Charles III
73-624: 53°24′22″N 4°20′28″W / 53.406°N 4.341°W / 53.406; -4.341 Amlwch ( Welsh: [ˈamlʊχ] ) is a port town and community in Wales . It is situated on the north coast of the Isle of Anglesey , on the A5025 which connects it to Holyhead and to Menai Bridge . As well as Amlwch town and Amlwch Port , other settlements within the community include Burwen , Bull Bay (Porthllechog) and Pentrefelin . The town has
146-478: A fireman , but train passengers and crew complained at the very rough ride – rattling windows a particular complaint. As part of British Rail's Modernisation Plan , Derby Lightweight DMUs were introduced three years later. A 1956 brochure advertised day return tickets from Bangor to Amlwch for 4s.4d , or Llangefni for 11d. Steam engines continued to be used for freight trains, and for extra workings such as Saturday trains. Steam returned for all passenger trains in
219-529: A light railway through the town to Amlwch station, and a marshalling yard for exchanging freight wagons. The line stopped carrying passengers on 5 December 1964, as part of the rationalisation known as the Beeching Axe . All stations were closed, and all goods yards, passing loops and sidings removed, except the marshalling yard for the Octel freight. Octel's freight traffic totaled 70,000 tons annually, and
292-505: A passing loop suitable for passenger trains on the Amlwch line meant that trains could only operate every two hours. Coordinating this limited timetable with the main line services through Gaerwen was difficult, and passengers could face a long wait on occasions. To make the branch line workings more flexible, a passing loop was proposed for Llangwyllog in March 1914. The work was completed for
365-1120: A swimming pool , sports centre. It is situated on Anglesey's 125-mile stretch of coast that is designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty . The town also has two football clubs, Amlwch Town F.C. , who play in the Welsh Alliance League , and Amlwch Port F.C., a Sunday League pub team that plays in the North Wales Sunday League. Amlwch has a sea rowing club based in Bull Bay , Trireme Ynys Mon Rowing Club. Community (Wales) Heir Apparent William, Prince of Wales First Minister ( list ) Rt Hon Eluned Morgan MS ( L ) Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies MS ( L ) Counsel General-designate – Elisabeth Jones Chief Whip and Trefnydd – Jane Hutt MS (L) Permanent Secretary Sixth Senedd Llywydd (Presiding Officer) Elin Jones MS ( PC ) Leader of
438-538: A beach in Llaneilian, and it has significant coastal cliffs. Tourism is an important element of the local economy. At one time it was a booming mining town that became the centre of a vast global trade in copper ore. The harbour inlet became a busy port and significant shipbuilding and ship repair centre, as well as an embarkation point with boats sailing to the Isle of Man and to Liverpool . The community covers an area of about 15 square kilometres. The name Amlwch –
511-561: A decade of operating as an independent company, the line was transferred to the London and North Western Railway in 1876, for £80,000. This was enacted by the ( 39 & 40 Vict. c. clxxii), and the LNWR assumed control of the line on 1 July 1876. A survey conducted by the LNWR found that the bridges and culverts were in a fair condition, but the stations were dirty. Fences were decayed, rails needed replacing, some sleepers were rotten, and
584-533: A mile further on. Captain Rich, when surveying the line, noted that the curves and gradients were severe, and recommended that the line be worked at moderate speed. He also noted the lack of turntables , and the company's intention to use Fairlie engines on the line. The Anglesey Central Railway Act 1866 also gave the Anglesey Central Railway (ACR) the right to authorise Dickson to lease or work
657-402: A passenger coach, and a guard's van , with Edward Hughes serving as the guard. The whole train went over the side of the bridge into the river. Edward Hughes dragged himself out, and was taken to the nearest farm. John Davies was scalded to death, and Taylor and Saunders were found injured, and could not be freed until mid-day. John Saunders later died from his injuries. Robert Williams, one of
730-429: A plant built just west of the port. The bromine was taken to Ellesmere Port where it was used in the manufacture of anti-knock additives for leaded petrol . When leaded petrol was withdrawwn in 2000 the demand for bromine fell. The plant ceased production in 2004. In the 1970s, Amlwch had an offshore single point mooring - Amlwch Oil Terminal - which was used to receive large oil tankers which were unsuitable for
