Barmouth Bridge
ATW Class 158 crosses Barmouth Bridge
76079 going along Barmouth bridge with The Cambrian railtour
Barmouth bridge, 08/08/2007
The Barmouth Bridge is a single-track largely wooden railway viaduct that crosses the estuary of the Afon Mawddach river on the coast of Cardigan Bay between Morfa Mawddach and Barmouth in Gwynedd, Wales. The distance is about 900 yards. The viaduct carries the Cambrian Line, the main line of the former Cambrian Railways, which runs from Shrewsbury, England to Pwllheli, and carries passenger trains operated by Arriva Trains Wales.
The bridge was built by the Aberystwyth and Welsh Coast Railway and opened in 1867. As built, it included a lifting drawbridge section to permit the passage of tall ships, was constructed entirely of wood. The drawbridge section, at the northern end of the bridge, was rebuilt in 1901 as a swing bridge with two steel spans.
Passenger train services over the bridge declined significantly during the 1960s, when the Ruabon to Barmouth line via Llangollen and Dolgellau was closed causing all traffic to take the longer and slower route from Shrewsbury via Machynlleth and Dovey Junction. The old trackbed from Morfa Mawddach railway station to Dolgellau now forms the Mawddach Trail, a walk and cycle trail.
Cardigan Bay (Welsh: Bae Ceredigion) is a large inlet of the Irish Sea, indenting the west coast of Wales, between Bardsey Island, Gwynedd and Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire
Cardigan Bay has numerous beaches and unique marine life (such as dolphins). From the Ceredigion Coast Path it is possible to observe Bottlenose Dolphins and Atlantic Grey Seals.
Much of the coast surrounding the bay is fertile farmland, dotted with towns and seaside resorts such as Fishguard, New Quay, Aberaeron, Aberystwyth, Borth, Aberdyfi, Tywyn, Barmouth, Porthmadog and Pwllheli on the Cambrian Coast.
Major rivers flowing into the bay include the Afon Glaslyn, Teifi, Rheidol, Dyfi, Aeron, Dysynni and Mawddach.
The Cambrian 76079 in Barmouth
Welsh Mansions
