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The Great Orme Tramway

The Great Orme Tramway, located in Llandudno, North Wales, is a historic funicular tramway.  The tramway was conceived to connect the town of Llandudno with the summit of the Great Orme, a prominent limestone headland. Construction began in 1901. The first section of the tramway, from the lower station at Victoria Terrace to the halfway station, opened in July 1902. The second section was opened in July 1903. The tramway consists of two separate sections, each using a cable-hauled funicular system. On the lower section, cars are counterbalanced, meaning one car ascends while the other descends. The upper section operates as an independent funicular line, with a single car running on each track. The tramway has three main stops, a lower station called Llandudno Victoria after the hotel that formerly occupied the station site, the aptly named Halfway stop, and the Great Orme Summit stop. Passengers must change trams at the Halfway stop as the upper and lower funicular sections are physically separate. The lower section is built in or alongside the public road and has gradients as steep as 1 in 3.8 (26.15%). The track throughout this section is laid as grooved rail within the road surface, and the cable lies below the road surface in a conduit between the rails. The bottom half of the section is single-track, but above the passing loop it has interlaced double track. By contrast, the upper section is less steep, with a maximum gradient of 1 in 10 (10%). The track is laid on sleepers and ballast, and the cable runs between the rails as it is normal for most funiculars. The track is single apart from a short double-track passing loop. The line is controlled by a pair of winchmen, one per section and stationed in the Halfway power house, who control the speed and direction of rotation of the cable, and hence the cars attached to the cable. They are assisted by attendants on each car, who are in communication with the winchmen using an induction-loop radio system. Before the introduction of this radio system, messages were passed using an overhead wire telegraph and trolley poles on the tram cars. The overhead wire has since been removed, but the cars still carry the trolley poles.  Initially, the tramway was powered by steam engines. These were later replaced with electric winding mechanisms to improve efficiency and reliability. The tramway has faced operational challenges over the years, including mechanical breakdowns and wear on its unique infrastructure.The tramway operates seasonally, typically from spring to autumn, and remains a fully functional and popular transport system for tourists and locals. The tramway is managed by Conwy County Borough Council, and continues to attract thousands of visitors annually.

January 6th 2025

 

 
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