| Bala Lake Railway Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid | |
|---|---|
 Alice atLlanuwchllyn, 18 July 2004 | |
| Locale | Wales |
| Terminus | Llanuwchllyn |
| Commercial operations | |
| Name | Ruabon–Barmouth line |
| Built by | GWR |
| Original gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)standard gauge |
| Preserved operations | |
| Operated by | Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid Ltd |
| Length | 4.5 miles (7.2 km) |
| Preserved gauge | 1 ft 11+5⁄8 in (600 mm) |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | Between 1 December 1861 and 10 October 1867 |
| Closed to passengers | 18 January 1965 |
| Closed | 1968 |
| Preservation history | |
| Opened | 1972 |
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TheBala Lake Railway (Welsh:Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid) is anarrow-gauge railway along the southern shore ofBala Lake inGwynedd,North Wales. The line, which is4+1⁄2 miles (7.2 km) long, is built on a section of the formerstandard-gaugeRuabon–BarmouthGWR route that closed in 1965. Another section of the formerpermanent way is used by theLlangollen Railway. The Bala Lake Railway, which runs on600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in)-gaugepreserved rolling stock, is a member of theGreat Little Trains of Wales.
The railway now has the largest collection of historic narrow-gauge quarry locomotives built specifically for theslate industry in North Wales by theHunslet Engine Company inLeeds.
The narrow-gauge Bala Lake railway uses the permanent way of the formerstandard-gaugeGWRRuabon–Barmouth line. The railway, which opened in August 1868, was built by the Bala and Dolgelley Railway Company. Its original 19 mi (31 km) route ran between the Corwen & Bala Railway atBala Junction andCambrian Railways' station atDolgellau. In 1877 it became part of the network operated by Great Western (GWR). In 1896Llanuwchllyn was redeveloped with the addition of a passing loop and second platform, extended building and a new signal box.
Passenger services through Bala Junction ceased on Monday 18 January 1965 when the line fromLlangollen toBarmouth was closed. Although originally earmarked fordieselisation by theWestern Region of British Railways in the early 1960s, theRuabon to Bala–Barmouth line was included in the 1963Beeching Report. Traffic on the line was gradually reduced and facilities rationalised; the last scheduled through-rail service was the mail train fromChester in December 1964. Long-distance holidaycharter trains and through freight traffic were diverted on to theCambrian main line viaWelshpool. Goods traffic finally ceased on 1 January 1968 when the branch atPontcysyllte was closed.
By 1969 the track had been lifted. Reuse of the line as a narrow-gauge railway began when local engineer, George Barnes, saw the potential of the lakeside section for both local and tourist traffic. With the help of Tom Jones, then chairman ofMerioneth County Council's Finance Committee, they establishedRheilffordd Llyn Tegid Ltd, the first company in Wales to be registered exclusively in theWelsh language.
Bala Lake Railway opened on 13 August 1972. In its first season, it operated a small industrial diesel engine with two open carriages on1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) of track between Llanuwchllyn and Pentrepiod. Extension work continued throughout this period with the help of local ex-British Rail employees. The line was extended to Llangower by the start of 1973. In 1975 the line reached a new temporary station at Pant-yr-hen-felin.[1] The following year the line reached Bala (Llyn Tegid), now known as Bala (Penybont). There were expansion plans to extend the line into Bala's town centre by 1981 but these plans were abandoned early in that year.[2]
The canopy at Llanuwchllyn was built in 1979 with supports which were made for the Cambrian Railways station at Pwllheli, but were relocated to Aberdovey in 1907 when Pwllheli station was moved. The stations along the line are:
The company now has the largest collection of historic narrow-gauge quarry locomotives built by theWest YorkshireHunslet Engine Company specifically for the North Wales' slate industry.[citation needed]
TheLlanuwchllyn Heritage Centre is a museum of Welsh narrow-gauge railway located atLlanuwchllyn railway station.[3] It won the 2020 Railway Heritage Association award for Outstanding Visitor Attraction.[4][5] Exhibits on display includeHunslet Engine Company locomotiveNesta and a replica of Lord Penrhyn's private carriage, both from thePenrhyn Quarry Railway.[3] It also houses locomotives that are not currently in use which frees up spaces in the running shed and has a variety of exhibits relating to the quarry industry.
In 2010, the company revived plans to complete the final 0.75 miles (1.2 km) of the railway to Bala town centre. The Red Dragon Project, under the auspices of the Bala Lake Railway Trust, has been established to build the £2.5 million extension.[6]
The plans also include: a new engine shed, a visitor centre, the rebuilding of the carriage shed, which was completed in 2019, and a new set of carriages.
In March 2017, the Trust announced that it had acquired land required in Bala for the new railway terminus.[7]In October 2019, the Trust purchased land fromBala Rugby Club for the extension of the line.[8] A further area of land adjacent to the new station site was acquired in 2022 and will be used for sidings.[9]
Over the weekend of 12/13 June 2021 the event 'Bala Rerailed', was held on the site of the new station in Bala using Winifred and a Penrhyn coach to provide rides to the public.[citation needed]
The preserved railway turned 50 in 2022 and staged a variety of events. These included: 'Bala at 50' over the May Day Bank Holiday, complete with the launch of a pictorial album "Bala Lake Railway, The First 50 Years, 1972 - 2022", and a celebratory beer; 'Aur Bala/Bala Gold' on 13 August; and a 'Gala' over August Bank Holiday.[10]
Steam locomotives currently in use or stored on the line are:
Most of the locos were built by theHunslet Engine Company for theDinorwic andPenrhyn Quarries. The numerous Hunslet slate quarry steam locomotives have led the railway to market itself as the home of the Hunslet.[15]
Until late 2011, ex Southam Cement WorksPeckett 'Triassic' was stored on the Bala Lake Railway, was relocated to theStatfold Barn Railway during the overhauls of Winifred and George B due to storage space issues, but returned in Summer 2016.[16] Some locomotives can now be seen at other railways;Ashover, for example, is now at the Vale of Rheidol Railway.[17]
The four main diesel locomotives are:[18]
Heritage railways, museums and preservation societies in Wales | |
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| Narrow gauge |
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| Standard gauge | |
| Centres and museums | |
| International | |
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| National | |
52°52′48″N3°37′34″W / 52.88000°N 3.62611°W /52.88000; -3.62611
