Dyserth branch line

Dyserth Branch Line
Overview
OwnerBritish Railways
Previously LNWR then LMSR
LocalePrestatyn
Denbighshire, Wales
Termini
Stations7
Service
TypeHeavy Rail
History
Opened1 September 1869[1][full citation needed]
Closed7 September 1973[2]
Technical
Line length2 miles 74 chains (4.7 km)
Number of tracks1
CharacterRural
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Minimum radius11 chains (220 m)
Operating speed25 miles per hour (40 km/h)
Maximum incline1 in 45

The Dyserth branch line was a short standard-gauge mineral railway between the northern end of the Clwydian Range at Dyserth and the North Wales Coast Line at Prestatyn.[3] The line was constructed by the London and North Western Railway in 1869; it was built to carry quarried stone and coal. The rise of tourism led to the introduction of a passenger service in 1905. There were stations at Dyserth and Meliden, and basic halts were built at other stopping places. Competition from road transport led to the passenger service being withdrawn in 1930.[4] With the eventual demise of all the mineral industries around Dyserth the entire line was closed in September 1973.

Planning and construction

The Dyserth branch

The area between Dyserth and Cwm (about 2km to the south of Dyserth) was the site of lead and haematite mining, as well as numerous limekilns. These heavy industries shipped their ore to the River Clwyd for coastal shipping, but this soon became disadvantageous compared to other mines and quarries with rail connections. An initial proposal in 1860 was to build a mineral railway directly to Cwm in 1860 but this was never realised.[5] On 16 July 1866 the LNWR obtained parliamentary authority to build a branch line from its main line at Prestatyn to Dyserth. At Prestatyn the line was to connect to the Chester and Holyhead Railway which had opened throughout in 1850. In 1859 the London and North Western Railway absorbed the Chester and Holyhead Railway.[6]

As part of the proposed work, the movable bridge over the Clwyd carrying the main line was to be improved.

In 1868 the construction of the line began after delays in land acquisition. The line was steeply graded and had sharp curves.[7][5]

The branch, originally known as the Prestatyn and Cwm Line, opened to goods and mineral traffic on 1 September 1869. Shortly afterwards an intermediate goods station at Meliden was opened. Due to the steep gradients, all trains were required to be propelled up the branch, so that the locomotive was always at the lower end of the train). No run-round facility needed to be provided at Dyserth for that reason.[5][8]

After a limestone quarry was opened east of Dyserth, construction began on earthworks for an extension of the line, but no track was ever laid. About 1 km of works are visible as far as Marian Mill.[9]

Apart from short level sections through Meliden and at Dyserth station, the line climbed southwards on a significant gradient, with the steepest stretch at 1 in 45.[10] The sharpest curve had a radius of 11 chains (220 m).[11] These factors combined to necessitate ruling speed limits of 20 mph for trains climbing to Dyserth and 25 mph back to the main line. These limits were lowered to 15 mph over level crossings and 10 mph approaching the junction with the main line. In practice the heavy loads, curves, visibility and gradients confined speeds to around 10 mph throughout.[12]

Passengers

Dyserth branch line

North Wales Coast Line

Prestatyn
Gas works
to Penrhwylfa Brickworks
Chapel Street
Bryn Rhosyn LC
Woodland Park
St. Melyd Golf Links
Meliden Works Siding
Meliden
Talargoch Lead Mine
Allt-y-Graig
Castle Limestone Siding
Castle Quarry
Hobbs' Siding
Dyserth
Stone Loading Siding
Dyserth Quarry
Marian Mill

Toward the end of the Victorian era, and in the Edwardian period, tourism developed rapidly, and Dyserth Castle[note 1] and the waterfalls at Cwm became important tourist destinations. In response, the LNWR started a passenger service on the branch from 28 August 1905, using a steam railmotor.[note 2][13] The main line junction for the branch faced away from Prestatyn station, so that a train to the branch ran to the junction and reversed direction there on to the branch.[7][5]

There were two intermediate stations at first, with basic platform accommodation, but as residential development took place, additional halts were provided. At the start of the First World War a shuttle service was provided.[14] In 1919 there were eleven journeys each way, on weekdays only.

