NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 89
Berwyn Halt
Michael L. Roach
In the journey up the Barmouth to Ruabon line, the next station reached after leaving Glyndyfrdwy (Part 84) is Berwyn Halt. It was a fully-fledged passenger station until 1954 when staffing was withdrawn, albeit with only a single platform and no chance of ever having two platforms and a crossing loop. When the A5 was constructed, it took the best location on a shelf above the River Dee a short distance away from the riverbank. The railway followed the same valley and was forced onto a high embankment to the east of the station and a low viaduct to the west of the station between the A5 and the River Dee. In 1902-06 a new road was built from the A5 by the station building, then beside the A5 and then under the railway viaduct arch and across the River Dee and across the Llangollen Canal. The road across the bridge leads to the village of Llantysilio and later became the B5103 while the bridge was named King's Bridge to commemorate the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902. Before the road bridge was built the only way of crossing the River Dee at this point was across a footbridge called Chain Bridge. The present suspension bridge dates from 1929 and has only ever carried pedestrians; but interestingly the first bridge of 1818 was built to carry coal, lime and stone from the canal to the A5 road. The railway station never had a goods yard because there was no room for one.
The station building at Berwyn is quite unlike any other on the line. The Chairman of the company that built the line through here – the Llangollen and Corwen – lived nearby and was instrumental in requiring a station at this cramped location and in requiring a high-quality building which was built in the mock-Tudor style. The station building was designed by Samuel Pountney Smith of Shrewsbury who we met earlier at Carrog Station. At the north end of the suspension bridge in the narrow space between the River Dee and the canal an hotel was later built and this was also in the Mock Tudor style as was the Berwyn Post Office. The station building, the railway viaduct, the King's Bridge and the Horseshoe Falls Weir are all listed structures.
A short five-minute walk up the towpath of the canal from the Chain Bridge is another site that is well worth a visit – the Horseshoe Falls. This is not a conventional normal waterfall but a man-made weir across the full width of the River Dee in a giant curve. The weir was designed by Thomas Telford in 1808 to provide water for the canal and to ensure there would always be a sufficient supply he also raised the level of Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake) by 760mm so that the flow in the River Dee could be regulated in times of low flow. The lake is some 20 miles away from Berwyn Halt. This really is a fascinating area and well worth a visit especially on the Llangollen Steam Railway's operating days when a steam train adds to the scene. The River Dee in this area is also very popular with kayakers.
A look at the OS from 1874/1880 produced some interesting figures. It gave something I had not seen before – the level of the surface of the water (296.7 feet) and the bed of the canal (295.3 feet) in the vicinity of the Chain Bridge. Around the same time the level of Bala Lake was given as 529.9 feet. The two levels given suggest a physical gradient of 1 in about 450. The gradient would actually be flatter than that because of all the twists and turns in the course of the river. Fifty years ago a huge reservoir (Llyn Brenig) was built upstream on a tributary of the River Dee whose sole purpose is to provide water for the River Dee in times of drought.
Many, if not most, of the photographs of trains at and leaving Berwyn Station show a westbound train leaving across the six arch viaduct heading for Corwen, Bala or Ruabon. They give a wonderful close-up view of the engine and train taken from the side of the main road. I have been to Berwyn three times I think but only once when trains were running and taken a photo from that spot. Unfortunately, those pics have not been found in time for this article.
It is interesting to recall the very full range of traffic that has passed through this gap in the hills at Berwyn in the last 200 years i.e since Telford's London to Holyhead Road was completed.
Items starred still occur. This really is a fascinating area to visit.
The station building at Berwyn is quite unlike any other on the line. The Chairman of the company that built the line through here – the Llangollen and Corwen – lived nearby and was instrumental in requiring a station at this cramped location and in requiring a high-quality building which was built in the mock-Tudor style. The station building was designed by Samuel Pountney Smith of Shrewsbury who we met earlier at Carrog Station. At the north end of the suspension bridge in the narrow space between the River Dee and the canal an hotel was later built and this was also in the Mock Tudor style as was the Berwyn Post Office. The station building, the railway viaduct, the King's Bridge and the Horseshoe Falls Weir are all listed structures.
