On the Trawsfyndd line - with Ken Robinson

[merlodlliw]

Interesting report on the new proposed ventures, in this weeks

http://www.nwrail.org.uk/nwnews.htm


Bob

 

[185]

It's a shame the demolition of Trawsfynydd Power Station can't move the building waste by rail - that could have led to the line to the lake at least being restored, with a 700m branch to the site. Be potential for a handy extension of the Conwy Valley service too.

 

[merlodlliw]

It's a shame the demolition of Trawsfynydd Power Station can't move the building waste by rail - that could have led to the line to the lake at least being restored, with a 700m branch to the site. Be potential for a handy extension of the Conwy Valley service too.

Good point. Too much is shifted by lorry these days.

Bob

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

On another rail-related matter on the link that you submitted, it was interesting to note that two trains ran from Lynemouth to Holyhead with aluminium ingots for re-melting, even thought it was stated to be a trial. I wonder what tonnage was involved. Rail is better for the environment for the transportation of such items.

 

[Teaboy1]

I think you will find most of the plant has already been removed and scrapped (about 1995-8), what remains now are the reactor cores and the boilers (16 off) plus all the ponds and storage equipment. This lot is far too hot to move and will remain on site for ages. The boilers have been cut into 15 ft sections and in deep store for next 100 years. Reactors and cores, probably 500 years !!

The site could be 75% reclaimed and flattened but the hot bits are staying put. Dont know quite what could be done .... unless FR were to take over the line and re-guage it to 2 ft, then the line could run from Porthmadog > Blennaw > Transfynidd...??
Just a thought !!

It is however a beautiful scenic railway line but unless it can be put to a profitable use, it too will be but a memory like the Magnox dream. Shame

 

[Domeyhead]

Does anyone know if anything has progressed with the proposed movement of slate waste by rail from Bleanau Ffestiniog?

 

[PaulLothian]

I always hankered after a reopening of the Festiniog & Blaenau Railway from BF to Llan Ffestiniog after reading about it in one of JIC Boyd's books - extending it to Trawsfynydd could tie in with the leisure market, and could potentially include at the BF end a shuttle to the BF slate caverns. Having said that, it is probably less scenic than the FR or WHR, so would be unlikely to be profitable.

 

[Teaboy1]

The FR does indeed travel through some superb countryside .......... trouble is you cannot see it !! Too many trees in the way .......... now I'm not pressing for wholesale de-forestation ... but some clearance work on the RHS as you travel up to BF would certainly give the traveler something to look at rather than dense woodland.

 

[merlodlliw]

Does anyone know if anything has progressed with the proposed movement of slate waste by rail from Bleanau Ffestiniog?

Charlie Hume will find out ask him at info@nwrail.org.uk or his site http://www.nwrail.org.uk/nwnews.htm

Charlie is expert at finding out from his rail colleagues in North Wales


Bob

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

What remains now are the reactor cores and the boilers (16 off) plus all the ponds and storage equipment. This lot is far too hot to move and will remain on site for ages. The boilers have been cut into 15 ft sections and in deep store for next 100 years, reactors and cores probably for 500 years, but the hot bits are staying put.

What human and environmental protection measures have been put in place with regards to the ponds and the storage equipment. Is access restricted to members of the general public?

The items that are put in deep storage will be well protected by the very nature of slate as a natural shield.

 

[Teaboy1]

I believe the ENVIRONMENTAL protection measures are some 20ft of reinforced concrete to cap the cores for 500 years. The ponds and fuel storage areas are to be decontaminated by removing the top inches and burying that lot in stainless drums inside a very deep pit someday. The pond structure can then be smashed up in normal manner. Human protection measures and that for the general public, they will be allowed access ..... sometime around 2747 AD ................ but not before !! Form an orderly queue !!!

As for deep storage in Snowdonia National Park .. very contentious subject in deed ............ but probably will happen some day.

 

[Gareth Marston]

Charlie Hume will find out ask him at info@nwrail.org.uk or his site http://www.nwrail.org.uk/nwnews.htm

Charlie is expert at finding out from his rail colleagues in North Wales


Bob

WG took NR quote at face value and shelved it.