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Ffestiniog Railway – Dduallt

by ianjking

Ffestiniog Railway – Dduallt

Dduallt (meaning “Black Wooded Slope”) is the most remote station on the Ffestiniog Railway as it can only be reached by public footpaths, having no road access. It was first mentioned as a passenger station in 1880. It closed in September 1939 and reopened to passenger trains in April 1968.

Campbell’s Platform near Dduallt was built in 1965 to serve the 15th century Manor House “Plas Dduallt” where Oliver Cromwell is said to have stayed during his campaign against the Royalists.

Colonel Andrew Campbell bought the house in 1962 and completely restored it and also built road access. He kept his own locomotive in a siding at the halt which he ran to-and-from Tan-y-Bwlch. As a licensed explosives handler he also did the rock blasting needed to build the spiral. Campbell’s Platform is a private halt which is ONLY available for use by residents and visitors staying at Plas Dduallt.

Between the Platform and Tan-y-Bwlch (and over half a mile from the nearest road) is “Coed-y-Bleiddiau”, a private cottage built around 1860 for the Ffestiniog Railway’s ‘Inspector of the Line’. It was used as a holiday home in the 1930s, one of whom was Kim Philby, the Russian spy.

The house was on the UK TV programme “Most Haunted” in 2008.

The Map Showing Porthmadog (Bottom Left) and Blaenau Ffestiniog (Top Right) and the Route of the Ffestiniog Railway.

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