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I was always asked where the railway went to and once the answer was given the visitor would normally say "Return to the ferry, please".
This site is dedicated to the Fairbourne Railway, it's creators, it's staff, it's volunteers and it's visitors. |
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 | | 1950's
Pictures from the late John C Wilkins collection of the railway during its rebuld phase - it was completely abandoned during WW11, with much of the track churned up by army tanks
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 | | 1960's
The 1960's startted out as a period of consolidation, where the new company could add both internal combustion & steam locos, new carriages & wagons. It latterly became the railways busiest & most profitable period wiith packed trains carrying visitors to & from the ferry
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 | | 1970's
The 1970's started brightly, was very busy in the middle years but the decline had definitely set in by the close of the decade....the 1970's was tthe decade when volunteer labour was the major factor keeping the railway afloat
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 | | 1980-84
The begining of the end of fifteen inch but it didn't go out with a whimper. The railway was extensively volunteer run with gala's held each summer to boost traffic. Early 1985 saw the Ellerton clan take over the line and start the changes that are still evident today.
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 | | 1981: Fairbourne on Tour
1981 and Fairbourne loco's Sian & Count Louis travelled to New Romney for the RHDR October gala weekend
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 | | 1985: All change
Bill Hyde, James Waite & Les Richardson took some photo's during 1985 & 1986 of the initial changes being made by the railway's new owners, who would go on to change to 12.25 gauge in 1986
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 | | 2003: Fairbourne Collection at Southport
The 15 inch gauge Fairbourne Railway ceased to be in 1985 and it's equipment was dispersed around the world. Two of the steam loco's, 2 of the internal combustion and some of the rolling stock has now been added to the collections at Windmill Farm near Southport
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 | | Chris Holloway Collection
These photo's were taken by Chris and his family during the late 1960's and early 1970's. Apologies for the quality of some, but the content is worthy of being shown.
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 | | Fairbourne at the Bure Valley
The railway changed hands in 1985, the new owners converted to 12.25 gauge in 1986 & the 15 inch gauge equipment was sold on to various locations, including the Bure Valley Railway
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 | | Ian Goodman Collection
Over a number of years during the mid 1970's through to late 1980's Ian Goodman recorded events at the Fairbourne Railway. There are two parts to the collection - the 15" Fairbourne Railway and the transition to and eventual operation of the 12.25 inch line NWNGR line (this will form a second collection soon to be added) - if you think the dates are wrong, please let me know and I will adjust
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 | | The Early Years
Fairbourne Railway from 1800's to the purchase by the Wilkins consortium
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| Fairbourne is one man's dream to build a holiday village for workers and was initially created by Mr McDougall (of flour fame) who built a 2ft gauge horse-drawn tramway from the brickworks to his construction sites. The tramway was eventually extended more or less along the route of the present railway into the sand dunes to a terminus opposite the "island" off Barmouth, approximately half a mile walk to where the ferries landed. |
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| In 1916, a company created by Bassett-Lowke took over the now derelict horse tramway and rebuilt it as a 15 inch gauge pleasure railway and introduced steam locomotives. They continued to operate the line until 1922 when the line was taken over by some local business men, who ran it until the Second World War started in 1940. |
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In 1946, a Midlands businessman J C Wilkins formed a company and bought the remains of the railway. Over the period 1946 - 1958 the line was completely rebuilt and the facilities extended. In the 1960's new rolling and locomotive stock was added. J C Wilkins ran the line until it was sold to the Ellerton family early in 1985 and it was the Ellerton's who at the end of 1986 season converted the line to 12.25 gauge.
This site is dedicated to the "Wilkins era" but reflects on the other periods. |
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All images displayed are copyright to Bill Hyde or as otherwise stated. If you feel a photograph has been wrongly identified, send email to webmaster@hy-tel.com and I will endeavour to remedy the situation.
