:Dyserth branch line

File:Dyserth.png

The area between Dyserth and Cwm (about 2km to the south of Dyserth) was the site of lead and haematite mining, as well as numerous limekilns. These heavy industries shipped their ore to the River Clwyd for coastal shipping, but this soon became disadvantageous compared to other mines and quarries with rail connections. An initial proposal in 1860 was to build a mineral railway directly to Cwm in 1860 but this was never realised.{{sfn|Rear|2003|pp=47-52}} On 16 July 1866 the LNWR obtained parliamentary authority to build a branch line from its main line at Prestatyn to Dyserth. At Prestatyn the line was to connect to the Chester and Holyhead Railway which had opened throughout in 1850. In 1859 the London and North Western Railway absorbed the Chester and Holyhead Railway.{{sfn|Baughan|1972|p=177}}

As part of the proposed work, the movable bridge over the Clwyd carrying the main line was to be improved.

In 1868 the construction of the line began after delays in land acquisition. The line was steeply graded and had sharp curves.{{sfn|Baughan|1980|pp=79-80}}{{sfn|Rear|2003|pp=47-52}}

The branch, originally known as the Prestatyn and Cwm Line, opened to goods and mineral traffic on 1 September 1869. Shortly afterwards an intermediate goods station at Meliden was opened. Due to the steep gradients, all trains were required to be propelled up the branch, so that the locomotive was always at the lower end of the train). No run-round facility needed to be provided at Dyserth for that reason.{{sfn|Rear|2003|pp=47-52}}{{sfn|Robinson|2018|pp=749 & 753}}

After a limestone quarry was opened east of Dyserth, construction began on earthworks for an extension of the line, but no track was ever laid. About 1 km of works are visible as far as Marian Mill.{{sfn|Green|1996|p=55}}

Apart from short level sections through {{rws|Meliden}} and at {{rws|Dyserth}} station, the line climbed southwards on a significant gradient, with the steepest stretch at 1 in 45.{{sfn|Robinson|2018|p=748}} The sharpest curve had a radius of {{convert|11|ch|m}}.{{sfn|Goodall|1986|p=22}} These factors combined to necessitate ruling speed limits of 20 mph for trains climbing to Dyserth and 25 mph back to the main line. These limits were lowered to 15 mph over level crossings and 10 mph approaching the junction with the main line. In practice the heavy loads, curves, visibility and gradients confined speeds to around 10 mph throughout.{{sfn|Thompson|1985|loc=Plate 11}}

{{Dyserth Branch Line}}

Toward the end of the Victorian era, and in the Edwardian period, tourism developed rapidly, and Dyserth CastleThe castle was a ruin; it was later demolished in pursuit of the quarrying operations in the area. and the waterfalls at Cwm became important tourist destinations. In response, the LNWR started a passenger service on the branch from 28 August 1905, using a steam railmotor.A self-contained passenger coach incorporating a small steam engine, considered to be an economical way of handling small passenger volumes.{{sfn|Goodall|1986|pp=60-64}} The main line junction for the branch faced away from Prestatyn station, so that a train to the branch ran to the junction and reversed direction there on to the branch.{{sfn|Baughan|1980|pp=79-80}}{{sfn|Rear|2003|pp=47-52}}

There were two intermediate stations at first, with basic platform accommodation, but as residential development took place, additional halts were provided. At the start of the First World War a shuttle service was provided.[https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3611269/3611276/84/ September 1914 timetable] In 1919 there were eleven journeys each way, on weekdays only.

