The Story of the Cambrian: A Biography of a RailwayGasquoine, C. P. (Charles Penrhyn)
History
The Story of the Cambrian: A Biography of a Railway
Gasquoine, C. P. (Charles Penrhyn)
Cambrian Railway
But this connection only came later, in August 1867, when the six miles
of line from Aberdovey to the Junction was carried along the estuary
shore and through the four tunnels which, until the Mid-Wales Railway was
absorbed in 1904, remained the only ones on the whole system. For a
considerable time after the coast line was opened passengers were carried
from Aberdovey by ferry to Ynyslas. At high tide the boat could make for
the station, but when the water was low it berthed on the Cardiganshire
side, at a lower landing place, whence travellers and baggage proceeded
by a little branch into Ynyslas station.
The first sod on the Merionethshire side had been cut, in April 1862, by
Mrs. Foulkes of Aberdovey, on the Green near the Corbett Arms Hotel at
Towyn, without formal ceremony, but in the presence of Mr. Piercy and Mr.
Savin, and "a few scores of persons who cheered lustily." We may hope
that even this mild demonstration did something to hearten the promoters
in their herculean task. For several miles along the shore the line had
to be protected against the assault of the high tides that periodically
sweep Cardigan Bay, and it was soon only too evident that ordinary
ramparts were no sure buttress against Atlantic rollers. More than once
the permanent way was washed by the waves and engineer and contractor,
viewing the dismal wreckage, must have felt that noble references to the
moral of Canute, however pungent, were not altogether inapropos.
There were toilers at this work, however, who had never heard of the
Danish King and bode not of what the maritime history of England might
teach. To them the arrival of the first trial train on the banks of the
Dysynni was more pertinently an occasion for "celebration," and sixty
pounds being quickly collected for the purpose, and as quickly spent,
rumour has it that, alas! the festivities ended for some in a few
reflective hours, we may hope profitably, if not too comfortably, spent
in the local lock-up.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account