Kinmel Camp Railway in the 1950's

[Ostrich]

Reading the "Slate from North Wales" thread, I remember holidaying as a child at Kinmel Bay back in the late 1950's and seeing from Foryd Bridge, near Rhyl, the single track of this old industrial line running inland. I believe in those days it connected a quarry (St George's Quarry?) with the wharf at Foryd, and I have a vague memory of seeing a diesel loco hauling a couple of trucks along it. I was wondering if any other forum members recall it or saw it in operation?

 

[Bevan Price]

Don't remember it myself, despite several holidays with family in North Wales. However Industrial Railway Society Handbook for North Wales gives some details. Line from St. Georges Quarry was connected to a former military railway from Foryd Jn to Kinmel Park Military Camp; the camp mostly closed after WW1, and the line to the quarry was operated for a few years by LMSR. The quarry and a kiln were latterly owned by Limestone Products Ltd., and they operated the railway using their own locos from the 1930s until rail traffic ceased in 1965. They had two Avonside 0-6-0ST steam locos, their first diesel loco - a Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0, arrived in 1960 (second hand, previously with B.P. Refinery, Grain, Kent).
There was also a narrow gauge (2 feet) line at the quarry from 1936 to 1958, with a Ruston & Hornsby shunter.

 

[Y Ddraig Coch]

Reading the "Slate from North Wales" thread, I remember holidaying as a child at Kinmel Bay back in the late 1950's and seeing from Foryd Bridge, near Rhyl, the single track of this old industrial line running inland. I believe in those days it connected a quarry (St George's Quarry?) with the wharf at Foryd, and I have a vague memory of seeing a diesel loco hauling a couple of trucks along it. I was wondering if any other forum members recall it or saw it in operation?

Below is a map of the branch. If you click on the link below there is some more info about the line.
Hope this helps.



http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/f/foryd2/index.shtml

 

[Ostrich]

That's very interesting - thanks, both! I'm pretty sure it was the diesel I saw, so I must have been slightly out on the year ...

 

[Altfish]

As a youngster in the early 60's I have vague recollections of the line being in-situ to Foryd Pier as we crossed it on the coast road through Rhyl.
No recollection of seeing any trains on, although some abandoned wagons do come to mind.

 

[Y Ddraig Coch]

As a youngster in the early 60's I have vague recollections of the line being in-situ to Foryd Pier as we crossed it on the coast road through Rhyl.
No recollection of seeing any trains on, although some abandoned wagons do come to mind.

The bridge is still double width were the old track used to be as it crosses the river by the blue road bridge at kinmel bay