The railmotor services were popular, and from 1911 a trailer car was added to the formation. After 1919 auto-trainsConventional locomotives operating with a driving trailer coach, from which the driver could control the locomotive; additional trailers could be incorporated in the formation. were brought in to replace the railmotors.{{sfn|Rear|2003|pp=47-52}}

;Timeline

• Prestatyn Junction – branch diverged from Chester–Holyhead line.
• Chapel Street – opened 29 January 1906; closed 22 September 1930.
• Rhuddlan Road – opened 28 August 1905; renamed Woodland Park 1923; closed 22 September 1930.
• St Melyd Golf Links – opened 1 October 1923; closed 22 September 1930.
• Meliden – opened 28 August 1905; closed 22 September 1930.
• Allt-y-Graig – opened 1 February 1929; spelt Alt-y-Craig at first; closed 22 September 1930.
• Dyserth – opened 28 August 1905; closed 22 September 1930.{{sfn|Quick|2022|p=173}}

Although the train services were popular, road bus services were considered to be much more convenient by the mid 1920s. The last timetabled passenger train ran on 20 September 1930. Two enthusiasts' special trains traversed the line, the "North Wales Rail Tour" where a tank locomotive propelled three coaches to Dyserth on 2 October 1955[https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=b%2fuzKL6u&id=873F03123EBB91B8FA11575EF671C86A3345E36E&thid=OIP.b_uzKL6u61S090g1Y9KakAEsCf&q=old+railway+tickets&simid=608033462425291245&selectedIndex=14&ajaxhist=0 Image of ticket] Calendariu and "The Welshman" formed of a six car DMU on 11 October 1969.{{sfn|Clemens|2014|loc=42 mins from start}}{{sfn|Thompson|1978|pp=37 & 9}}

As goods and mineral traffic on the line declined, the branch was closed to general traffic on 1 December 1951, while coal continued to be hauled as the only ordinary traffic; that too ceased on 4 May 1964. A revival in limestone quarrying at Dyserth resulted in continuation of the branch, as a private siding, until 8 September 1973. In 1974, after two special mineral trains were run to remove material at the quarry, the branch was closed completely and the track lifted shortly afterwards{{sfn|Baughan|1980|pp=79-80}}{{sfn|Rear|2003|p=51}}{{sfn|Mitchell|Smith|2011|loc=Plate 120}}

File:Dyserth rail motor.jpg

{{hatnote|Note: the following paragraph is written in the present tense, but it is taken from an undated personal website, and it may be out of date.}}

Much of the trackbed is now used as a footpath, which retains many historical railway points of interest. There are two pieces of track at Chapel Street, the Woodland Park Bridge, Meliden Goods Shed and Loading Gauge, and an original crane from the Dyserth Railway at the end of the walk.{{cite web |url=http://www.dyserth.com/railway.html |title=Dyserth Railway |website=Dyserth |first=Peter J. |last=Robinson}}

