BETHESDA BRANCH FEATURES

[Source: Les Fifoot, John Wilson & Paul Wright]

The London & North Western Railway (LNWR) Bethesda branch was a 4 miles 26 chains long single track line that linked the village of Bethesda to the Chester and Holyhead main line 52 chains to the east of Bangor at Bethesda Junction.

In 2013 many features of the line still survived the most prominent being the Afon Cregin viaduct, the Tregarth Tunnel and the Afon Ogwen bridge. Other features such as bridges and embankments could also be seen.

The views below show some of the features of the Bethesda branch.

See also branch stations: Felin Hen, Tregarth and Bethesda

See also: Tregarth Tunnel

Bethesda junction looking west along the main line in 1930. The Bethesda branch can be seen leading off to the left beyond the signal box. A short distance beyond the actual junction is Bangor tunnel.
Copyright photo from the John Alsop collection


The Bethesda branch shown on a 1930s map.


The Bethesda branch commenced at Bethesda Junction on the Chester and Holyhead railway. The junction was controlled by a signal box located between the main line (on the south side) and the branch (which passed to the south of the box). The box, an LNWR structure with 25 levers, is seen looking south in the early 1960s. It closed on 28 August 1965.
Photo by David Lawrence from the Ken Robinson collection

The site of Bethesda Junction looking east on 31 January 2013. The Bethesda branch diverged from the main line and headed towards the right from the point marked by the trackside cabinets.
Photo by Paul Wright

The Bethesda branch 1 mile post seen on 31 January 2013.
Photo by Les Fifoot

To the north of the A55 road the Bethesda branch trackbed still survived in January 2013. In this view, looking north on 31 January 2013, an embankment can be seen.
Photo by Les Fifoot

A bridge on the Bethesda branch located just over one mile south of
Bethesda Junction, seen on 31 January 2013.
Photo by Paul Wright
Looking north along the trackbed of the Bethesda branch onto the Afon Cegin Viaduct on 31 January 2013. The viaduct has survived the closure of the line and carries a footpath over the valley.
Photo by Paul Wright

The Afon Cefin Viaduct, looking east on 31 January 2013.
Photo by Paul Wright
Looking south across the Afon Cefin Viaduct on 31 January 2013.
Photo by Paul Wright

Looking south over the Afon Cefin Viaduct on 31 January 2013. The curvature of the
structure is evident in this view.
Photo by Les Fifoot
Looking south towards Bethesda at the Afon Ogwen bridge on 31 January 2013. The viewpoint is above the south portal of Tregarth Tunnel.
Photo by Les Fifoot

Afon Ogwen Bridge, looking south on 31 January 2013.
Photo by Paul Wright

Looking east along the Afon Ogwen towards Afon Ogwen Bridge on the Bethesda branch. The prominent feature had become obscured by trees, as seen on this photograph of 31 January 2013.
Photo by Paul Wright

Afon Ogwen Bridge, seen from the trackbed of the Penryhn Railway on 31 January 2013.
Photo by Les Fifoot


Looking towards Bethesda at a point towards the southern end of the branch. A section of the embankment had been swept away when this view was taken on 31 January 2013.
Photo by Les Fifoot
Last updated: Thursday, 18-May-2017 17:16:59 CEST
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