Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru
The Slate Railways of Wales
The Slate Railways of Wales
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Disgrifiad Cymraeg / Welsh Description
Astudiaeth fanwl o'r rheilffyrdd cario llechi trwy Gymru yn ystod cyfnod llewyrchus y diwydiant llechi yn y 19eg ganrif, a'u dirywiad yn ystod yr 20fed ganrif, gan awdur a darlithydd profiadol. 32 ffotograff du-a-gwyn a 14 map. Adargraffiad; cyhoeddwyd gyntaf yn 2001.
Disgrifiad Saesneg / English Description
A detailed study of the history of the slate-carrying railways and tramways throughout Wales during the flourishing period of the slate industry in the 19th century, and their demise during the 20th century, by a distinguished author and lecturer. 32 black-and-white photographs and 14 maps. Reprint; first published in 2001.
Manylion y cynnyrch / Product details
- ISBN 13
- 9780863816895
- Gwales Code
- gwales.com.9780863816895
- Gwerthwr / Vendor
- Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru
- Long Title
- The Slate Railways of Wales
- Awdur / Author
- Richards, Alun John
- Current Price ex VAT
- £5.95
- Current Price inc VAT
- £5.95
- Availability Status (EN)
- Out of print
- Availability Status (CY)
- Allan o brint
- Dyddiad cyhoeddi / Publication Date
- 2011-06-15
- Cyhoeddwr / Publisher
- Llygad Gwalch Cyf
- Media Type (EN)
- Paperback / softback
- Media Type (CY)
- Clawr meddal
- Pages
- 212 pages
- Size
- 124 × 182 mm
- Language Code
- English
- Categori / Category
- CY: Hanes, Hanes Lleol, Arferion Gwlad, Llên Gwerin (yn Saesneg) | EN: History, Welsh Life and Customs, Local History, Folk Tales (in English)
- Is-gategori / Subcategory
- CY: Hanes Rheilffyrdd (yn Saesneg) | EN: Railways (in English)
Adolygiad y Cyhoeddwr / Publisher Review
There is a very interesting introduction in this book about Richard Pennant (Lord Penrhyn), which puts into perspective the link between the slate industry in North Wales and the subsequent development of railway networks. The author says of Lord Penrhyn: ‘[he] is popularly reviled as a thief of land and the founder of a harsh and exploitative dynasty. However, it is due to his enterprise, energy and foresight that on 25th June 1801, for the first time, slates were carried from a quarry to a seaport, not in a cart, nor on the back of an animal or of a man, but by rail.’ And there lies the context for the development of the first slate railways in North Wales in 1801. There had been a short tramway at Llandegai before the Penrhyn Railway, but, even in a time of depression in the slate quarrying industry, Lord Penrhyn had the foresight to use the lull in business to create the tramway, which was to become the first slate railway and the beginning of a network of tramways and railways in North Wales. As the author says: ‘The railways of the slate industry were as vital then as air travel is to the twenty-first century.’ The author, who himself is an engineer, brings a fresh insight to the subject matter, and of course a degree of technical knowledge on the workings of the tramways, gauges, flanges and other engineering facets. On reading the book as an outsider to engineering, I did not clearly understand some of the terms used often in some technical detail in parts of the narrative. However, the book in general gave a very detailed chronological order to the development (and subsequent demise) of the slate railways of North Wales. Chapter 1 provides an excellent overview through the 1800s and the subsequent chapters deal with each period in greater depth. One has to marvel at the depth of research that has gone into this book. We learn some fascinating details, such as the use of rails increased the efficiency of a horse by 10:1 (in comparison, a canal barge increased horse efficiency by up to 50:1). Of course, the initial slate rail system in 1801 was powered by horse, and gravity inclines, but the age of steam was only just around the corner with Trevethick’s pioneering use of steam on the Penydarren tramway in 1804. We also learn that in deciding what gauge to use for the tracks, it was ‘a dimension that owed more to the size and capabilities of the horse, rather than the anecdotal spacing of Roman chariot wheels.’ And so when the 6¼ mile Penrhyn Railway came into being in 1801 as a means of transporting slate to the sea, it signalled the start of an age where by 1872 90% of all slate output was moved by rail. But, ironically, the improved access to the National Railways contributed to its demise. The same rail links to the mainlines also contributed to the decline of many of the smaller shipbuilding yards, in creeks and harbours on the North Wales coast. But after 1872, the slate railways were never to enjoy the same level of success. We learn that for the Welsh Slate Industry, the first 70 years of the 20th century was a continuous decline. Although there were early limitations to road transport (10 mph for cars pre-WW1, metal wheels and bad roads), WW1 caused a slump in business, followed closely by improvements in roads and road transport. Cars and buses became more numerous, and became a far more cheap and efficient way of moving slate. Improved roads provided better links to mainline rail networks, who took much of the business. The slate railways had also carried passengers and tourists, but that was all over by 1939 with the onset of WW2. Fuel limitations temporarily halted the drift to road services, but by 1952, following the lifting of fuel restrictions, and the widespread development of standard gauge, the North Wales railways suffered. The 1960s saw the Beeching Axe contributing to a general depression on all rail networks. Amazingly we are told that one slate railway Aberllefenni was still hauling slate by use of railed wagons in 1998; a unique survivor of the age. The book provides a wonderfully comprehensive list of all railways and tramways, and more poignantly, of remaining relics. Of course some railways, such as the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways, survive to this day, but now in a tourist capacity. This was a very detailed and thoroughly researched book, and I found it extremely interesting.
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