803-418: A population of 3,789. It is also home to the local secondary school , Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones which Lemmy attended, and the town also has a primary school. The local newspaper for northeastern Anglesey is Yr Arwydd ('The Sign'). Yr Arwydd is the local Welsh name for Mynydd Bodafon , the paper covers the area surrounding the mountain, and has an image of the summit as its logo. Amlwch grew rapidly in
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#1732772804909876-539: A railway from Gaerwen to Amlwch, with another meeting in Llangefni, on 1 August 1861. David Davies and his partner Ezra Roberts offered to build the line at a cost of £ 6,000 per mile, complete except for rolling stock, or for £5,000 per mile, with the company to purchase the land and meet "preliminary and parliamentary expenses". This proposal won favour with the fledgling company, but it was not taken up. The London and North Western Railway (LNWR) (who had taken over
949-456: A reference to the site of the town's harbour, Porth Amlwch – derives from Welsh am ("about, on or around") and llwch (an old word meaning "inlet, creek" - similar to the Gaelic word "loch" for a body of water). On 23 November 1981, the first tornado of the record-breaking 1981 United Kingdom tornado outbreak , an F1/T2 tornado, passed through Amlwch. At the 2011 census the community had
1022-597: A tourist and local transport facility for Amlwch, Llanerchymedd and Llangefni. In 2012 a local enthusiast group, Anglesey Central Railway, or Lein Amlwch , were granted permission to clear and survey the line condition, and in May 2017 the Welsh Government announced that re-opening Llangefni station was under active consideration, raising a strong hope that the service could one day continue north to reach Amlwch again. Attractions in Amlwch include its restored port area,
1095-414: A variety of passenger, goods and mixed trains, giving five passenger services down to Amlwch, and six up. The first train of the morning, departing Bangor at 04:20, and the 19:35 from Amlwch also carried mail to and from the island. The majority of trains still terminated at Gaerwen. As Llangefni held a livestock market on a Thursday, an extra service from Bangor to Llangefni on Thursdays was introduced by
1168-613: Is a division of land in Wales that forms the lowest tier of local government in Wales . Welsh communities are analogous to civil parishes in England but, unlike English parishes, communities cover the whole of Wales. There are 878 communities in Wales. Until 1974 Wales was divided into civil parishes . These were abolished by section 20 (6) of the Local Government Act 1972 , and replaced by communities by section 27 of
1241-478: Is based at the old police station on Lôn Goch and comprises fifteen councillors elected from the three community wards of Town, Rural and Amlwch Port. Amlwch is in the Twrcelyn electoral ward which also includes Llanbadrig , Llaneilian and Rhosybol , electing three county councillors to the county council. Amlwch was an ancient parish . When elected parish and district councils were established in 1894, Amlwch
1314-593: The Anglesey Coastal Path which passes through it, its watch tower containing an exhibition by Geo Môn , maritime and copper mining museums, St Eleth's Church (which dates from 1800) and the reinforced concrete Catholic church Our Lady Star of the Sea and St Winefride , built in 1937. There are two tiers of local government covering Amlwch, at community (town) and county level: Amlwch Town Council and Isle of Anglesey County Council . The town council
1387-405: The Beeching Axe . Industrial freight services continued until 1993. The railway's tracks remain and local groups have demonstrated an interest in restoring services as a heritage railway . The sustainable transport charity Sustrans has proposed to use the route as a cycle path ( rail trail ). The Welsh Assembly Government, in partnership with Network Rail, commissioned a feasibility study into
1460-536: The Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 and the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 . Anglesey Central Railway 53°24′34″N 4°20′55″W / 53.4095°N 4.3486°W / 53.4095; -4.3486 The Anglesey Central Railway (Welsh: Lein Amlwch , Amlwch Line ) was a 17.5-mile (28.2 km) standard-gauge railway in Anglesey , Wales, connecting the port of Amlwch and
1533-552: The Mersey . Reception tanks were located ashore and the oil was pumped from there to the refineries on the Manchester Ship Canal . The terminal closed in 1990. When copper mining began to decline in the mid-1850s, shipbuilding became the main industry with many people also becoming involved in the ship repair and other maritime industries. The town was home to a brewing industry and also had tobacco works, producing
