Re: Ffestiniog Driver's Eye View Video

Russo Loco Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> A couple of questions:
>     •  What is the gauge of
> the parallel line heading off to the right in the
> first segment?
>     •  What is the average
> gradient of the railroad, and as it passes through
> the spiral?
>

Hi Russ,

As Charlie says, the parallel line heading off to the right at the beginning of the video in Blaenau Ffestiniog is standard gauge, specifically the Conwy Valley Line to Llandudno (ex-LNWR). Incidentally, while this narrow gauge-standard gauge interchange may look comparatively simple today, it has a very complex history, and the two gauges used to be on opposite sides of the platform from where they are now! See here for a summary: Wikipedia: Blaenau Ffestiniog Passenger Stations

Gradient: According to J.I.C. Boyd's two-volume history of the FR (the ultimate reference for all things Ffestiniog), the railroad's average gradient is 1 in 92 (or a little over 1%), and it's remarkably constant from one end to the other (minimum 1 in 186, maximum 1 in 68). This was intended to facilitate gravity operation of "down" trains. However, the section between Tanygrisiau and Ddualt (including the Ddualt Spiral and new Moelwyn Tunnel) follows a new alignment necessitated by the damming of the Tanygrisiau Reservoir in 1956, which flooded the original Moelwyn Tunnel. This "Deviation" was built between 1965 and 1978 and has many more ups and downs than the original railroad, but I'm afraid I can't find a figure for the gradient of the Ddualt Spiral anywhere. (Maybe someone else knows?)

-Philip Marshall



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/24/2017 11:07PM by philip.marshall.