The railmotor services were popular, and from 1911 a trailer car was added to the formation. After 1919 auto-trains[note 3] were brought in to replace the railmotors.[5]

Timeline
  • Prestatyn Junction – branch diverged from Chester–Holyhead line.
  • Chapel Street – opened 29 January 1906; closed 22 September 1930.
  • Rhuddlan Road – opened 28 August 1905; renamed Woodland Park 1923; closed 22 September 1930.
  • St Melyd Golf Links – opened 1 October 1923; closed 22 September 1930.
  • Meliden – opened 28 August 1905; closed 22 September 1930.
  • Allt-y-Graig – opened 1 February 1929; spelt Alt-y-Craig at first; closed 22 September 1930.
  • Dyserth – opened 28 August 1905; closed 22 September 1930.[15]

Decline and closure

Although the train services were popular, road bus services were considered to be much more convenient by the mid 1920s. The last timetabled passenger train ran on 20 September 1930. Two enthusiasts' special trains traversed the line, the "North Wales Rail Tour" where a tank locomotive propelled three coaches to Dyserth on 2 October 1955[16] and "The Welshman" formed of a six car DMU on 11 October 1969.[17][18]

As goods and mineral traffic on the line declined, the branch was closed to general traffic on 1 December 1951, while coal continued to be hauled as the only ordinary traffic; that too ceased on 4 May 1964. A revival in limestone quarrying at Dyserth resulted in continuation of the branch, as a private siding, until 8 September 1973. In 1974, after two special mineral trains were run to remove material at the quarry, the branch was closed completely and the track lifted shortly afterwards[7][19][20]

Remains

Railmotor at Rhuddlan Road halt in 1905

Much of the trackbed is now used as a footpath, which retains many historical railway points of interest. There are two pieces of track at Chapel Street, the Woodland Park Bridge, Meliden Goods Shed and Loading Gauge, and an original crane from the Dyserth Railway at the end of the walk.[21]

Notes

  1. ^ The castle was a ruin; it was later demolished in pursuit of the quarrying operations in the area.
  2. ^ A self-contained passenger coach incorporating a small steam engine, considered to be an economical way of handling small passenger volumes.
  3. ^ Conventional locomotives operating with a driving trailer coach, from which the driver could control the locomotive; additional trailers could be incorporated in the formation.

References

  1. ^ Goodall 1986, p. 11.
  2. ^ Goodall 1986, p. 76.
  3. ^ Jowett 1989, Map 56.
  4. ^ Anderson & Fox 1984, Plates 84 & 86.
  5. ^ a b c d e Rear 2003, pp. 47–52.
  6. ^ Baughan 1972, p. 177.
  7. ^ a b c Baughan 1980, pp. 79–80.
  8. ^ Robinson 2018, pp. 749 & 753.
  9. ^ Green 1996, p. 55.
  10. ^ Robinson 2018, p. 748.
  11. ^ Goodall 1986, p. 22.
  12. ^ Thompson 1985, Plate 11.
  13. ^ Goodall 1986, pp. 60–64.
  14. ^ September 1914 timetable
  15. ^ Quick 2022, p. 173.
  16. ^ Image of ticket Calendariu
  17. ^ Clemens 2014, 42 mins from start.
  18. ^ Thompson 1978, pp. 37 & 9.
  19. ^ Rear 2003, p. 51.
  20. ^ Mitchell & Smith 2011, Plate 120.
  21. ^ Robinson, Peter J. "Dyserth Railway". Dyserth.

Sources

Further reading

Mapping

Read other articles:

Artikel ini sebatang kara, artinya tidak ada artikel lain yang memiliki pranala balik ke halaman ini.Bantulah menambah pranala ke artikel ini dari artikel yang berhubungan atau coba peralatan pencari pranala.Tag ini diberikan pada Oktober 2023. Artist Partner GroupPerusahaan indukArtist Publishing Group (sekarang)Warner Music Group (sebelumnya)Didirikan2012PendiriMike CarenDistributorADA (sekarang)Atlantic Records (sebelumnya)GenreBeragamAsal negaraAmerika SerikatLokasiLos Angeles, California...

 

Emily BlackwellBiographieNaissance 8 octobre 1826BristolDécès 7 septembre 1910 (à 83 ans)York Cliffs (en)Nationalité américaineFormation École de médecine de l'université Case Western Reserve (en) (docteur en médecine) (jusqu'en 1854)Université d'ÉdimbourgActivités Médecin, gynécologue, obstétricienneFamille Blackwell family (d)Père Samuel Blackwell (d)Mère Hannah Blackwell (d)Fratrie Anna Blackwell (en)Elizabeth BlackwellHenry Browne BlackwellAutres informationsDistinct...

