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ragl
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

Descending Rhiw Bach No. 3 yesterday I saw an ex-military truck crossing the Maenofferen site heading for Votty with a payload of passengers; painted on the sides of the truck was "QUARRY EXPLORER".

Obviously a new & innovative tourist initiative, anyone know who is behind this enterprise and how long has it been running?

Cheers,

Alan

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Jimbo
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

Llechwedd slate caverns are doing the tours from their bounce/zip base, saw the wagons parked up last week while the kids went for a bounce! :thumbup:

http://www.llechwedd-slate-caverns.co.uk/quarry-explorer/

"PDHMS, WMRG, DCC, Welsh Mines Society, Northern Mines Research Group, Nenthead Mines Society and General Forum Gobshite!"

JohnnearCfon
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

I think it started in May this year.

ragl
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

Thanks guys, it's probably the reason behind the new road from Maenofferen yard, over the route of the Waste Tip line, past the head of Rhiwbach No. 2 and onto Llechwedd.

Cheers,

Alan

JohnnearCfon
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

"ragl" wrote:
Thanks guys, it's probably the reason behind the new road from Maenofferen yard, over the route of the Waste Tip line, past the head of Rhiwbach No. 2 and onto Llechwedd.

Cheers,

Alan

No, that was constructed two or three years ago, for quarry use, long before Quarry Explorer was planned.

DylanW
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

Indeed, that haul-road was built to serve the Llechwedd mill, for the heavy dimp-trucks to avoid the steep gradients of the Maenofferen haul road.

I understand it to be true that there is talk of having an underground tour/adventure operation at Maenofferen in the pipeline aswell. Which can only be a good thing regarding employment.

A sibrydodd yn welw ei wedd, rhowch garrag las ar fy medd, o chwaral y Penrhyn, lle''r euthym yn blentyn i''r gwaith.

JohnnearCfon
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

Yes, a good idea. I wonder if it will enable grants to be obtained to do some work on the Grade 11 and Grade 11* listed buildings?

TheBogieman
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

Yes, save Maenofferen Mill building and others before it's too late. Could the No.2 incline be resurrected whilst we're about it - it's still mostly intact and I'm sure could be an attraction in it's own right. Could use slate waggons with water tanks hidden inside to simulate full hauling empties up and vice versa...

Explorans ad inferos

JohnnearCfon
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

Rhiwbach No 2 Incline drum house is one of the Grade 11 listed Buildings on site.

TheBogieman
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

#10

Wasn't sure about that, thanks John. Needs reroofing urgently to protect the drum etc

Explorans ad inferos

ragl
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

#11

Thanks for all of the comments and info guys. As for the buildings on the site, one has disappeared since I was there last in 2011 and certainly the others have suffered very badly from the weather/vandals in the interim, although the mill buildings still look much the same. One concern is the state of the roof on the Back Vein Incline Winder House, a very noticeable hole is there now, it would be more that a tragedy if this building was lost too.

Cheers,

Alan

JohnnearCfon
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

#12

"ragl" wrote:
Thanks for all of the comments and info guys. As for the buildings on the site, one has disappeared since I was there last in 2011 and certainly the others have suffered very badly from the weather/vandals in the interim, although the mill buildings still look much the same. One concern is the state of the roof on the Back Vein Incline Winder House, a very noticeable hole is there now, it would be more that a tragedy if this building was lost too.

Cheers,

Alan

The Back Vein Inline Drum House is the other Grade 11* listed building (along with the Mill) everything else pretty much is Grade 11 (without the * !).

grahami
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

#13

Just a couple of pics from a trip on the "Quarry Explorer" in early August. Our guide was quite good.....

🔗107320[linkphoto]107320[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗107321[linkphoto]107321[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗107322[linkphoto]107322[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗107323[linkphoto]107323[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗107324[linkphoto]107324[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗107325[linkphoto]107325[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗107326[linkphoto]107326[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗107327[linkphoto]107327[/linkphoto][/link]

The lorry engine and gear noises were quite interesting - especially onthe 45 degree descent from Diffwys;D;D;D

Grahami

The map is the territory - especially in chain scale.

JohnnearCfon
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

#14

"grahami" wrote:
Just a couple of pics from a trip on the "Quarry Explorer" in early August. Our guide was quite good.....

🔗107321[linkphoto]107321[/linkphoto][/link]

Grahami

I wonder how long that[i] will remain there?

grahami
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

#15

Dunno - the "wagon" appears to be one of those which carried the slabs under the saws at the north end of the floor 7 mill, so not very historical - or did you mean the slab????

Grahami

The map is the territory - especially in chain scale.

JohnnearCfon
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

#16

I believe three used to be used in Maen Offeren Mill. There were two latterly located in The Bon adjacent to the Miners' Tramway. I bought one of those about three years ago. It had identical lettering to one that appears in a video of Maen Offeren Mill when in operation. The other one there got scrapped by the Bounce Below people. One appeared later in a rail pile on Floor 5 that came from The Bon (so maybe the other one hadn't been scrapped?) One, from inside Floor 7 mill was purchased by Alan Keef Ltd November 2015.

It was the wagon that I was referring to, knowing how various railway items including a cut down GWR wagon disappeared from there a while back (and the Wrysgan steam engine). Both removed by "ThievesRUs". Doubtless they have a profile on here.