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#17327728049091606-619: The River Cefni and approaching Llangefni . North of Llangefni, the railway follows the course of the River Cefni in The Dingle (Nant Y Pandy). Having followed the river through the narrow valley, over bridges and through cuttings, the railway crosses Llyn Cefni , the island's second largest reservoir. The railway continues north-west over easier terrain towards Llangwyllog and Llanerchymedd , where it turns north, running to
1679-534: The 1896 timetable. In the early morning of 29 November 1877, heavy rain caused the dam of the Rhodgeidio mill near Llanerchymedd to breach, and the surge of water washed away the wooden Caemawr bridge over the Afon Alaw . The first train of the day was driven by William Taylor, with fireman John Saunders and railway inspector John Davies also on the footplate . The train also included two coal trucks,
1752-472: The 18th century near what was then the world's biggest copper mine at the nearby Parys Mountain . By the late 18th century, Amlwch had a population of around 10,000 and was the second largest town in Wales after Merthyr Tydfil . It was at this time that its harbour was also extended to accommodate the ships needed to transport the ore. When the copper production declined, a wide variety of industrial activities were developed to take its place. Ship-building in
1825-497: The Anglesey Central Railway's first drivers, noted that he had been instructed to drive the morning train, but that he slept late, and William Taylor replaced him at short notice. The bridge was later rebuilt in stone, and is known to this day as Pont Damwain (Accident Bridge). The LNWR obtained powers to build a branch from Holland Arms to Red Wharf Bay in 1899 and 1900. The line was opened to Pentraeth in 1908, and reached Red Wharf Bay in 1909. The Gaerwen-Llangefni staff section
1898-496: The Chester and Holyhead Railway) were approached in 1862. The LNWR were not interested, so the railway was financed independently. The Anglesey Central Railway Act 1863 ( 26 & 27 Vict. c.cxxviii) founded the company, with capital of £120,000. The chairman was William Bulkeley Hughes , MP for Caernarfon and local railway prospector. The ceremonial first sod was cut on 11 September 1863, with construction starting
1971-479: The Crown . In Wales, all town councils are community councils. There are now three communities with city status: Bangor , St Asaph and St Davids . The chair of a town council or city council will usually have the title mayor (Welsh: maer ). However, not every community has a council. In communities with populations too small to sustain a full community council, community meetings may be established. The communities in
2044-511: The LNWR informed the ACR that they could no longer lend the engine in use, as a result of the recent court case. Three choices were suggested by the LNWR: that the line be bought outright, that a proper working arrangement be made, or that the ACR "might buy the engine and carriages now on the line". The ACR were not in a position to buy the stock, and made arrangements for the sale of the railway. After
2117-560: The LNWR). Carriage from Llangefni (then the terminus of the ACR) cost 2 shillings and sixpence more. The mines soon became uneconomic to operate and closed in 1871. Livestock, artificial fertiliser, and farm produce made up the majority of the remaining freight traffic. Dickson , who was operating all services on the railway, failed financially in September 1867. William Dew, secretary of
2190-667: The Opposition Andrew RT Davies MS ( C ) Shadow Cabinet ( current ) Prime Minister Rt Hon Keir Starmer MP ( L ) Secretary of State for Wales Rt Hon Jo Stevens MP (L) Principal councils ( leader list ) Corporate Joint Committees Local twinning see also: Regional terms and Regional economy United Kingdom Parliament elections European Parliament elections (1979–2020) Local elections Police and crime commissioner elections Referendums A community ( Welsh : cymuned )
2263-503: The Red Wharf Bay branch. The branch was closed to all traffic in 1950, and Holland Arms closed on 4 August 1952. Under British Rail , many passenger services on the Amlwch branch operated through to Bangor , removing the need to change trains at Gaerwen. An early three-coach British United Traction (A.E.C.) diesel multiple unit train was trialled on the line in May 1953. The train was economical in fuel use, and did not require
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2336-475: The Red Wharf Bay railmotor operating to Llangefni three times a day. The extra Thursday service to Llangefni for the market was still included. By the summer of 1929, there were eight trains from Gaerwen to Amlwch, and seven in the other direction. One train to and from Amlwch no longer ran Thursdays, replaced with a second two return trip to Llangefni, operated by the railmotor. The loop at Llangwyllog now saw three pairs of passenger trains passing on weekdays, while