 

Синелобый амазон Научная классификация Домен:ЭукариотыЦарство:ЖивотныеПодцарство:ЭуметазоиБез ранга:Двусторонне-симметричныеБез ранга:ВторичноротыеТип:ХордовыеПодтип:ПозвоночныеИнфратип:ЧелюстноротыеНадкласс:ЧетвероногиеКлада:АмниотыКлада:ЗавропсидыКласс:Пт�...

Soviet and Russian cosmonaut, record holder for longest single stay in space (1942–2022) Valeri PolyakovBornValeri Vladimirovich Polyakov(1942-04-27)27 April 1942Tula, Russian SFSR, Soviet UnionDied7 September 2022(2022-09-07) (aged 80)Moscow, RussiaNationalityRussianOccupationPhysicianAwardsSee belowSpace careerRoscosmos cosmonautTime in space679d 16h 33m 18sSelectionMedical Group 3MissionsMir EO-3 / Mir EO-4 (Soyuz TM-6 / Soyuz TM-7), Mir EO-15 / Mir EO-16 / Mir EO-17 (Soyuz TM-18 / ...

 

Batman Returns Título Batman vuelve (España y Argentina) Batman regresa (Hispanoamérica)Ficha técnicaDirección Tim BurtonProducción Tim Burton Denise Di NoviGuion Daniel WatersHistoria Daniel WatersSam HammBasada en Personajes de DC ComicsBatman,de Bob Kane y Bill FingerMúsica Danny ElfmanFotografía Stefan CzapskyMontaje Chris LebenzonProtagonistas Michael KeatonDanny DeVitoMichelle PfeifferChristopher WalkenMichael GoughPat HingleMichael MurphyVincent Schiavelli Ver todos los crédit...

 

American politician For other people named Richard Simpson, see Richard Simpson (disambiguation). Richard M. SimpsonSimpson, c. 1957Member of theU.S. House of Representativesfrom PennsylvaniaIn officeMay 11, 1937 – January 7, 1960Preceded byBenjamin K. FochtSucceeded byDouglas Hemphill ElliottConstituency18th district (1937–1945)17th district (1945–1953)18th district (1953–1960)Member of thePennsylvania House of RepresentativesIn office1935–1937 Personal detailsBorn(1...

German philosopher and writer (1770-1842) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Wilhelm Traugott Krug – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (November 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Wilhelm Traugott Krug. Wilhelm Traugott Krug (22 June 1770 – 12 Jan...

 

عنتالدول والأقاليم في الأمريكتيندولة ذات سيادة أنتيغوا وباربودا الأرجنتين باهاماس باربادوس بليز بوليفيا البرازيل كندا تشيلي كولومبيا كوستاريكا كوبا دومينيكا جمهورية الدومينيكان الإكوادور السلفادور فرنسا (غويانا الفرنسية غوادلوب مارتينيك) غرينادا غواتيمالا غيانا هاي�...

 

У этого термина существуют и другие значения, см. Синдхи. Синдхи Современное самоназвание سنڌي, सिन्धी Численность ~ 60 000 000 Расселение  Пакистан: 53 410 910 (август 2011 г.)[1]  Индия: 5 890 000 (август 2011 г.) [2]  Гонконг: 7500[3] Язык синдхи Религия в основном ислам, ин�...

يوريسثينيس Εὐρυσθένης   أرسطوديموس أجيس الأول معلومات شخصية الأولاد أجيس الأول  الأب أرسطوديموس الأم أرجيا إخوة وأخوات بروكليس  الحياة العملية المهنة حاكم  تعديل مصدري - تعديل   يوريسثينيس (باليونانية: Εὐρυσθένης) هو ملك أسبرطة وسليل البطل هرقل في الميثولوج�...

 

Nicholas G. SmithActing Presiding Patriarch (de facto)[1]February 4, 1932 (1932-02-04) – 1934PredecessorHyrum G. SmithSuccessorFrank B. WoodburyEnd reasonHonorably released Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesApril 6, 1941 (1941-04-06) – October 27, 1945 (1945-10-27) Personal detailsBornNicholas Groesbeck Smith(1881-06-20)June 20, 1881Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, United StatesDiedOctober 27, 1945...

