that once welcomed a queen
Llandderfel was a station on the line between Ruabon and Barmouth
For nearly 100 years trains linked east and west Wales on a line between Ruabon and Barmouth. The line owned by Great Western Railway was a standard gauge that transported passengers and goods.One of the stops was at Llandderfel, near Bala, with the village also home to a railway tunnel built to pass under a rocky outcrop next to the River Dee.
Services started back 1868 and the following year the station was visited by Queen Victoria who arrived in the Royal Train and was entertained at Pale Hall. The hall was owned by Sir Henry Robertson, chairman of the original railway company which built the line.But like many stations it was a victim to the Beeching cuts of the 1960s. The line was axed and station scheduled to close in 1965.
Its closure came slightly earlier in 1964 after flooding by the River Dee breached the line near Llandderfel. This section of the line was never re-opened.The site was abandoned and much of the station has now disappeared. Hidden and Forgotten took a tour of the site - capturing the tunnel and what's left of the station. click for slighly larger image
Today, no trace of the station buildings exist; however, the flight of steps that leads from the road overbridge down to where the platforms once were are still in situ, In these photos, you will see the steps to the station slowly overtaken by nature along with a small section of overgrown "up" platform a few yards up from the steps.
Midway between Llandderfel and Bala Junction the line passed through a rocky outcrop which resulted in the construction of a 76yd long Llandderfel Tunnel, which still exists today, but now disused.
The railway looks like it's been used as a tipping area with old VHS tapes and random items. There are also buildings left standing derelict that are littered with rubbish and people's unwanted belongings.
Short video on youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8fq9jT6agw
Abandoned railway at Llandderfel............ click for slighly larger image
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