2409-445: The ballast was soft and shaley. The LNWR addressed these problems over the coming years. A short passing loop was built at Llangefni station in 1877 for engines to run round , but at only 40 yards (37 m) long it was not of much use for allowing passenger trains to pass each other. A refuge siding was built for freight trains at Llanerchymedd in 1878, along with an engine shed in Amlwch. In 1882, new station buildings replaced
2482-414: The basic wooden sheds at Holland Arms, Llangwyllog and Rhosgoch, as well as development of the junction at Gaerwen into a full double junction , and a second signal cabin built there. An extended Amlwch station received a canopy by 1884. The staff and ticket system was supplemented with block working in 1886, and was replaced with the electric staff system in 1894. The timetable for January 1883 shows
2555-636: The building of an oil tank farm in the 1970s. This was built to receive oil from tankers moored offshore in the deep waters off Amlwch, before it was pumped to the Stanlow Refinery in Cheshire . The site was decommissioned after a short life, but the short spur remains. A Class 31 locomotive, number 31296, was named 'Amlwch Freighter'/'Trên Nwyddau Amlwch' in September 1986 at the Associated Octel plant. At this point, 33 years after
2628-705: The community boundaries within their area every fifteen years. The councils propose changes to the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales , which prepares a report and makes recommendations to the Welsh Government . If the Welsh Government accepts the recommendations, then it implements them using a statutory instrument . For example, in 2016 four new communities were created in the City and County of Cardiff . The legislation surrounding community councils in Wales has been amended significantly in
2701-500: The company's ambitions: As regards the line to Port of Amlwch, nothing ought to be done till there is certainty by guarantee or otherwise of sufficient traffic to pay a proper interest on the capital to be expended in making it. On 16 December 1875, as a result of legal action by independent locomotive manufacturers, an injunction was issued restricting the LNWR "from manufacturing locomotive engines or other rolling stock for sale or hire on other than their own railway". In January 1876
2774-506: The company, writing in April of that year stated that "the affairs of the railway are in such a critical and pressing state". The ACR turned once again to the LNWR, asking them to work the line. These negotiations failed, but the LNWR did agree to lend an engine and carriages once again. T. L. Kettle suggested to the chairperson in 1870 that sale to the LNWR would be desirable, on account of the company's debts. The financial situation restricted
2847-511: The county town of Llangefni with the North Wales Coast Line at Gaerwen . Built as an independent railway, the railway opened in portions from 1864 to 1867. Due to financial troubles the railway was sold to the London and North Western Railway in 1876, which invested significantly in the infrastructure. Operation continued under various companies during the 20th century, but passenger services were withdrawn in 1964 as part of
2920-416: The daily freight train would be shunted into sidings at Llangefni and Llanerchymedd to make way. Motor train services were back up to 24 single trips a day, including the Red Wharf Bay services. The Great Depression brought a number of cutbacks to Anglesey's railways. The withdrawal of passenger services on the Red Wharf Bay branch in September 1930 affected the Amlwch line, as the motor train that operated
2993-601: The east of Llyn Alaw toward Rhosgoch . It then turns north-east around Parys Mountain before reaching Amlwch . The railways arrived on Anglesey with the construction of the Chester and Holyhead Railway , of which the section from Llanfairpwll to Holyhead opened in 1848, two years before the Britannia Bridge was finished. The Chester and Holyhead railway surveyed a branch to Llangefni in 1852, but chose not to proceed. George Stephenson notably reported that
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3066-450: The extra Gaerwen–Llangefni services was withdrawn. Amlwch's engine shed was closed on 14 September 1931, with all trains being worked from Bangor. As the economy recovered, the number of Gaerwen–Amlwch services was increased. The summer of 1938 saw ten down and eight up trains for passengers, with eleven each way on Saturdays. A dam was built across the Cefni river north of Llangefni in
