Great Orme Railway, Upper Section

Dewi Williams

Comments/corrections to: Dewi Williams

The upper funicular had a certain amount of earthworks (grading): cuttings, embankments, a level crossing. This is in contrast to the lower section, which ran in street and paved roadway.

The other point about the upper section was that since the engine house was at the lower end of that section, the traction rope had to be an endless loop, going around pulleys in the engine house and a pulley in a special pulley-house at the extreme top of the line.

Car no. 6 ascending.

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The following picture shows the passing loop on the upper section and track on a built-up embankment, with the engine house in the background. The sea is visible on the left. Cars nos. 6 & 7 are passing at the loop. b052

Car no. 7 ascending, on embankment. b053

Car no. 7 ascending, in cutting.

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Car no. 7 at the level crossing near the top terminus.

b057

The above photo shows a curious feature of the trolley poles, which of course are not used for traction current but for signalling. The pole that is in use trails way out behind the car, rather than being above the car as is usual with trams. This means that when the operator has to change from one pole to the other at the end of the run, he has to swing the pole through almot 180°.