A trip to the Welsh coast
The new Barmouth Bridge
26 January 2024
It was hard to imagine that this day
would come, 50 years ago when the
line was under threat. In December
2023, Network Rail reopened the
Barmouth Bridge after a major
refurbishment, including
replacement of the former swing bridge and
its adjacent span. Replacement of these
lattice sections was a major undertaking. The videos listed
below explain the job far more effectively than I can...
We travelled by rail from Shropshire, as far as Morfa
Mawddach (the former Barmouth Junction), and walked
slowly across the footpath - there’s no hurry; if we time it
right we can record a southbound train as it crosses.
Once that’s done, we need to find lunch, before catching our
train homewards. All was going well, until we stopped at
Tywyn. The guard explained that a train had broken down
near Machynlleth, and we’d have to wait for a while (around
Geoff’s Rail Diaries
30 minutes, in the event). On
arrival at Machynlleth, our train
would go no further, and the
Aberystwyth train (which we would
have coupled up to) would have
gone.
Transport for Wales organised a road service
for passengers travelling further, but we didn’t fancy that.
We’ll have time to kill at Machynlleth - but the Aberystwyth
to Chirk timber train was due very shortly, and after that, we
were able to find very enjoyable liquid refreshment in the
town. It meant we were a couple of hours later getting home
- but what’s that saying about clouds with silver linings... In
the case of the timber train, passing as the sun was about to
set, a golden lining might be more appropriate.
Youtube video links - Barmouth Bridge rebuild:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTg4nO5gXN0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9T13KhN8UE