3139-552: The famous Amlwch Shag Tobacco - "Baco Shag Amlwch". Amlwch station was the northern terminus of the Anglesey Central Railway which was opened in 1864. It closed to passengers a hundred years later, in 1964, but for the next 30 years was used by freight trains. In 1951 the Amlwch Octel bromide works installed an extension to the line from Amlwch station into their premises. After the passenger service ceased
3212-527: The first freight train to Amlwch was on 10 September 1866, according to Amlwch's first stationmaster, Mr O. Dew. The line had been built single track throughout, with the only run-around loop provided at Amlwch, meaning that trains could not pass each other. To ensure safe working, the Staff and Ticket system was used in three sections: Gaerwen-Llangefni, Llangefni-Llanerchymedd, and Llanerchymedd-Amlwch, using A and B configured staffs alternately. No turntable
3285-496: The following year by the contractors Dickson and Russell . With the line approaching Llangefni later in October 1864, LNWR engineers were authorised to build the main line junction at Gaerwen, at the Anglesey Central Railway's expense. The line opened for freight as far as Llangefni on 16 December 1864. A special train carried the directors and friends from Bangor to a temporary station in Llangefni in 37 minutes. A banquet
3358-422: The late 1940s to increase the water supply available to the island. The new reservoir, Llyn Cefni , crossed the railway's trackbed, and a bridge was built to support it. A second reservoir, Llyn Alaw , was formed adjacent to the railway north of Llanerchymedd in the 1960s, but did not interfere with the line's alignment. Passenger numbers at Holland Arms station had fallen since the end of passenger services on
3431-549: The late 1980s, but the idea was turned down. After a public meeting in Amlwch to gauge local support, Isle of Anglesey Railways Ltd (IoAR) was established in 1991 with the aim of restoring passenger services to the line. Special trains ran from Bangor to a temporary station at Amlwch on the spring and August bank holidays of 1992, and the 125th anniversary of the line's opening (a total of eight return trips). Pathfinder Tours subsequently ran an excursion from York to Llandudno and Amlwch in October 1993. The project's viability
3504-408: The line continued until 1993 with freight trains bringing sulphuric acid in to the Octel works, and transporting bromine and related products used in fuel additives, back to the main line, bound for Ellesmere Port. In 1993 the freight activity was all transferred to road vehicles, and use of the line ceased. The rails were not lifted however, leaving open the prospect that the line could be restored as
3577-460: The line since: Diesel engines were used for the Octel freight after British Rail's withdrawal of steam engines. A railfan website notes Class 24 , Class 40 , and Class 47 as having been used for the freight services, as well as the 1983 special passenger services. The 1992 specials used Class 101 DMU units, and the 1993 special used Class 20 and Class 37 engines. The continuation of Octel Freight Traffic until 1993 ensured that not only
3650-459: The line was limited by a lack of funds. Russell asked the LNWR to adopt the line in August 1865, to no avail. The Anglesey Central Railway Act 1866 ( 29 & 30 Vict. c. cccxx) gave permission to raise a further £20,000, with loans of £6,600. After raising this capital, the line was opened to Llanerchymedd in 1866, with the temporary station at Llangefni replaced by a permanent structure half
3723-519: The line was not worth building. The idea of a local railway was still of interest to the people of Anglesey. A public meeting was held in Llangefni on 5 July 1858, to popularise the idea of building a railway leaving the main line at Gaerwen , running north to Amlwch , west to Cemaes Bay , then south through Llanrhyddlad to rejoin the main line at Valley . This ambitious scheme did not gain enough support to proceed, although some landowners offered to exchange land for shares. Proposals changed into
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#17327728049093796-418: The line, or to lease or sell the line to the LNWR. Dickson did indeed undertake to operate services. He requested permission from the LNWR to run services through to Bangor, but they refused, and passengers had to continue to change at Gaerwen. The act authorised a branch from Rhosgoch to Cemaes , but this was not built. The Fairlie engine Mountaineer was in use on the line in April 1866, but by October 1867 it
3869-614: The mid-1990s disrupted this process. The post-privatisation owner Railtrack 's asking price of £300,000 in 1996 required seeking grants from the European Commission . With no traffic or maintenance, the line started to become overgrown. In the meantime, Sustrans proposed the railway should be converted into a cycle route, similar to the Lôn Eifion cycle route which follows the path of the former Carnarvonshire Railway from Caernarfon to Afon Wen . In 1998–99 surveys of
