Colwyn Bay railway station

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Colwyn Bay railway station, Princes Drive

There was no station between Abergele and Conwy when the Chester & Holyhead Railway was opened in 1848 although the railway enbankment had of course been constructed running along the sea-front. The enbankment was built by gangs of Irishmen who lived in specially-built small houses, which still exist on Sea View Road. Excavation of material to build the embankment left a massive hole in the ground opposite their accommodation. The hole is now occupied by the Bay View Shopping Centre.

Old photo of colwyn bay railway stationAs the land on which the station was built was owned by Lady Erskine, her permission had to be sought before construction could begin. Colwyn station (renamed Colwyn Bay in 1876) opened in 1849. Whenever she wished to travel by rail, the trains were obliged to wait for her carriage to arrive at the station.

In 1889, one of the first pupils at Rydal School described the station as “a primitive affair ... indifferently lighted by oil lamps”. In1904 the station was completely rebuilt and the line was enlarged with four parallel tracks. The present station forecourt and booking office with only two tracks was opened on 29th April 1982.

The first station master was Benjamin Jones and he had a staff of 35. Today the whole operation is run by three people. As you look at the station from the forecourt, the extreme right hand end is part of the original 1849 station.

It was here that Monty Python actor Terry Jones first met his father, Alec. Terry was born at his grandparents’ house in Old Colwyn and lived there until after the war. Alec served with the RAF in India during the war. For a 2009 BBC documentary, Terry revisited the station and was overcome with emotion as he recalled seeing his father, in a forage cap, at the end of the platform.

In 2017 a granite “postcard” celebrating the station and railway was installed on Colwyn Bay prom.

With thanks to Graham Roberts, of Colwyn Bay Civic Society, and Colwyn Bay Heritage Group for the old photo.

Postcode: LL29 8DF    View Location Map

Website of Colwyn Bay Heritage Group