Cowlyd Tramway - Remains

Remains

Today the whole route of the line between Coedty and Llyn Cowlyd is clearly evident. Where the metalled Trefriw access road ends at the gate, at Siglen, the route of the line between here and the dam runs higher up than the current dam access track, meaning that much of the formation has largely been untouched, and therefore much can be seen in the way of trackbed remains, including sleepers and rail. It is also apparent from these remains that the formation was, indeed, in places, of minimal standard.

In the other direction, between Siglen and Coedty, the formation has been widened to form an access track (for farm and pipeline vehicle access) and on these widened sections the rail has been recovered, leaving only minimal evidence of the line. Today the whole length of the tramway can easily be walked, particularly between Siglen and the top of the Dolgarrog inclines. It will be seen that the formation was of better construction towards Coedty, where there is an embankment and some small cuttings.

The loco shed is still evident close to the top of the highest incline, near the point where the Cowlyd tramway branched off the Eigiau tramway. Unlike the lower inclines, this one has not subsequently been utilized by the pipepines running down to Dolgarrog. At its head is an abandoned corrugated iron winding shed, a replacement for an earlier one.

It is commonly held that the rail used on some of the cattle-grids on the Trefriw to Cowlyd access road came from the former tramway, but comparison of the two reveals clearly that the tramway rail was considerably lighter, and would not be sufficiently heavy for this later use. It is more likely that it came from the Eigiau tramway, which at one time carried standard gauge engines, and would have been laid in heavier rail.

• An unrecovered length of rail.

• The remains of the highest incline above Dolgarrog. The former winding house can also be seen (top right) as can the former loco shed (top left).

• Near the top of the incline are the discarded remains of the cables used for hauling engines up the incline

• Part of the formation, reinforced by sections of rail - in remarkably good condition.

• Part of the formation at the Dolgarrog end.