Dinorwic Railway
The Dinorwic Railway was a small, 2-foot (610 mm) narrow‑gauge line in North Wales. It ran about 8.25 miles (13.28 km) from the Dinorwic slate quarry to the port at Y Felinheli and operated from 1824 until May 1843. It is sometimes called the Dinorwic Tramroad or Tramway.
Why it was built: As the Dinorwic slate quarry expanded, better ways were needed to move slate to the coast. Before 1812, slate traveled by packhorse, boat, and cart, which was slow and expensive. In 1812 a Slate Road was opened to carry horse‑hauled loads from the quarry to the shore, and rails and inclines started appearing inside the quarry.
How it worked: Construction of the railway began in 1824, and by 1825 slate was being shipped by rail. The line followed roughly the old Slate Road from the Braich area toward the coast, then turned to reach the creek on its north side. All traffic was horse‑drawn, with stables at several points along the route. At the inclines, the system was balanced and self‑acting: as loaded wagons went down, they pulled empty ones up, using a rope or chain on a braked drum.
Challenges: The railway crossed land owned by others, so rent had to be paid. It used three inclines, which slowed traffic and needed more workers. Many quarry workings lay below the line, or even below parts of it, making transport harder.
End of the line: By the early 1840s a faster railway was needed. Construction of the Padarn Railway began in 1841 and opened on 3 March 1843. The Dinorwic Railway closed in May 1843 and was completely removed by 1850, making way for the new Padarn line.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 13:18 (CET).