Tanygrisiau

From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group

OSGrid:SH683449 Latt / Long :52.98578 / -3.96303

Tanygrisiau, meaning Under the Steps lies at a height of 640ft above sea level and at a route distance of 12 miles 10 chains from Porthmadog.

The original station opened in March 1866 and closed on 15th September 1939. The station was built with what can only be called slate rubble, for when the railway closed the building soon became a shell, and had to be removed. All that remains is the old goods shed and part of the back wall of the main building. It is interesting to see that the new alignment of the track makes the shed look smaller than it really is. The new station opened to passenger traffic on 24th June 1978 and was the passenger terminus until 25th May 1982 when services resumed through to Blaenau Ffestiniog. At one point, a refuge siding was laid, parallel to the platform, and furtheest away from the lake. This was intended for works trains.

Passengers alight at this station for the Ffestiniog Power Station. Opened on 10th August 1963 by H.M. The Queen, this is a pumped hydro-electric system which evens out peaks in national electricity demand. Water flows down large pipes from the upper reservoir, Llyn Stwlan, and drives the generators which reach full power in under a minute. The water is pumped back to the upper reservoir in off-peak periods. At the point where the railway runs over the water pipes, guard rails are fixed outside the running rails.

Tanygrisiau as a terminus, 11 months after re-opening. Earl of Merioneth takes water at temporary water tower
*Date: May 1979 *Picture: Cyril Perrier

Tanygrisiau station
*Date Unknown *Photo: Keith C. Bradbury

The water tank has since been replaced by this pair of signals. The water tank was re-erected in Minffordd Yard in April 1988.
*Date: Tuesday 14th February 2006 *Photo: Keith C. Bradbury

The usually unmanned signal box. *Date: Tuesday 14th February 2006 *Photo: Keith C. Bradbury

It was intended to staff Tanygrisiau during the 2006 season to speed the process of crossing trains and to allow those trains which do not cross to pass through non-stop (providing there are no passengers wishing to use the station). The first occasion this occurred was on Monday 29 May 2006, but was not a permanent post.

Passenger Accomodation.
*Date: Tuesday 14th February 2006 *Photo: Keith C. Bradbury

[edit]Track_Changes

After the opening of the Old Moelwyn Tunnel the railway had a continuous gradient down to Boston Lodge from 1842 until 1946, allowing loaded slate trains to run by gravity. Now there is a stiff climb from Tanygrisiau up to the Summit Cutting.

Tanygrisiau station was another station altered as part of the deviation. The current track is now a few metres higher than the original track - most obviously shown by the level of the old engine shed

Tanygrisiau has seen three different railway alignments. The first course, dating from 1836, was in the horse tramway era. The second dates from 1852 and was a more suitable alignment for steam traction. This route was used until the preservation period when the third alignment was made to accommodate the new line built as part of the deviation. There is a picture in Boyd showing the second course just before it was obliterated by the construction of the reservoir. It clearly shows how the second course was somewhat higher than the first It is not possible to see the 1852 route as it is under the water. The 1836 course is now the roadway in this picture. Whilst showing the line of the 1836 route, this picture has relevance in that there are at least 2 old pictures taken from the headland in the centre of the picture showing both the 1836 and 1852 courses.

An, admittedly poor, representation of the way the line has changed here
*Date: December 2003
*Drawn: Keith C. Bradbury

[edit]See also

• Stations
• Wikipedia Entry for Tanygrisiau