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Gloddfa Ganol

Gloddfa Ganol (also known as the Gloddfa Ganol Mountain Center) was a museum dedicated to the Welsh slate industry and narrow-gauge railways, situated in the Oakeley slate quarry in Blaenau Ffestiniog. It opened in 1974 and closed in 1998 following an auction of its exhibits.

Gloddfa Ganol
The top of the Dinas incline from Gloddfa Ganol down to the Festiniog Railway
Gloddfa Ganol is located in Gwynedd
Gloddfa Ganol
Location within Gwynedd
Established1974 (1974)
Dissolved1998 (1998)
LocationBlaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, Wales
Coordinates53°00′07″N 3°57′02″W / 53.001823°N 3.950456°W / 53.001823; -3.950456
TypeRailway museum

Gloddfa Ganol Mountain Center

The Oakeley slate quarry was the largest underground slate mine in the world,[1] but it suffered from a sharp decline in worldwide demand for slate after the Second World War. As quarrying declined in the 1970s, the owners sought to diversify to serve the growing tourist trade in Wales. In 1974 the abandoned Middle Quarry was re-opened, producing architectural slab, and as an attraction to the public - the Gloddfa Ganol Mountain Center. The centre offered guided tours of several miles of underground tunnels and chambers and was based in the old Middle Mill, which had been rebuilt for the purpose.[2]

Rich Morris collection

Railway enthusiast Rich Morris began collecting narrow gauge rolling stock in 1963, when he purchased a metre gauge Ruston Proctor locomotive from a china clay mine in St Austell.[3] He continued to purchase locomotives from across the United Kingdom, initially storing items at his house in Bampton in Oxfordshire. In 1974, he moved to Longfield in Kent, but the collection soon outgrew the storage capacity of his garden.[4] In 1976, Morris arranged to move some of his locomotives to Pen-yr-Orsedd slate quarry in North Wales where he planned to set up a museum to exhibit his collection and tell the story of narrow gauge industrial railways.[3]

Pen-yr-Orsedd was owned by The Festiniog Group, which owned several slate quarries across North Wales. In 1977, the company consolidated their activities in their quarries in Blaenau Ffestiniog and closed down Pen-yr-Orsedd.[5] They offered space to the Morris collection at their largest quarry, Oakeley.

The Narrow Gauge Railway Centre

A new company, Narrow Gauge Enterprises, was set up to oversee the new museum at Gloddfa Ganol. Morris moved most of his collection to the Gloddfa Ganol Mountain Centre starting in May 1978, with the majority being moved on five articulated lorries on 23 June. Some exhibits initially went into storage in an annexe in Blaenau Ffestiniog. As well as Morris' collection, locomotives belonging to Pete Nicholson were moved from the Brockham Railway Museum near Dorking on 18 July. By September of that year, all the equipment had been moved from Pen-yr-Orsedd, and more than 70 locomotives were on site.[6]

The collection was initially housed in a new Exhibition Hall, with some locomotives scattered outside. This hall was adapted from the disused winding house of the Dafydd Glanamarch incline.[6]

Around 1985 Holland's Lower Mill, which had been demolished many years previously, was rebuilt and the railway collection was moved there. This mill was on the west end of the Gloddfa Ganol site, and in 1987, a short railway was laid to connect the main car park to the mill. It opened for the 1988 season, with three Motor Rail locomotives running passenger trains along this line.[7]