{{reflist|group = note}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last1=Anderson |first1=V. R. |last2=Fox |first2=G. K. |title=An historical survey of Chester to Holyhead Railway : track layouts and illustrations |publisher=Oxford Publishing Company |location=Poole |year=1984 |isbn=978-0-86093-216-1 }}
• {{cite book |last1=Baughan |first1=Peter E |title=The Chester and Holyhead Railway |volume=1 |publisher=David and Charles |location=Newton Abbot |year=1972 |isbn=978-0-7153-5617-3 }}
• {{cite book |last1=Baughan |first1=Peter E |title=Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: North and Mid Wales |volume=11 |publisher=David St John Thomas |location=Newton Abbott |year=1980 |isbn=9780715378502 |oclc=906364902}}
• {{cite book |last1=Christiansen |first1=Rex |title=Forgotten Railways: North and Mid Wales |year=1976 |publisher=David and Charles |location=Newton Abbot |isbn=978-0-7153-7059-9 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/northmidwales00chri }}
• {{cite AV media |last=Clemens |first=Jim |title=Steam to North Wales (DVD) |year=2014 |orig-year=1959 |publisher=B&R Video Productions |location=Uffington, Shropshire |id=Vol 136 }}
• {{cite book |last1=Goodall |first1=Stephen P. |title=The Prestatyn and Dyserth Branch Line |year=1986 |publisher=Oakwood Press |location=Headington |isbn=978-0-85361-313-8 |oclc=16922879 |id=LP 160}}
• {{cite book |last1=Green |first1=C.C. |title=North Wales Branch Line Album |year=1996 |orig-year=1983 |publisher=Ian Allan Publishing |location=Shepperton |isbn=978-0-7110-1252-3 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/northwalesbranch0000gree }}
• {{cite book |last1=Johnson |first1=Peter |author-link=Peter Johnson (railway historian)|title=North Wales (Celebration of Steam) |year=1995 |publisher=Ian Allan Publishing |location=Shepperton |isbn=978-0-7110-2378-9 }}
• {{Jowett-Atlas}}
• {{cite book |last1=Mitchell |first1=Vic |last2=Smith |first2=Keith |title=Chester to Rhyl, including the Holywell Town and Dyserth Branches |series=Midland Main Lines |year=2011 |publisher=Middleton Press (MD) |location=Midhurst |isbn=978-1-906008-93-2 }}
• {{Quick-stations-5}}
• {{cite book |last1=Rear |first1=W.G. |title=From Chester to Holyhead : The Branch Lines |year=2003 |publisher=Ian Allan Publishing |location=Shepperton |isbn=978-0-86093-569-8 }}
• {{cite magazine |last=Robinson |first=Tony |editor1-first=Michael |editor1-last=Blakemore |date=December 2018 |title=The Dyserth Branch |magazine=Back Track |volume=32 |issue=12 |publisher=Pendragon Publishing |location=Easingwold }}
• {{cite book |last1=Thompson |first1=Trefor |title=The Prestatyn and Dyserth Railway |year=1978 |publisher=North Clwyd Railway Association |location=Rhuddlan |isbn=978-0-9506661-0-5 |oclc=11120869 }}
• {{cite book |last1=Thompson |first1=Trefor |title=The Prestatyn and Dyserth Railway - A Pictorial History |year=1985 |publisher=Charter Publications |location=Rhuddlan |isbn=978-0-907157-02-1 }}

{{refend}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last1=Hitches |first1=Mike |title=Steam around North Wales |year=2013 |publisher=Amberley Publishing |location=Stroud |isbn=978-1-4456-0765-8 }}
• {{cite book|last1=Holland|first1=Julian|title=Exploring Britain's Lost Railways|date=2015|publisher=Harper Collins |location=Glasgow |isbn=978-0-00-794901-4}}
• {{cite book |last1=Williams |first1=C.J. |title=Metal mines of North Wales |year=1980 |publisher=Charter Publications |location=Rhuddlan |isbn=978-0-907157-00-7 }}

{{refend}}

• {{cite web |url=http://www.RailMapOnline.com/UKIEMap.php?lat=53.30275&lng=-3.40765 |title=The line and its stations |website=Rail Map Online }}
• {{cite web |url=http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=14&lat=53.3044&lon=-3.4110&layers=172&b=1 |title=The line on old OS maps with modern overlays |website=National Library of Scotland }}
• {{cite web |url=http://www.npemap.org.uk/tiles/map.html#305,380,1 |title=The whole line and closed stations on 1940s OS maps |website=npe Maps }}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070315220754/http://www.dyserth.com/html/dyserth-prestatyn_railway.html Line history] Dyserth-Prestatyn Railway
• [http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/d/dyserth/index.shtml Dyserth station and line history] Disused Stations
• [http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/elrs/_mileages/p/pcm.shtm The line and mileages] Railway Codes
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqepOCxlO2w Video of a trip along the line in 1968] YouTube
• [https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/WAW023321 The northern end of the line and junction with the main line] Britain from Above (free login needed to zoom)
• [https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/WPW045164 The northern end of the line and junction with the main line] Britain from Above (free login needed to zoom)
• [https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/WAW023320 The northern end of the line and junction with the main line] Britain from Above (free login needed to zoom)

Category:Closed railway lines in Wales

Category:Transport in Denbighshire

Category:Standard gauge railways in Wales