day (R789)
*Date: April 1962 *Photo:
Ron Fisher
Over a century after its use as a horse station ceased, the Rhiw Goch area came alive again in 1973 when the site (seen in its overgrown state in Ron Fisher's photo below) was cleared for the construction of a new passing loop.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
*Date: Autumn 1974 *Photo:Jim Place/Michael Ritchie
Being halfway between
Minffordd and
Tan-y-Bwlch this location was better placed than
Penrhyn in terms of the timetable an could also accomodate the longer trains then being run.
Blanche on up train passing the then newly-operational box
*Date: Late May 1975 *Photo:
Cyril Perrier
The new loop and signal box, complete with colour light signals, were brought into use with effect from May 14th 1975.
Old signal box towards the end of its life from a passing up train
*Date: 27th May 2005 *Photo:
Keith C. Bradbury
Rhiw Goch remains the only regularly manned signalbox on the FR and has a very loyal band of supporters. In 2006 an appeal was launched, through the FR Society, for funds to replace the life-expired signal box with a building of more traditional appearance. Fundraising has gone well and work is scheduled to be completed during the closed season of 2006/7.
[edit]See also