3942-441: The narrow harbour area and other sites around the coast of Amlwch Port was a significant enterprise from the 1820s and grew in significance after the railway opened in 1864, reducing the use of the harbour for copper and other goods by ship. By 1912 the main shipbuilding activities were in decline, and neither the harbour nor shipyards offered much commercial activity. In 1953 Octel began the extraction of bromine from seawater at
4015-692: The opening of the Octel plant at Amlwch, 2 million tonnes of traffic had been conveyed from their freight terminal. A scale model was produced by Lima with this nameplate affixed. The name was removed in March 1990 and transferred to the Class 47 locomotive 47330, which was renumbered 47390 for a period, retaining the name. This locomotive was later rebuilt as a Class 57 , and renamed 'The Hood' by its new operator, Virgin Trains . A few special passenger services were subsequently operated, notably in 1969, 1983 and 1992/93. In 1993, Octel's daily freight traffic
4088-621: The railway bridges showed their condition to be "better than expected". A petition of 7,000 signatures was presented to Anglesey County Council in January 1999, calling for better cycling facilities on the island, and particularly a cycle path from Amlwch to Gaerwen. Support for the railway option was demonstrated by a charter train named the Lein Amlwch Venturer , hauled by 6024 King Edward I , which ran from Crewe to Gaerwen junction on Saturday 23 January. Anglesey County Council
4161-491: The railway was kept in order to serve this traffic. Local freight services ceased, and the electric staff system was withdrawn, so that only one train could be on the branch at a time, although that was sufficient for Octel's requirements. The double junction at Gaerwen was also remodelled. Once the freight trains were being worked by diesel locomotives , arrangements were made for the British Rail engines to operate all
4234-481: The reopening of the line, which started in early 2011. The railway branches off westbound from the North Wales Coast Line at Gaerwen , and turns northeast to descend into Malltraeth Marsh (Welsh: Cors Ddyga ), passing below Thomas Telford 's A5 and the A55 just before Holland Arms station at Pentre Berw . The Red Wharf Bay branch (now removed) left the line here, as the Amlwch line continues north-west, crossing
4307-487: The same Act. The principal areas of Wales are divided entirely into communities. Unlike in England, where unparished areas exist, no part of Wales is outside a community, even in urban areas . Most, but not all, communities are administered by community councils , which are equivalent to English parish councils in terms of their powers and the way they operate. Welsh community councils may call themselves town councils unilaterally and may have city status granted by
4380-721: The summer timetables. This required introducing a new working section, and Llangwyllog became a staff station. As the new section was in the middle of a line, a third type of staff was required (a C configuration); one of only a few sections on the LNWR that did not use a type A or B staff. In 1916, the passing loop was used by one pair of passenger trains in the evening, with an extra down train (toward Amlwch) making seven down and six up trains per day. The railmotor train's services had grown to 24 single trips between Gaerwen/Holland Arms and Llangefni/Red Wharf Bay. The continuing shortages of World War I meant that in January 1917 many passenger services were to be cut to give more resources to
4453-605: The summers of 1963 and 1964 due to a shortage of DMUs. A bromine extraction plant was opened in Amlwch in 1953 by Associated Ethyl (soon renamed Associated Octel, and later part of the Great Lakes Chemical Corporation ). Chlorine produced at a plant in Ellesmere Port was brought by rail to Amlwch, which was used to extract bromine from sea water. The resulting ethylene dibromide was taken from Amlwch by rail as well. The company built
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#17327728049094526-551: The urban areas of the cities of Cardiff , Swansea and Newport do not have community councils. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census , there were 869 communities in Wales. 84 percent, or more than 730, have a council. They vary in size from Rhayader with an area of 13,945 hectares (34,460 acres) to Cefn Fforest with an area of 64 hectares (160 acres). They ranged in population from Barry with 45,053 recorded inhabitants to Baglan Bay with no permanent residents. The twenty-two principal area councils are required to review
