Vanoord
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17 years ago
Fascinating pics Graham! As ever, a question... 😞

🔗MaenOfferen-1975-Image-017[linkphoto]MaenOfferen-1975-Image-017[/linkphoto][/link]

Although that looks like some sort of adit on the left, presumably that's a water supply?

Hello again darkness, my old friend...
simonrl
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17 years ago
Unless I'm much mistaken Mr V, that's the Rhiw Bach 3 incline, and therefore that's just the river with the bridge over it.
my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by
ChrisP
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17 years ago
Yep it's the lower of the two bridges:

🔗Personal-Album-102-Image-011[linkphoto]Personal-Album-102-Image-011[/linkphoto][/link]
Vanoord
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17 years ago
Ah, sorry, I said left, when I should have said 'middle-ish' - I've been unlear again 😞

This should be clearer:

🔗Personal-Album-2-Image-033[linkphoto]Personal-Album-2-Image-033[/linkphoto][/link]

Presumably this was part of the water supply system rather than being an adit?
Hello again darkness, my old friend...
simonrl
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17 years ago
That there was the one I was talking about.

Have you been drinking :lol: :lol:
my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by
grahami
17 years ago
See - you don't always need me! Curiously there is/was an adit which goes from the original wharf at waste tramway height on the left round under the incline and emerges on the right at the old mill. That was the original route, wgons etc got to the wharf by a Z reversing neck from the foot of the No.3 incline. The river too was culverted through a tunnel at the back of the old mill - the tunnel was still there in the 1980's.

You can see it on this plan:
🔗Personal-Album-54-Image-035[linkphoto]Personal-Album-54-Image-035[/linkphoto][/link]

Fascinating what lengths people go to - wouldn't have anything to do with the Spooner - Himalaya-Darjeeling Railway connection I suppose??

Have fun - I'll be off line till monday.

Graham
The map is the territory - especially in chain scale.
JohnnearCfon
17 years ago
Funny that should come up on here. One of the things I wanted to check up on was if there was any trace of the original access to the mill area under Rb No 3 incline. I believe that was the "Mark 1" access route. There was a "Mark 2" which is similar to the route that still survives, except it wqent under the upper bridge (to tips) at a slightly greater angle and went straight on (ie not turning left to go toward the headshunt in the pit. It is JUST possible to see the changes made to the wall near the bridge when Mark 2 ceased to be replaced by Mark 3 (the current survivor).
grahami
17 years ago
Your wish is my command:
🔗Personal-Album-54-Image-036[linkphoto]Personal-Album-54-Image-036[/linkphoto][/link]

See you

Graham
The map is the territory - especially in chain scale.
Barney
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17 years ago
Thats the part of the river where we stood recently and looked at the optical illusion created by walking down the incline and giving the impression that the river was flowing uphill!!!
JohnnearCfon
17 years ago
"grahami" wrote:

Your wish is my command:
🔗Personal-Album-54-Image-036[linkphoto]Personal-Album-54-Image-036[/linkphoto][/link]

See you

Graham



Ah, so did the mark 2 (as in this diagram) cross by means of "diamond" crossings? Having looked at it on site, and in an old photo I cannot see it was at a different height to the Rb 3 Incline tracks.
merddinemrys
17 years ago
If they crossed at the same height the switchback would have been completely unnecessary.
JohnnearCfon
17 years ago
"merddinemrys" wrote:

If they crossed at the same height the switchback would have been completely unnecessary.



Having now looked at the old photo to which I referred which is dated sometime between 1900 and 1929. The track IS at the same level, and at a much lower level than the line over the bridge to the to the tips. Unfortunatly, the actual "crossing" is just out of sight! Maybe the switchback was just for the "mark 1" access?

I will upload it later tonight.
JohnnearCfon
17 years ago
Here is the photograph of the river bridge/tip line bridge area. Taken sometime between 1900 and 1929.

🔗Personal-Album-8-Image-013[linkphoto]Personal-Album-8-Image-013[/linkphoto][/link]
merddinemrys
17 years ago
That's as it is now isn't it? Taken looking down Rhiwbach No. 3
JohnnearCfon
17 years ago
Not exactly, and I don't have a photo to compare it so will do my best to describe the difference.

Ignoring "mark 1" which takes quite a different route UNDER Rb 3 incline.

Mark 3 comes under the bridge to tip line at a shallower angle. IE the left hand abutment in photo in photo is nearer foot of Rb 3 incline than it is in photo. After crossing the river it then turns left (about 45 degree curve) to parallel the slate wall in the photo, heading for the open quarry approaching which there is a headshunt and the line climbs back towards the mills.

Having checked last time I was there, the current bridge is definitely at a different angle to the one in the photo. I was surprised it was different myself, but it is.

On thinking about it, I might have photo, if I do I will upload in next couple of days. I will have to scan it first as it is bound to be "pre-digital".
grahami
17 years ago
I've uploaded some shots to the 1981 album which illustrate the location referred to. The broad "slot" which was cut into the retaining wall to fit the shallow incline into is clearly visible. I've drawn a plan, but it needs even mroe tidying up than usual due to a scanner fault. I'll post it asaic.

Graham
The map is the territory - especially in chain scale.
merddinemrys
17 years ago
Is there any trace of the mk1 route under Rhiwbach No. 3 then?
JohnnearCfon
17 years ago
"merddinemrys" wrote:

Is there any trace of the mk1 route under Rhiwbach No. 3 then?



That is one of the things "on my list" to check next time I am there (unless you beat me to it).

Another marvellous collection of photographs GrahamI. They show the traces of Mark 1 approach very well indeed.

If I can make a slight correction to one of your photo descriptions though.

🔗Maenofferen-1981-Image-043[linkphoto]Maenofferen-1981-Image-043[/linkphoto][/link]

Originally the mill was only a quarter of the size shown in your photo. The first section was the left hand section, the half nearest the camera, with a waterwheel at far end of it. Later it was extended, both in length and width to make it 4 times original size! The water wheel was retained in what became halfway along the left side (left as in your photo I mean). There is a photo in existance of the mill in it's original form.
grahami
17 years ago
Thanks for the correction - do you have any dates for the construction of the separate parts ? This photo shows the mill 3/4 built, which was what I based my order on - assuming that no-one would leave gearing exposed for long!

🔗Maenofferen-Slate-Mine-Archive-Album-Image-045[linkphoto]Maenofferen-Slate-Mine-Archive-Album-Image-045[/linkphoto][/link]

Grahami
The map is the territory - especially in chain scale.
JohnnearCfon
17 years ago
No, unfortunatly I don't have a date, it is a photo from CRO (Dolgellau) and as far as I recall it is undated.

🔗Maenofferen-Slate-Mine-Archive-Album-Image-048[linkphoto]Maenofferen-Slate-Mine-Archive-Album-Image-048[/linkphoto][/link]

It is interesting to note that at that time the line to the tips had not been constructed.

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