Dinorwig quarry 'A' inclines, Llanberis

sign-out

Link to Welsh translationDinorwig quarry 'A' inclines, Gilfach Ddu, Llanberis

From Gilfach Ddu a pair of narrow-gauge railway tracks leads south-eastwards up into the woods. This was A1, the lowest in a flight of 10 inclines which brought slate down from the Garret side of the giant Dinorwig slate quarry.

The 1902 photo shows an improvised royal train here, conveying the future King George V and Queen Mary on a tour of the quarry.

These inclines were powered by gravity. The weight of descending laden wagons hauled empty wagons up on the adjacent track. A cable connected both sets of wagons and passed over a winding drum at the top, where brakes regulated the wagons’ speed.

Photo of royal party on incline at Llanberis
Royal party riding on incline in 1902
Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2021

A similar set of inclines existed at the far end (the Braich, or “branch”, side) of the Dinorwig quarry. The inclines transported slates from workings up to c.670 metres (2,200ft) above sea level. Significant civil engineering was required to maintain even descents, with towering dry-stone walls constructed in places.

Initially slates were transported from the quarry on tracks and tramways higher up. The land at Gilfach Ddu was built out into the lake by dumping slate waste and became the upper terminus of the Padarn Railway in 1843. From then on, the laden wagons which arrived from the upper levels were placed an larger wagons here for the trip to Y Felinheli, where the slate was placed into ships.

Slate which arrived on A1 was processed at the large slate mill at the top of A4 incline. You can see the upper A inclines by entering the former quarry on the footpath from Allt Ddu. There’s a footpath along the A3 and A4 inclines, passing a well-preserved winding house.

In 1894 a fatal accident occurred when the A6 brake lever snapped off under the hand of brakesman Griffith Owen (because of a flawed bolt). Six men, contravening company rules, were riding on the descending wagons. Two jumped off when they realised the problem. The others held tight and were badly injured when the wagons slammed into a wall at the bottom.

Worse was to befall a youth from Clwtybont named JR Owen. He was the sole rider on three empty wagons on the adjacent track. Reaching the top, the wagons flew through the air to the top of the winding drum with such violence that they dislodged the winding-house roof. Griffith found the youth’s body about 15 metres beyond the shed and was too traumatised to describe what he’d witnessed.

Table inclines were also used locally, including the restored V2 incline you can see north-west of here.

With thanks to the Royal Collection Trust for the photo

Postcode: LL55 4TY    View Location Map