Locomotives

Name/ NumberGaugeBuilderTypeDateWorks numberDispositionNotes
50823[8]1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)Ruston, Proctor and Company4wPM191550823Vale of Rheidol Museum Collection.[9]The first locomotive in Rich Morris' collection, purchased in 1963.[3]
Llanfair[8]3 ft (914 mm)De Winton0-4-0VB1895Welsh Highland Railway,[10] on display at DinasBuilt for the Penmaenmawr & Welsh Granite Co.
C37[8]3 ft (914 mm)Locospoor2w-2PMB7281E4-wheel trolley purchased by Rich Morris from the Bord na Mona Coolnagan Works in County Westmeath. Moved to the Morris' home in December 1974.[11]
LM11[8]3 ft (914 mm)Rhurthaler0-4-0DMc19361082Ran at the Lullymore Briquetting Factory in Ireland. Purchased by Michael Jacob in 1973 and moved to the Brockham Railway Museum in December.[11] Later purchased by Rich Morris and moved to Gloddfa Ganol. The only example of its type on the British Isles.[6]
C13[8]3 ft (914 mm)Wickham2w-2PM19382449From the Bord na Mona Lullymore Works in County Kildare. Moved to Brockham Railway Museum in December 1973.[11]
6/501[8]3 ft (914 mm)Wickham2w-2PM19464091Owned by the UK County Domnegal Group, in Birmingham.[10]
W6/504[8]3 ft (914 mm)Wickham2w-2PM19464092Rebuilt by Jason Allen of Grimoldby in 2005.[10]
C18[8]3 ft (914 mm)Wickham2w-2PM19484808Purchased by Rich Morris from the Bord na Mona Attymon Works in County Galway. Moved to the Brockham Railway Museum in December 1974.[11]
C20[8]3 ft (914 mm)Wickham2w-2PM19484810Purchased by Pete Nicholson from the Bord na Mona Ballyvor Works in County Westmeath. Moved to the Brockham Railway Museum in December 1974.[11]
C23[8]3 ft (914 mm)Wickham2w-2PM19484813Purchased by Pete Nicholson from the Bord na Mona Ballydermot Works in County Kildare. Moved to the Brockham Railway Museum in December 1974.[11]
(C26)[8]3 ft (914 mm)Wickham2w-2PM19484816Purchased by Rich Morris from the Bord na Mona Clonsast Works in County Offaly. Moved to the Brockham Railway Museum in December 1974.[11]
4[8]3 ft (914 mm)John Fowler4wDM19503930044Worked at the Sundon cement works near Luton.[12]
W6/32[8]3 ft (914 mm)Motor Rail4wDM1969105H006Owned by Pete Nicholson. On long-term loan to the Southwold Railway[13]
The Wee Pug[14]
later named: Darent		2 ft 6 in (762 mm)Andrew Barclay Sons & Co.0-4-0T1903984Eynsford Light Railway. Purchased in 2013 by the Hampton Kempton Waterworks Railway.[15]Built for the Provan Gas Works in Glasgow. Sold for scrap in 1961, but purchased by Rich Morris in May 1963.[15] Converted to 2 ft (610 mm) and fitted with a cab and saddle tank at Eynsford.
Yard No. 988[14]2 ft 6 in (762 mm)Ruston & Hornsby4wDM1944235729Chasewater Narrow Gauge Railway.[10]
45913[8]2 ft 6 in (762 mm)Robert Hudson4wPM[16]193245913Amberley Museum Railway.[16]Rare Hudson GoGo Tractor. Worked at Midhurst Whites in Midhurst.[16]
Dolwyddelan[17][18]750 mm (2 ft 5+1⁄2 in)Hunslet4wDM19412209In private ownershipSupplied to Workington Colliery. Displayed on the platform at Dolwyddelan railway station while part of the Gloddfa Ganol collection.
Corris[10]2 ft 4 in (711 mm)[8]Ruston Hornsby4wDM1956398102Blatchford Light Railway[10]
Dorothy[8]2 ft (610 mm)Bagnall0-4-0ST18991568In private ownership, lately at Bala Lake Railwayex-Llechwedd quarry, where it was dismantled to convert into an overhead-wire electric locomotive, though conversion did not take place.[19] Parts purchased by Rich Morris in 1973.[20]
Ashover[8]Derw Bach[14]2 ft (610 mm)Kerr Stuart0-4-0ST19183114Sold to Allen Civil in 1978. Ran on the Amerton Railway in 2002. In the Vale of Rheidol Museum Collection.[21]Built for the RAF for the aerodrome at Eastburn near Driffield. Worked on five reservoir construction projects across the UK. In 1942 it was purchased for use at the Woodthorpe Hall colliery, connected to the Ashover Light Railway. Purchased for private use by J. L. Baker of Erdington at his farm at Brockamin. Sold to Alan Maund who restored it to working order. Sold on to Rich Morris in 1971. Moved to Gloddfa Ganol in March 1978. Loaned to the Bala Lake Railway from 1982 to 1985.[21]
Steam Tram[8]2 ft (610 mm)Lister4wVB194014005Retained by Rich Morris after closure. Moved to the Tanat Valley Light Railway.[22]Lister petrol locomotive converted to steam by Roy Etherington[23] in 1969.[17]
2 ft (610 mm)Lister4wPM39005Retained by Rich Morris after closure. Moved to the Tanat Valley Light Railway.[22]
[8]2 ft (610 mm)Rhiwbach quarry2w-2PMMoseley Railway Trust[10]Built at the quarry from parts of an Austin 7 car.[10]
[8]2 ft (610 mm)Brush4wBEc191716306Parts used to rebuild Brush 16307 and 16303 at the Amberley Museum Railway.[10]Built for HMEF Queensferry, Deeside.[10]
