Pen-y-Mount Junction station is the northern terminus of the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway (WHHR) in Porthmadog, Wales. It is situated immediately south of the junction connecting the WHRR to the Welsh Highland Railway (WHR) mainline, though it only regularly serves the former.

History It opened on 2 August 1980 at which time it consisted of a single platform with a run round loop and was intended to be a temporary terminus.

In 1990, a siding was laid into the yard for works trains. After the Festiniog Railway Company gained the authority to rebuild the original, it was decided to turn Pen-y-Mount station into a representation of a typical WHR station.

In 1996, a replica WHR corrugated iron station building was constructed. Its design was based upon the original Nantmor railway station. Subsequently, genuine WHR fencing, including a kissing gate, was erected along the back of the platform.

In 2000, the WHHR began construction of the WHR main line, under the terms of their 1998 agreement with the Festiniog Railway Company. This included clearing, preparing the track bed, tracklaying and ballasting. The northern end of the WHHR line was also re-modelled and, in 2002, the existing headshunt was replaced with a full crossover so it could connect with the FR owned WHR main line. A new headshunt loading spur was also constructed. They also helped construct the mainline between Pen-y-Mount and the Porthmadog Cross Town Link.

The WHHR finished construction work in 2007. Under the terms of the 1998 agreement, they were allowed to use the new line and retain all revenue from it until the FR had finished constructing the remainder of the WHR. During 2007 and 2008, WHHR trains terminated at Traeth Mawr Loop rather than Pen-y-Mount. In 2008, the Traeth Mawr loop was removed and WHHR trains used push-pull operation.

In 2008, the Welsh Highland Construction Company (an FR Co. subsidiary) connected the two ends of the Welsh Highland Railway and took possession of the line from Traeth Mawr to Pen-y-Mount and, since 2009, WHHR trains have terminated at Pen-y-Mount.

Services Throughout the summer, the station typically sees four or five trains a day from Porthmadog (WHHR).

The junction north of the station is protected by stop blocks to prevent trains from running onto the WHR. As the station is not a token stop, a token to enter the WHR must be obtained first from Porthmadog Harbour or Pont Croesor before the stop block can be removed.

Platforms The station has 3 platforms, only one of which is in regular use:

Platform 1: serves the run-round loop for additional WHHR services as needed Platform 2: main terminal platform for the WHHR Platform 3: faces the FfWHR line, used for special events A signal box, originally intended for Cae Pawb flat crossing, is located on the north end of platforms 1 and 2.

References

External links Pen-y-Mount Junction Station website