Cambrian Coast line photographs
Between 1959 and 1965 my family had holidays along the Cambrian Coast line at various locations.
1959 was spent a Porthmadoc (Portmadoc then). 1960's holiday was at Abersoch near Pwllheli with us travelling on both occasions from Manchester via the Caernarfon (Caernarvon) to Afon Wen line.
In 1961 and 1962 we went to Tywyn (Towyn) using the through Manchester to Barmouth train routed via Crew, Whitchurch, Oswestry, Welshpool and Machynlleth.
In 1963 and 1964 we stayed in Criccieth travelling via Caernarvon.
For our final holiday on the coast in 1965 we stayed in Criccieth again but this time we had to travel via Shrewsbury as all the other routes into Wales had closed.
9017 at Pwllheli shed 10th August 1960 photographed from a passing train by G.E. Rabone
7814 "Fringford Manor" is at the head of the two caoch 12:15 from Welshpool to Whitchurch on Saturday 22nd July 1961. this train waited in Oswestry from 12:48 to 13:50. It is photographed from the11:03 Manchester Piccadily to Aberystwyth and Barmouth which was scheduled to wait at Oswestry from 13:15 to 13:30. Note the second class coach appears to be in the early BR "blood and custard" livery.
Towyn's station sign in 1961 or 1962. In 1963 my eleven plus English composition task was to write about a summer holiday. Instead of writing about sand castles, paddling, amusement arcades and ice creams, as probably most children did,
I chose to write about Towyn and the area around it and what I'd discovered there. It must have pleased the examiners because my teacher told me that my essay had been given the third highest mark in Oldham's eleven plus exams. So perhaps these two holidays in Towyn helped determine my future!
75020 is at Towyn on Tues 25th July 1961 with an empty stock train.
75020 is at Towyn on Tues 25th July 1961.
On Tuesday 25th July 1961 is seen at Towyn with what I believe is the 5:40 pm Machynlleth to Portmadoc. We had travelled on this train from Aberdovey.
7808 (Tyseley shed) at Towyn on 26th July 1961 with what I believe was the 4:05 pm Pwllheli to Dovey Junction train. This locomotive was seen on three days that week when it headed a train of green Southern Region coaches on a Birmingham to Barmouth day excursion train. It seems to have stayed on the Cambrian for a few days after this.
The approach to the Friog rockfall shelter is seen, probably 25th July 1961
On a very wet Thursday 27th July 1961 7828 "Odney Manor" is leaving Morfa Mawddach with the 3:00 pm Wrexham to Pwllheli.
3213 leaves Towyn on Sat 29th July 1961 with a train of former LMS coaches. I suspect that this might be the 10:35 Barmouth to Manchester Piccadily through coaches which left Towyn at 11.08 and was combined at Dovey Junction with the 10:55 from Aberystwyth. arrival in Manchester was at 17:06 having travelled via Oswestry, Whitchurch and Crewe. We travelled on this train two weeks later when the locomotive was another 2251 class, No. 2286 which worked as far as tallerdig summit as pilot locomotive to a Manor class locomotive.
In sparkling condition 7803 "Barcote Manor" is working the "Cambrian Coast Express" on Tuesday 1st August 1961. It is about to draw the Aberystwyth portion forward and set back onto the Pwllheli section of the train.
7428, still with GWR lettering, is shunting the stock of the Down "Cambrian Coast Express" at Aberystwyth on Tuesday 1st August 1961.
Vale of Rheidol No. 7 "Owen Glyndwr" with a train to Devil's Bridge at Aberystwyth on Tuesday 1st August 1961.
Vale of Rheidol No. 9 "Prince of Wales" with a train to Devil's Bridge at Aberystwyth on Tuesday 1st August 1961.
A head on view of Vale of Rheidol No. 9 "Prince of Wales" with a train to Devil's Bridge at Aberystwyth on Tuesday 1st August 1961.
2251 in line green livery at Morfa Mawddach 3rd August 1961. It had brought our train from Towyn.
78007 waits to leave Towyn on Sunday 6th August 1961 with the 9:00am Machynlleth to Barmouth train. This and the return working in the late afternon were the only trains on the Cambrian Coast lien on a Sunday.
3214 is at Dovey Junction with the 1:38 pm Dovey Junction to Pwllheli train in Thurs 10th August 1961.`
On Thursday 10th August 1961 7800 "Torquay Manor is working the 12:40 pm Aberystwyth to Crewe and Shrewsbury at Dovey Junction.
7405 heads the 6:20 pm Dolgellau to Barmouth train alongside the Mawdadch estuary near Penmanpool on Mon 30th July 1962.
7823 "Hook Norton Manor" is on the Up Cambrian Coast Express" (the headboard can just be seen) on Tuesday 31st July 1962.
7823 "Hook Norton Manor"
6378 is seen at Dovey Junction with the 11:00 am Dovey Junction to Barmouth On Friday 10th August 1962. At the other end of the train is 82005 which has brought in the 8:40 am Pwllheli to Dovey Junction which we had travelled on from Towyn. A nine minute turn around seems somewhat optimistic!
On 10th August 1962 7801 "Anthony Manor" is at Dovey Junction with the 6:00 pm from Aberystwyth to Whitchurch and Shrewsbury. On the right is 80101 (newly arrived at Machynlleth shed from the LTSR line) with the 4:05 pm Pwllheli to Dovey Junction.
Another view of "Anthony Manor" at Dovey Junction on 10th August 1962.
80101 at Dovey Junction on Friday 10th August 1962. It had arrived with the 4:05 pm Pwllheli to Dovey Junction and then shunted its stock onto the Aberstwyth line platform to allow a Machynlleth tp Portmadoc train to occupy the Coast line platform.
Cambrian railways sign near Towyn.
Barmouth viaduct.
On Tuesdy 29th July 1964 80104 is taking water at Portmadoc with a morning Pwllheli to Dovey Junction train.
"Terrier" 0-6-0T No. 32640 is seen at Pwllheli awaiting delivery to Butiln's holiday camp at Penychain on 3rd August 1964.
7819 "Hinton Manor" is at Criccieth with the Up "Cambrian Coast Express" on Friday 30th July 1965.
Another view of 7819 is at Criccieth with the Up "Cambrian Coast Express" on Friday 30th July 1965.
7819 leaves Criccieth with the Up "Cambrian Coast Express" on Friday 30th July 1965.
On 3rd August 1965 7827 "Lydham Manor" heads past Aberech just east of Pwllheli with the daily freight to Machynlleth.
7812 is at Machynlleth on Friday 6th August 1965 with the Down "Cambrian Coast Express".
On Saturday 7th August 1965 7827 "Lydham Manor" rounds the curve into Dovey Junction with one of the two Saturdays only Pwllheli to London trains.
On Saturday 7th August 1965 46521 has just backed down onto the through Manchester Piccadily to Barmouth coaches
A slightly run down No.7 "Owen Glyndwr" is at Aberystwyth on 9th August 1965
Viewed from the Up "Cambrian Coast Express" Shrewsbury shed's 7802 "Bradley Manor" brings a freight from Shrewsbury into Machynlleth on the 18th August 1965.
Another view of 7802 "Bradley Manor" at Machynlleth on the 18th August 1965.