4599-410: The war effort. The railways were slow to recover from the wartime hardships, and in 1921 there were six passenger trains to and from Amlwch, and only 18 single trips by the motor train. In 1923 Britain's numerous railway companies were grouped into the "Big Four" , and the LNWR's assets became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS). Holland Arms' functionality as a staff station
4672-408: The way to the plant. Amlwch station was demolished when the adjacent road was rebuilt. A nearby warehouse now houses a visitor centre with a model railway and exhibitions. Llanerchymedd station became the property of the local council, and reopened as a heritage centre, museum and community café in 2010. Other stations passed into private ownership. A spur was built near Rhosgoch to facilitate
4745-503: Was built, as the intended Fairlie engines would not require one. When the LNWR provided engines, they used tank engines where possible, rather than an engine with a tender . Mona Mine, operating the copper works at Parys Mountain , switched from exporting ore by sea to by railway in 1865, two years before it reached Amlwch. Delivery prices per ton of ore were 25 shillings to London, 20 shillings to Birmingham , and 14 shillings and 2 pence to Liverpool , when carried from Gaerwen (by
4818-531: Was discussed with the Welsh Development Agency and Anglesey District Council , followed by negotiations in July 1993 with Railfreight Distribution to purchase the line. Octel offered a portion of its private railway for the building of a new station at Amlwch. IoAR initially hoped to start passenger services between Amlwch and Llangefni as early as 1994. The privatisation of British Rail in
4891-497: Was given a parish council and included in the Twrcelyn Rural District . In 1901 the parish was converted into an urban district . Amlwch Urban District was abolished in 1974, with its area instead becoming a community. District-level functions passed to Ynys Môn-Isle of Anglesey Borough Council , which in 1996 was reconstituted as a county council. The town's leisure centre is one of the few on Anglesey and has
4964-743: Was held at the Bull Hotel for 100 guests, with celebrations continuing that evening in Bangor. The line was surveyed by Captain Rich on behalf of the Board of Trade in February, and they approved the line for passenger traffic on 8 March 1865. Passenger services started four days later, with an engine and carriages loaned by the LNWR. In the six months to December 1865, the railway carried 18,839 passengers and 3,866 tons of freight (3,928 t ), excluding livestock. Further construction of
5037-481: Was in use on the Neath and Brecon Railway , of which Dickson was also the contractor and whose traffic he was working. The Neath and Brecon's 0-6-0 Miers also operated on the ACR, under the name Anglesea . Neither of those engines was considered successful. The final section to Amlwch was surveyed by the now Major Rich in January 1867. After remedial work, it opened to passengers throughout on 3 June 1867, although
5110-545: Was only useful for the Red Wharf Bay branch, but a signalman was still required for all Amlwch services. In about 1925, LMS introduced a switching-out system that could turn the Gaerwen-Holland Arms and Holland Arms-Llangefni sections into one long section. This was of particular advantage in early mornings and evenings, when the only services were on the Amlwch line. The July 1924 timetable showed eight passenger trains each way between Amlwch and Gaerwen, with
5183-419: Was replaced with Gaerwen-Holland Arms and Holland Arms-Llangefni sections, but the single line to Red Wharf Bay was operated as one section. The autotrain introduced to serve this branch also operated on the Amlwch line: when not running to Red Wharf Bay the motor train would operate between Llangefni and Gaerwen while the main branch train was on the round trip from Llangefni to Amlwch and back. The lack of
5256-406: Was the trackbed kept whole, but the majority of the rail infrastructure was still in situ. As such, the Amlwch line was well suited to preservation as a heritage railway , or see a return of mainline services. The continued role of Llangefni as an administrative and commercial centre led British Rail and Gwynedd County Council to consider restoring passenger services between Llangefni and Bangor in
5329-474: Was transferred to road haulage, for safety reasons, and traffic thus ceased on the line. The Octel plant closed in 2003, and has since been demolished. The ACR hired rolling stock from the LNWR for their inaugural services. When Dickson was operating the line from 1866 to 1868, he used the following engines: From 1868, the LNWR provided rolling stock again, until their acquisition of the line in 1876. The following types of engine have been noted as being used on
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