No. 760[8]2 ft (610 mm)Baguley0-4-0PM1918760Sold to the Abbey Light Railway in 1998, moved to the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway.10hp McEwan Pratt design built for the Timber Supply Department. Purchased by Rich Morris in 1965.[24]
Oakeley[8]2 ft (610 mm)Baguley0-4-0PM1919774Built for the Pennal timber tramway. Purchased secondhand by Oakeley Quarry in 1927. Purchased by Rich Morris in 1970.[4]
39924[8]2 ft (610 mm)Robert Hudson4wPM192439924Abbey Light Railway.[10] Moved to the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway.
A110[8]2 ft (610 mm)Muir-Hill4wPM1925A110Abbey Light Railway. Moved to the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway.
Welsh Pony[8]2 ft (610 mm)Wingrove & Rogers4wWE1926640West Lancashire Light Railway[25]ex-Llechwedd quarry[19]
Spondon[8]2 ft (610 mm)Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Electric Power Company[26]4wBE1926Sold to a private owner in Derbyshire. Restored to working order.Built for use at the Spondon power station.[26]
1568[8]2 ft (610 mm)Hibberd4wPM19271568Leighton Buzzard Light Railway.[10]
36863[8]2 ft (610 mm)Robert Hudson4wDM192936863Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills.[10]
D564[8]2 ft (610 mm)Hudswell Clarke4wDM1930D564Vale of Rheidol Museum CollectionSupplied to Beswick’s Limeworks, near Buxton.[27]
982[8]2 ft (610 mm)Howards4wPM1930982Restored to working order at the Apedale Valley Railway.The only remaining locomotive built by Howards. Supplied new to the Whittlesea Central brickworks. Preserved in 1970 at the Cadeby Light Railway. Move to Brockham Railway Museum in 1973. Sold in 2007 to a member of the Moseley Railway Trust.[28]
1747[8]2 ft (610 mm)Hibberd4wPM19311747Purchased by Pete Nicholson and moved to Brockham Railway Museum in February 1974.[29]
3916[8]2 ft (610 mm)Lister4wDMc19313916Twyford Waterworks Railway.[30]
Delta[8]2 ft (610 mm)Deutz0-4-0DM1932257081Purchased by Rich Morris from the Long Reach works of the West Kent Main Sewerage Board. Moved to his house in Longfield in January 1974.[31]
164346[8]2 ft (610 mm)Ruston & Hornsby4wDM1932164346Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge RailwayWorked at the West Kent Main Sewage Board, Littlebrook, Kent. Purchased by Rich Morris.[31] The second oldest Ruston Hornsby locomotive in existence.[citation needed]
166028[8]2 ft (610 mm)Ruston & Hornsby4wDM1932166028Dismantled in 1982.[17]
164350[8]2 ft (610 mm)Ruston & Hornsby4wDM1933164350Purchased by Michael Jacobs from Enfield Sewage Works in 1966. Moved to Brockham Railway Museum in February 1974.[32]
1881[8]2 ft (610 mm)Hibberd4wPM19341881Steeple Grange Light RailwayOriginally 18 in (457 mm). Supplied to the Crowle Brickworks near Scunthorpe. Purchased by Rich Morris in October 1970, regauge to 2 ft (610 mm) in 1972.[33]
6299[8]2 ft (610 mm)Lister4wPM19356299Devon Railway Centre.[10]
Little George[8]2 ft (610 mm)Wingrove & Rogers0-4-0BEc19351298Moseley Narrow Gauge Industrial Tramway, Tumbly Down Farm, Redruth.[10]
2025[8]2 ft (610 mm)Hibberd4wDM19372025Under restoration at the Amerton Railway.[34]
2201[8]2 ft (610 mm)Hibberd4wDM19392201Devon Railway CentreWorked at the Berrylands Sewage Works.[35]
2207[8]2 ft (610 mm)Hunslet4wDM19412207Built for the Trefor granite quarry. Acquired by Morris in 1965; moved to Gloddfa Ganol in 1977; displayed at Duffws station in 1979.[36]
Penlee[8]2 ft (610 mm)Hunslet4wDM19422666Yaxham Light Railway.[10]
213834[8]2 ft (610 mm)Ruston & Hornsby4wDM1942213834Owned by the Gwynedd River Authority, and stored at their depot at Dinas railway station from 1963 until at least 1970.[37]
Pen-yr-orsedd[14]2 ft (610 mm)Ruston & Hornsby4wDM1945235711Devon Railway Centre[10]Hired for use in the reconstruction of the Britannia Bridge after preservation.[6]
Thakeham No. 4[8]2 ft (610 mm)Thakeham Tiles Company4wPMc.1945Moved to the Cadeby Light Railway, then into private ownership at the Amberley Museum Railway.[38]
3424[8]2 ft (610 mm)Hibberd4wPM19493424Steeple Grange Light Railway and regauged to 18 in (457 mm)Originally 18 in (457 mm) gauge and used at the Saltlands Tileries, near Bridgwater. Purchased by Rich Morris in 1969, and converted to 2 ft (610 mm) gauge in 1971.[33]
Bredbury[8]2 ft (610 mm)Bredbury water works4wPMc1954West Lancashire Light Railway
ZM32 Horwich[8]2 ft (610 mm)Ruston & Hornsby4wDM1957416214Steeple Grange Light RailwaySupplied to British Railways, Horwich Works in Lancashire. Initially preserved at the National Railway Museum, before moving to Gloddfa Ganol.[39]
432664[8]2 ft (610 mm)Ruston & Hornsby4wDM1959432664Purchased from the Rosemary Tileries, Staffordshire.[40]
