Snowdon Mountain Railway

The Snowdon Mountain Railway (Welsh Rheilffordd yr Wyddfa ) is the only rack railway in the UK. Their starting point is Llanberis in North Wales. The railway has a gauge of 800 mm. The racks are corresponding with the System Dept.

History

Already in 1869 there were the first suggestions that a railway line on the Snowdon to build the highest mountain in Wales, after Llanberis had received a port on the British railway network. However, the owner of the land did not allow for this because he was afraid that the web would destroy the landscape. A few years later, however, called a plan to build a railway from Rhyd Ddu forth on the Snowdon residents of Llanberis on the scene, who feared a decline in tourism revenue. Therefore, the Snowdon Mountain Tramway and Hotel Company was formed for the construction of today's web, the voice of the landowner has been reduced to a minimum.

In December 1894 we started building the track and after only a little over a year, the first train reached in January 1896, the hill station. After some minor remaining work the railway was opened at Easter 1896. Already on opening day, April 4, 1896, however, there was the first serious accident derailed than a locomotive and a little way down the mountainside collapsed. The engine crew escaped by jumping out of the locomotive, among the passengers there was only one death: Although the wagons of the automatic brake were stopped on the track, it did a passenger the locomotive crews equal and retired in the fall severe head injuries, to where he later died. For unknown circumstances, a second train ran into the accident site, but did no major damage. After a few modifications, in which, among other more safety precautions have been added, the route was re-opened on April 9, 1897 and has since remained with the exception of World War II still in operation today. In 1962 the railway line Caernarfon Llanberis, which had originally inspired the construction of the Snowdon Mountain Railway, set, now this but had long since developed into an independent tourist attraction.

Route

At a length of about 7.5 km, it overcomes a difference in altitude of about 1000 m from the valley station in Llanberis (108 m) to just below the summit of Snowdon ( 1085 m), the highest mountain in Wales. The route is single track and has a total of six stations. In addition to the terminal stations are located at three of the four stations on the line sidings, which are so arranged that a train between them is 15 minutes each way. Therefore it can be driven in a maximum 30-minute intervals, but being able to drive in more traffic and two platoons " at sight ", so in a relatively short distance behind the other.

On Talbahnhof Llanberis are also the management and operation of the railway station. After a brief relatively flat stretch starts quite soon the steep slope, because of which the railway was built as a rack railway, with a gradient of 16.7 % ( 1:6 ). The following two stations ( Hebron station at an altitude of 326 m and Halfway station at 500 m ) are no longer occupied by railway staff, you may there not also get in or out. The fourth station, Rocky Valley Halt is used as a terminal station when the trains due to adverse weather conditions can not run to the mountain station, so here is a platform, but no Umfahrgleis as on the other stations.

It is followed by a longer section, in which the web is further increased at a relatively narrow ridge, to the next station, Clogwyn stop ( 779 m), is achieved. Here's an exit is not allowed also. If there are still places available, but you must go into downhill running trains. Finally, the mountain station ( Summit Station, 1065 m ) is reached. From there, a path leads to the summit of Snowdon 20 m higher.

Rolling stock

The railway was opened in 1896, today there are some built by SLM steam locomotives with matching Vorstellwagen from the opening year in use. The brunt of the traffic now carry four diesel locomotives ( numbers 9-12) from the years 1986 to 1992 with four 74 -seat Vorstellwagen ( numbers 14-17) of 2013. Three diesel railcar from 1995 were allowed because they have a gear only ever operate only as a two - or three-piece unit. The railcars were, however, no longer used due to the lower reliability since 2001 ( railcars 21) or 2003 ( railcars 22 and 23) and scrapped in 2010.

A train normally consists of a locomotive and a Vorstellwagen, which basically runs on the mountain side. In addition, travel on each morning a works train the entire route, which is used not only for work but also ensures the supply of the hill station.

Others

The railroad is a member of the Great Little Trains of Wales.