Llanarmon-yn-lat
HO, British
Description
During the late 19th and
early 20th centuries, there were plans to revitalise the lead and
zinc mines to the west of Mold. Part of the
revitalisation was
a railway into the Vale of Alyn. The railway would have run south
from a junction with the London North Western Railway near Rhydymwyn
to Llanarmon-yn-lat. The Vale of Morwynion extended the Vale of Alyn
four miles via Pen-y-stryt to the Moel Y Faen slate quarry. As well
as the mines the railway served agriculture and quarries; slate,
limestone, sand and gravel. The range of activities in the Vale
proved a boon as the last mine closed in 1919. As the mines provided
most of the traffic at Gwernaffield and Pantymwyn 1921 saw their
loops removal and their goods facilities reduced to a siding. In the
winter of 1947, the need for coal economies caused the suspension of
services on the nearly defunct freight only line from Pen-y-stryt to
the Moel Y Faen. Services did not recommence and in 1948, the track
was removed. In 1964 the ‘Beaching Axe’, cut the passenger and
general freight services from the Vale of Offa. All the Vale of
Alyn’s stations closed. The Vale of Morwynion and Llanferres ‘twig’
closed and their track was lifted. The line from Hope Junction to
Llanarmon-yn-lat operated as a siding. In 1983, the quarry traffic
finally ebbed away and the line closed.