A short five-minute walk up the towpath of the canal from the Chain Bridge is another site that is well worth a visit – the Horseshoe Falls. This is not a conventional normal waterfall but a man-made weir across the full width of the River Dee in a giant curve. The weir was designed by Thomas Telford in 1808 to provide water for the canal and to ensure there would always be a sufficient supply he also raised the level of Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake) by 760mm so that the flow in the River Dee could be regulated in times of low flow. The lake is some 20 miles away from Berwyn Halt. This really is a fascinating area and well worth a visit especially on the Llangollen Steam Railway's operating days when a steam train adds to the scene. The River Dee in this area is also very popular with kayakers.
A look at the OS from 1874/1880 produced some interesting figures. It gave something I had not seen before – the level of the surface of the water (296.7 feet) and the bed of the canal (295.3 feet) in the vicinity of the Chain Bridge. Around the same time the level of Bala Lake was given as 529.9 feet. The two levels given suggest a physical gradient of 1 in about 450. The gradient would actually be flatter than that because of all the twists and turns in the course of the river. Fifty years ago a huge reservoir (Llyn Brenig) was built upstream on a tributary of the River Dee whose sole purpose is to provide water for the River Dee in times of drought.
Many, if not most, of the photographs of trains at and leaving Berwyn Station show a westbound train leaving across the six arch viaduct heading for Corwen, Bala or Ruabon. They give a wonderful close-up view of the engine and train taken from the side of the main road. I have been to Berwyn three times I think but only once when trains were running and taken a photo from that spot. Unfortunately, those pics have not been found in time for this article.
It is interesting to recall the very full range of traffic that has passed through this gap in the hills at Berwyn in the last 200 years i.e since Telford's London to Holyhead Road was completed.
- Horse drawn carts, stage coaches and mail coaches; plus individuals on horseback.
- Cars, motor buses and coaches on the main road.*
- Goods traffic on the canal, the main road* and the railway.
- Goods traffic from the canal to the main road, across the first bridge (This was to avoid the tolls in Llangollen)
- Military traffic to Holyhead, and on to Ireland, before the railway age.
- Kayakers and canoeists on the River Dee*.
- Water from the River Dee transported along the canal to be abstracted many miles downstream and treated to drinking water standards*.
Items starred still occur. This really is a fascinating area to visit.
This was what the station looked like fifty years ago after the track had been lifted and before it was relaid. The date is 24 July 1976 and the station reopened ten years later in March 1986. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Looking south along the King's Bridge to the Berwyn railway viaduct at 6.30pm on the fine evening of 22 May 2010. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Here we see Berwyn Station on its shelf high above the River Dee on the same evening in 2010. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Many thanks Mike, lovely photographs and information about a fascinating part of the country.
For more of Michaels articles, please click here.
For more of Michaels articles, please click here.
Testing in the west
Mick House
A late running 2Q08, Netwok Rail Class 150 950001, passing Wheal Busy crossing 10.14 yesterday morning. 03.02.2026, copyright Mick House.
Well done for braving the weather Mick, many thanks for the photo.
Devon & Cornwall DMU's
Part 1
Ian Thomas
P856 at Looe awaiting departure for Liskeard on 24.01.1976. Copyright Ian Thomas.
P357 at Gunnislake having arrived on the 1312 from Plymouth. 21.02.1976, copyright Ian Thomas.
P583 arrives at Exmouth with the 1744 from Exeter Central. 03.07.1976, copyright Ian Thomas.
P583 ready to depart Exmouth with the 1813 Exmouth - Barnstaple. 03.07.1976, copyright Ian Thomas.
Many thanks Ian. Tomorrow we jump forwards in time to the early 90's for some more branch line DMU photos. Stay tuned!
