Llandudno & Colwyn Bay Tramway

[Vern]

While we are on the subject of tramways, here's an evocative description of a driver's day:

http://threetownsforum.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,353.0.html

Now that surely must inspire me to dust off my earlier attempt at the route!

 

[Steamdemon]

Heh, it says Happy Valley.

 

[JCitron]

Thank you for posting the story link, Vern. This was interesting to read how the old trams operated near their latter days. It sounds like they used a of band aides and bailing wire to keep the system together.

John

 

[Vern]

I particularly liked the anecdote about getting the tea mugs filled at the cafe - get the priorities right! That would make a nice little diorama on a route of the line (or any other tramway for that matter!).

 

[JCitron]

I liked that as well and yes that would look really nice.

It seems that short line railroads still work this way. I saw this while I was out in our Midwest. A small switching railroad, where I was in central Kansas, ran a line that paralleled the road we were traveling. We stopped in a small town, very typical of the area, for fuel and snacks. While we were there, a small train came trundling along. They passed the road crossing and stopped. I didn't think much of it other than their old Alco S-2 was really cool to watch. A minutes later, the crew got out and came over to the gas station for coffee and sandwiches.

The difference here is these guys probably didn't have a schedule to keep other than to pick up a few grain hoppers along this granger route.

John