History
The exact opening date of the Deeside Tramway is unknown, but is believed to be in the 1850s. Even by this date the use of wooden rails with iron sheaths on the running surfaces was unusual. The tramway originally connected the Deeside slate quarry with the Nant y Pandy slate mill and a transshipment wharf on the main road at Glyndyfrdwy.
In the late 1870s the tramway was extended in two directions to bring its total length to 3 miles. A line was laid north from Glyndyfrdwy wharf to connect with the newly built Great Western Railway line at Glyndyfrdwy station. A second line was laid southwards to the Moelfferna slate quarry. These extensions were laid with traditional iron rails, although the original section retained the wooden rails throughout its lifetime.
The line continued operating until just after the end of the Second World War and its route can still be traced for much of its length.
Read more about this topic: Deeside Tramway
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