February 1976
Part 4
Roger Winnen
A Plymouth Railway Circle walk to Wadebridge
The approaches to Wadebridge Station. 06.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
Wadebridge Station. 06.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
Wadebridge Station. 06.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
Slate Wagons at Wadebridge. 06.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
A GWR coach undergoing restoration at Bodmin General. 06.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
The Caradon loco firebox at Bodmin General - in use at Moorswater as a lavatory before it was moved here, where it still remains today, 50 years later. 06.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
Re: The Wadebridge Line 1976
Words from Andrew & Diane Jones
Even now, some 50 years on, it's difficult to comprehend the demise of the Wadebridge Railway. Rogers photographs allow us a glimpse of this historic line and its later connection with North Cornwall.
In yesterdays photos, the two youngsters sitting on the Pendavy bow string bridge must be nearing retirement now with the deep cutting looking towards Sladesbridge behind them.
This bridge still exists carrying local infrastructure pipes which saved it from the relentless scrap man.
The photographs of the shooting platform, last used by the Devon and Cornwall Light infantry in the late 50's just miss the tin mess hut and its pot belly stove hidden in the undergrowth beyond the unusual earth platform held back by old rail and sleepers which still existed in 1976.
Boscarne exchange platform, was a last ditch attempt to provide a profitable link to Bodmin North using a 4 wheel railcar and lasted a few short years in service.
The rail car often travelled as far as Padstow and from my memory the ride quality was at the very least interesting!
The Wadebridge and Padstow line should never have closed and joins that long list of destinations in which victorian investment was truely wasted and would benefit re connection to the main railway network.
More of the same please Roger from your remarkable and precious archive.
In yesterdays photos, the two youngsters sitting on the Pendavy bow string bridge must be nearing retirement now with the deep cutting looking towards Sladesbridge behind them.
This bridge still exists carrying local infrastructure pipes which saved it from the relentless scrap man.
The photographs of the shooting platform, last used by the Devon and Cornwall Light infantry in the late 50's just miss the tin mess hut and its pot belly stove hidden in the undergrowth beyond the unusual earth platform held back by old rail and sleepers which still existed in 1976.
Boscarne exchange platform, was a last ditch attempt to provide a profitable link to Bodmin North using a 4 wheel railcar and lasted a few short years in service.
The rail car often travelled as far as Padstow and from my memory the ride quality was at the very least interesting!
The Wadebridge and Padstow line should never have closed and joins that long list of destinations in which victorian investment was truely wasted and would benefit re connection to the main railway network.
More of the same please Roger from your remarkable and precious archive.
Many thanks Andrew & Diane - glad Rogers pictures have stirred some memories. I do not believe for one moment you are alone in missing the line.
Vice-HST
Michael Adams
With thanks to Michael Forward
Michael Adams sends this picture of 47211 at Bristol deputising for a failed HST with the 09.25 from Temple Meads to Paddington on 1 August 1981. The journey will have been enjoyed by the enthusiasts I am sure. Copyright Michael Adams.
Many thanks to the two Michaels for another great photo from the past.
More from the archives
Steve Clark
An HST passes Maindee Jn on the approach to Newport. Copyright Steve Clark.
60081 'Isambard Kingdon Brunel' passes Newport station on Aberthaw to Avonmouth HAA empties. Copyright Steve Clark.
37019 stabled at Didcot Parkway. Copyright Steve Clark.
Great memories Steve, Newport was a fantastic place to watch a wide variety of trains go by until fairly recently.
(And as if by magic, to reinforce that thought, the below item from Roger arrived in our inbox!)
(And as if by magic, to reinforce that thought, the below item from Roger arrived in our inbox!)
South Wales Van Train
Roger Geach
47605 leads the Bristol - Cardiff RES vans near Coedkernew (west of Newport) on 24.06.1993. Once a favorite spot to photo the trains. Copyright Roger Geach.
Many thanks Roger and with perfect timing. The skyline above the loco looking very industrial there.