 

Not to be confused with the Jay-Z documentary Made in America. Song by Jay Z and Kanye West featuring Frank OceanMade in AmericaSong by Jay Z and Kanye West featuring Frank Oceanfrom the album Watch the Throne Recorded2011GenreHip hopR&BLength4:52LabelRoc-A-FellaRoc NationDef JamSongwriter(s)Kanye WestShawn CarterChristopher BreauxMike DeanJoseph RoachProducer(s)Shama Sak Pase JosephMike Dean Made in America is a song by American hip hop recording artists Kanye West and Jay Z, from their ...

Irish politician (1877–1952) James Perry GoodbodyGoodbody in December 1922SenatorIn office11 December 1922 – 12 December 1928 Personal detailsBorn(1877-03-22)22 March 1877Died21 March 1952(1952-03-21) (aged 74)NationalityIrishPolitical partyIndependent James Perry Goodbody (22 March 1877 – 21 March 1952) was an Irish politician. He was an independent member of Seanad Éireann from 1922 to 1928.[1] From County Limerick, he was nominated to the Seanad by the Presiden...

 

 烏克蘭總理Прем'єр-міністр України烏克蘭國徽現任杰尼斯·什米加尔自2020年3月4日任命者烏克蘭總統任期總統任命首任維托爾德·福金设立1991年11月后继职位無网站www.kmu.gov.ua/control/en/(英文) 乌克兰 乌克兰政府与政治系列条目 宪法 政府 总统 弗拉基米尔·泽连斯基 總統辦公室 国家安全与国防事务委员会 总统代表(英语:Representatives of the President of Ukraine) 总...

 

British motorcycle This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Triumph Daytona 955i – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Type of motorcycle Triumph Daytona 955iManufacturerTriumphAlso calledTriumph T595 Daytona (1997–1998)Production199...

Destructive tsunami earthquake south of Java Island 2006 Pangandaran earthquake and tsunamiThe beach and peninsula encompassing Pangandaran National ParkShow map of JavaShow map of IndonesiaUTC time2006-07-17 08:19:26ISC event10699442USGS-ANSSComCatLocal dateJuly 17, 2006 (2006-07-17)Local time15:19 local time (WIB (Indonesia Western Standard Time))Duration185 seconds[1]Magnitude7.7 Mw[2][3]Depth25.3 km (15.7 mi)[2]E...

 

Artikel ini sebatang kara, artinya tidak ada artikel lain yang memiliki pranala balik ke halaman ini.Bantulah menambah pranala ke artikel ini dari artikel yang berhubungan atau coba peralatan pencari pranala.Tag ini diberikan pada Desember 2022. Arena Hoki Es Olimpiade Turin dapat mengacu pada Arena yang digunakan untuk acara hoki es pada Olimpiade Musim Dingin 2006 di Turin; Istana Olimpiade (pendahuluan, final) Torino Esposizioni (pendahuluan) Halaman disambiguasi ini berisi artikel dengan ...

 

Animasi wilayah negara anggota Uni Eropa (Masyarakat Eropa pra-1993) sesuai tahun bergabung. Aljazair keluar tahun 1962, Greenland keluar tahun 1982 Ratu Sheba dan Salomo, jendela Kubah Köln, 1280 Eurafrique atau Eurafrika (keduanya gabungan kata Eropa dan Afrika dalam bahasa Prancis dan Jerman) adalah gagasan kemitraan strategis antara Afrika dan Eropa. Pada tahun 1920-an, kelangsungan dan peran masa depan Eropa dalam sejarah dianggap erat kaitannya dengan keberhasilan penggabungan dengan A...

American professor, novelist, and poet (born 1956) Chitra Banerjee DivakaruniBornChitralekha Banerjee1956 (age 67–68)[1]Calcutta, West Bengal, IndiaOccupationWriterNationalityAmericanEducationUniversity of Calcutta (BA)Wright State UniversityUniversity of California, Berkeley (PhD)GenrePoetry, short stories, novels; fantasy, young adult, magical realism, historical fictionNotable worksArranged Marriage: StoriesMistress of SpicesSister of My HeartThe Palace of IllusionsOne A...

 

Event that led to the founding of the Mongolian People's Republic in 1924 Mongolian Revolution of 1921Part of the Revolutions of 1917–1923 and the Eastern Front of the Russian Civil WarBack row from left: ?, ?, Rinchingiin Elbegdorj, Soliin Danzan, Damdin Sükhbaatar, Ajvaagiin Danzan, Boris Shumyatsky, ?, Dogsomyn BodooDate1 March – 11 July 1921(4 months, 1 week and 3 days)LocationOuter MongoliaResult Mongolian communist victory Collapse of the Bogd Khanate ...