Site of Penmaenpool engine shed alongside the Mawddach Trail

Image: © John Lucas Taken: 17 Mar 2022

The nearest house is built on the site of the shed, which was a small two-road building, constructed of timber but latterly protected by corrugated sheeting. The further house was of railway origin, presumably to house railway staff in this somewhat isolated location. A photograph taken from an almost identical position shows the shed in 1970, 5 years after closure: http://www.archive-images.co.uk/gallery/Archive-Colour-Images-of-Caernarvonshire-Railways/image/115/Penmaenpool_Railway_Station_c1970. Although later becoming part of the GWR empire, the station at Penmaenpool was originally constructed by the Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway (A&WCR) on its branch from Barmouth Junction station to Dolgellau. The A&WCR was a constituent of the Cambrian Railway and the shed was used to service its locomotives using its station at Dolgellau, which had an end-on junction with the GWR route from Ruabon. Later, the line became very busy on summer Saturdays, with holiday specials heading from the midlands to the Welsh coast resorts. Interestingly, the post-mounted power supply sub-station shown in the 1970 photograph survives in the same location and can just be seen in my photograph.

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0