Twusk[14]2 ft (610 mm)Hunslet4wDM19616018Built for the North Surrey Joint Sewage Board work at New Malden.[41]
Trent Water Authority[17] later Sylvia[10]2 ft (610 mm)Motor Rail4wDM196222128Sold to William Sinclair Horticultural, Springfield Moss worksArrived at Gloddfa Ganol between 1979 and 1982.[10]
Rail Taxi[8]2 ft (610 mm)Rich Morris4-2-0PM1967Retained by Rich Morris after closure. Moved to the Tanat Valley Light Railway.[22]An Isetta "bubble car" converted for rail use by Rich Morris. Initially used on the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway.
2442[8]600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in)Kerr Stuart0-6-0T19152442Purchased by the Teifi Valley Railway.[42] Now at the private Richmond Light Rawilay in Kent.[43]Joffre class. Worked at the quarry of Carriers de la Vallee Heureuse, in France from October 1930.[42]
2451[8]600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in)Kerr Stuart0-6-0T19152451Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, restored to working order and named Axe.Joffre class. Worked at the quarry of Carriers de la Vallee Heureuse, in France. [42]
3010[8]600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in)Kerr Stuart0-6-0T19163010Statfold Barn Railway[44] in 2012.[43]Joffre class. Worked at the quarry of Carriers de la Vallee Heureuse, in France in June 1930. Moved to the Yaxham Light Railway after the closure of Gloddfa Ganol,[42]
3014[8]600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in)Kerr Stuart0-6-0T19163014Moseley Railway Trust and restored to working order.Joffre class. Worked at the quarry of Carriers de la Vallee Heureuse, in France in October 1930. [42]
LR2182[8]600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in)Motor Rail4wPM1917461The Greensand Railway Museum Trust at the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway40hp armoured Simplex built for use in the First World War.[45]
No. 646[8]600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in)Baguley0-4-0PM1918646Moseley Railway Trust10hp McEwan Pratt design built for the Timber Supply Department.[46]
No. 736[8]600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in)Baguley0-4-0PM1918736Abbey Light Railway, then the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway10hp McEwan Pratt design built for the Timber Supply Department.
Python[8]600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in)Orenstein & Koppel4wPM19304470Purchased by P.D. Nicholson and stored at the Brockham Railway Museum before Gloddfa Ganol.[47]
1835[8]600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in)Hunslet4wDM19371835Built for the ordnance depot at Barlow, North Yorkshire.[48]
MP18[8]600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in)Hunslet4wDM19402024Bala Lake RailwaySupplied to the Trefor granite quarry. Sold in 1962 to the Cwt-y-Bugail quarry.[49]
211647[8]600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in)Ruston & Hornsby4wDM1941211647
2607[8]600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in)Hunslet4wDM19422607Tanfield Railway.[10]
Monster[8]1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm)North Staffordshire Group of the Festiniog Railway4wDM1974Sold back to the Festiniog Railway in 1998. Restored to working order.Built from a skip frame, parts of a Lister Road Truck and an Enfield boat engine. Sold to Rich Morris in 1976.[36]
Kathleen[8]1 ft 10+3⁄4 in (578 mm)De Winton0-4-0VB1877Vale of Rheidol Museum Collection
551[8]18 in (457 mm)Wingrove & Rogers4wBE1924551Worked at Gurnos Tin Plate, Clydach, Swansea, then moved to the nearby John Player & Sons factory.[50]
Whippet Quick[8]15 in (381 mm)Lister0-4-4PM19356502Windmill Farm RailwayRebuilt at the Fairbourne Railway from a Lister 4wPM Railtruck

Ex-Gloddfa Ganol locomotives:

Closure

Some of Rich Morris' industrial monorail collection

On 8 October 1997 it was announced that Alfred McAlpine Slate had taken over the Ffestiniog Slate group, including the Oakeley quarry. McAlpines immediately announced that Gloddfa Ganol would close at the end of the year.[51] The majority of the locomotive collection was auctioned in February 1998. By June 1998, only three locomotives remained on the site.[25]

Rich Morris retained his collection of portable industrial monorail equipment, designed by Road Machines (Drayton) Ltd and used for construction projects in the mid 20th century,[52] along with the remains of the Gloddfa Ganol collection: Listers 39005 and 14005, one standard gauge Wickham trolley and Rail Taxi.[22]

Morris died in 2018, and his collection was transferred to the Tanat Valley Light Railway.[53]

See also

References

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