Ruabon to Barmouth Line

The Ruabon to Barmouth Line was a standard gauge branch line of the Great Western Railway across the north of Wales which connected Ruabon, in the east, with Barmouth on the west coast.

Connections

History

The line opened in stages by various companies:

Ruabon

Coordinates: 52°59′10″N 3°02′20″W / 52.986°N 3.039°W / 52.986; -3.039

Ruabon (Welsh: Rhiwabon pronounced [r̥ɪʊˈɑːbɔn]) is a village and community in the county borough of Wrexham in Wales. The name "Rhiwabon" comes from "Rhiw Fabon", "Rhiw" being the Welsh word for "hill" and "Fabon" being a mutation from St Mabon, the original church name, of earlier, Celtic origin (see Mabon)." An older English spelling, Rhuabon, can sometimes be seen.

In 2001, more than 80% of the population of 2,400 were born in Wales with 13.6% having some ability in Welsh.

Early history

There is evidence that a settlement existed in Ruabon in the Bronze Age. In 1898, building works in the centre of Ruabon exposed a cist or stone urn containing cremated human remains dating from 2000 years BC. In 1917, the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow were discovered on the playing fields of Ruabon Grammar School; they contained human remains, a flint arrowhead and a bronze axe.

Overlooking Ruabon Y Gardden, an ancient hillfort surrounded by circular ditches, dating back to the Iron Age.

Barmouth

Coordinates: 52°43′19″N 4°03′18″W / 52.722°N 4.055°W / 52.722; -4.055

Barmouth (Welsh: Abermaw (formal); Y Bermo (colloquial)) is a town in the county of Gwynedd, north-western Wales, lying on the estuary of the River Mawddach and Cardigan Bay. Historically in Merionethshire, the English form of the name is derived from "Aber" (estuary) and the river's name "Mawddach"

The town is served by Barmouth railway station.

History

The town grew around the shipbuilding industry, and more recently as a seaside resort. Notable buildings include the mediaeval Tŷ Gwyn tower house, the 19th century Tŷ Crwn roundhouse prison and St John's Church.

William Wordsworth, a visitor to Barmouth in the 19th century, described it thus: "With a fine sea view in front, the mountains behind, the glorious estuary running eight miles inland, and Cadair Idris within compass of a day's walk, Barmouth can always hold its own against any rival."

There is also a new Lifeboat Visitors' Centre, where visitors can purchase souvenirs, and take a look at the RNLI lifeboat from the viewing gallery. The busy harbour plays host to the annual Three Peaks yacht race.

Barmouth (SEPTA station)

Barmouth was a train station located at the end of East Levering Mill Road in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania. The station was a stop on the Pennsylvania Railroad's Schuylkill Branch, and later became a part of SEPTA's Cynwyd Line.

The station, and all of those north of Cynwyd was closed in September 1986 when the integrity of the Pencoyd Viaduct crossing the Schuylkill River and Schuylkill Expressway was questioned. In 2009, SEPTA leased the line to Lower Merion Township, who dismantled the tracks for the Cynwyd Heritage Trail. The last remnants of the station, the platforms and a stone shelter, were demolished in 2011 to make room for the trail parking lot.

The Barmouth station site bisects West Laurel Hill Cemetery and Westminster Cemetery.

References

External links