Festiniog and Blaenau Railway

The Festiniog and Blaenau Railway was a British railway company in Wales.

The Society for the construction of a 5.6 km long railway line between Llan Ffestiniog and Blaenau Ffestiniog was founded on August 7, 1862 on the basis of the Limited Liability Acts. The driving force was the owner of slate mines at Tan -y- Manod, the families of Holland and Casson. The mines have not had no access to the rail network. In addition, it intends, with a second route to Blaenau to break the monopoly of the Ffestiniog Railway.

The narrow ( 1 ft 11.75 in [ 603 mm] ) line was opened on 29 May 1868. At the beginning of the operation of the line was three months by the Ffestiniog Railway in Blaenau Ffestiniog was a rail connection with the. When the company then had his own rolling stock, the operation was carried out independently. As a result of renovation work on the railway line was built in 1876 to raise further capital needs. The subsidiary of the Great Western Railway, the Festiniog Railway Bala and bought for £ 20,000 in the company and acquired the majority of shares. About the B & FR connecting the railway line should be made to the route network of the GWR in Llan Ffestiniog.

1877 were carried approximately 86,000 people. 17,500 people possessed a season pass. Important goods transported were shale and coal. The annual volumes were transported 2000-9000 tons.

1882 occurred the previous management of the Festiniog and Blaenau Railway back voluntarily. On April 13, 1883, Bala and Festiniog Railway took over the company completely. After immediately starting Umspurung to standard gauge, the line was reopened on 10 September 1883. Thus, the GWR had access to the mining area in Blaenau.

Rolling stock

For operation on the track two B1' tank locomotives were purchased by Manning Wardle. The locomotives with factory numbers 258 and 259 were named NIPPER and SCORCHER. After gauging the distance they were sold to the Ruabon Coal and Coke Company.

For passenger transport, they purchased six two axle coaches of Ashbury Railway Carriage and Iron Company, and 19 open wagons for the transport workers.

For the transport of goods cars were parked in the same style as the Ffestiniog Railway is available. Furthermore, freight cars this company were used.