Project Weekend 17/18 January 2004

Pen-y-Mount works yard: a stockpile of ballast sits beside the run-round point. This view northward shows the collection of buildings of Penmount farm, and Tremadog Cliffs (a favourite of rock climbers) beyond the farmhouse. On the right, the distant triangular peak of Cnicht sits aside the Croesor Valley. The Railway heads directly towards there in a generally straight line, although as later photos show, the route is actually far from straight.

Mark Holden

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Beautiful January late-afternoon sunlight picks out the soft clouds that lace the craggy brows of Moelwyn Mawr (centre) and Moelwyn Bach (right). Beyond them on the far side is Tan-y-Grisiau and the Ffestiniog Railway.

This photo was taken from Pen-y-Mount yard and Penmount crossing will be built in the foreground here. Over 200m further on, Cynfal Cottage is tucked amongst the trees.

Mark Holden

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One of the main activities this weekend was the construction of two kissing gates for walkers. A variety of materials have been collected, ready to assemble the first gate. This is the far (i.e. northern) end of Traeth Mawr loop and is where the Phase I Extension ends. Later Phase II will meet here, arriving from Pont Croesor to the north east.

Mark Holden

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Here is Dr John digging postholes for the gateposts.

Mark Holden

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Pete and John working on the first kissing gate.

Mark Holden

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Pete is working on the kissing gate, here about half-finished.

Mark Holden

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Putting the last finishing touches to the kissing gate.

Mark Holden

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The completed kissing gate.

Mark Holden

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The second kissing gate is being assembled at the southern end of Traeth Mawr loop. The first gate is just out of sight on the far left in the distance. A third gate is also required just off on the right.

Behind the chappies, a rusty old gate (dating back many decades, probably to the 1920s) marks the entrance to the field and the so-called Traeth Mawr Bypass, which some wag has thoughtfully signposted.

Mark Holden

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This wider view shows the entire Traeth Mawr run-round loop site. The chappies are working on the kissing gate, while Mark the Photographer has brought a dumper load of ballast (immediate foreground) to extend the ballast bed on the loop.

John Creassy's Embankment (on the left of the Railway) looks deceptively flat in this photograph: actually, the ground cross profile is much more marked than you'd guess from this view.

Mark Holden

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While most chappies work at the loop, John Keylock is diligently doing his work of passion, rebuilding the dry stone walling. This length of retaining walling is on a corner (shown in a later photo) where the width is slightly narrower.

Mark Holden

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This view in the other direction also shows John's walling work.

John is well-known and respected by enthusiasts of Welsh Highland Heritage, being one of the key people in the Heritage Group.

Mark Holden

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In this east-north-eastward view, the Moelwyns are shrouded in cloud in the distance. Taken from further south, we see John building the retaining wall on the corner, where the Railway curves leftward to return to its prevailing north-easterly heading.

Mark Holden

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The second kissing gate is nearly complete.

Mark Holden

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An important task is laying the ballast. Through the loop, the ballast is being laid on geotextile material so that the whole formation can later be rebuilt when the loop is lifted and plain-lined. This photo shows the run-round neck in the near distance. The machinery is operating just over halfway along the loop.

Mark Holden

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Closer up, we can see the ballast levelling work in action. The absent dumper driver is Mark, who took the photo.

Mark Holden

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Seen from the other side, Dave is busy levelling the ballast.

Mark Holden

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Here is the second kissing gate complete, except for hanging the gate and tidying up.

Mark Holden

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A third kissing gate is required just south of the second. The earlier wider view shows the context of the farm crossing.

Mark Holden

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