This is quite a slim volume, giving an overview of the industrial tramways, mainly quarry related, around Llangollen. Industries covered are mostly limestone and slate, but there is also coverage of wartime forestry work at Vivod and brickworks at Penybont. The systems described are mostly horse worked narrow gauge lines or plateways linking high level quarries with the Llangollen Canal. Of particular interest is the Deeside and Moelferna Quarry system, which used a mixture of conventional flat bottomed rail and wooden way (wooden rails topped with strips of iron), featured on the cover.
An interesting little book in the usual Oakwood style. I found it usefull to have an Ordnance Survey map handy when reading it, if only to get a feeling of the lay of the land described.
The Industrial Tramways of the Vale of LLangollen, J.R. Thomas & D.W. Southern, Oakwood Press ISBN 0853617273.
Paul.
This looks very interesting. Petra and I have explored the quarries/mines around Corwen (well worth a look) but have yet to walk the Deeside Tramway, hopefully this winter. Darn it, now I've got to buy another book...
ReplyDeleteIts not an area that I know well, despite camping at the Abbey once (I was working at the time so no chance to explore). However, I do know that Llangollen has some interesting outdoor shops (we bought our Tentipi in Pro-Adventure) and I've kayaked at JJ's.
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