This page brings together the sources I’ve used in researching and developing my Penmaenpool model railway. It includes books, magazine articles, DVDs, maps, museum collections, and online resources that have informed both the historical accuracy and modelling choices behind the layout. Where possible, I’ve included notes on what each source contains that’s directly relevant to Penmaenpool and the Dolgellau branch.
Books
List chronologically (by publication date) or thematically (e.g., local history, Cambrian Railways, architecture, etc.). Include annotations that highlight the specific content relevant to Penmaenpool.
- Allan, J., and A. Murray. British Railways: The First 25 Years. Volume 10, Mid Wales and the Cambrian Coast. Lightmoor Press, 2020.
Includes extensive coverage of Cambrian routes from Ruabon to Pwllheli, Aberystwyth, and Brecon via Moat Lane, with useful photographs and traction details relevant to the Penmaenpool area. - Ferris, Tom. Lost Lines: Ruabon to Barmouth. Graffeg, 2020.
A concise illustrated history of the Ruabon–Barmouth line, featuring an introductory essay and photographs of locomotives, stations, and rural scenery along the route. Useful as a general visual reference and overview of the line’s historical context. - Hillmer, John, and Paul Shannon. The Great Western in North Wales. Past & Present Publishing, 2007.
- Horton, Philip. The Beeching Legacy: Cambrian Lines, North Wales and Wirral. Silver Link Books, 2014.
- Mitchell, Vic, and Keith Smith. Western Main Lines: Ruabon to Barmouth Featuring Llangollen. Middleton Press, 2015.
A photographic journey along the former GWR/Cambrian route through Penmaenpool, with 120 black-and-white images and maps. Includes detailed coverage of station sites from Ruabon to Barmouth, with Penmaenpool featured on pages 98–102. - Peddie, Donald. A North Wales Railway Travelogue. Lightmoor Press, 2023.
A photographic collection drawn from Ian Peddie’s archive, covering both narrow and standard gauge lines across North Wales. Includes previously unpublished images from the late 1950s and early 1960s at locations such as Aberystwyth, Machynlleth, Afon Wen, Criccieth, and Llandudno Junction. Of interest for context on Cambrian operations and scenic material relevant to the broader region. - Rear, W.G., N. Jones, and D.J. Lowe. Railways of North Wales: The Llangollen Line – Ruabon to Barmouth. Book Law Publications, 2012.
Illustrated history of the Ruabon to Barmouth line, with a focus on key locations including Penmaenpool, Dolgellau, and the Mawddach Estuary. Useful for reference photos, captions, and route context. - Williams, Martin F. The Ruabon to Barmouth Line: Reflections of a Lost Welsh Railway. Lightmoor Press, 2015.
A detailed and well-illustrated account of the full Ruabon–Barmouth route, including the Dolgellau branch and Mawddach Estuary. Likely to be of high relevance to Penmaenpool, with historical commentary, photographs, and first-hand accounts.
- Briwnant-Jones, Gwyn. Ifor Higgon’s Cambrian Diary. Lightmoor Press, 2018.
- Christiansen, Rex. British Railway Pictorial: Cambrian Lines. Ian Allan Publishing, 2004.
- Dickinson, Peter. The Ruabon to Barmouth Line: The Ruabon to Barmouth Section. Fonthill Media, 2019.
- Ferris, Tom. Lost Lines of Wales: Ruabon to Barmouth. Graffeg, 2024.
- Grayer, Jeffery. Corners of the Cambrian. Transport Treasury Publishing, 2024.
- Green, C. C. The Coast Lines of the Cambrian Railway. Vol. 2, Dovey Junction to Barmouth Junction and the Dolgelley Branch, Wild Swan Publications, 1996.
- Green, C. C. Cambrian Railways 1859–1947. Ian Allan Publishing, 1997.
- Huntriss, Derek. On Cambrian Lines. Ian Allan Publishing, 1993.
Magazine Articles
List by publication name, then by date. Note article title, author (if known), issue number/date, and relevant content.
Williams, Martin, Bill Rear, and G. K. Fox. “Branch Line Notebook: Penmaenpool – A Welsh Station Erstwhile Cambrian, Late Great Western and Its Motive Power Depot.” BackTrack, vol. 2, no. 3, Autumn 1988, pp. 110–113.
- Backtrack Autumn 1988
Branch Line Notebook: Penmaenpool by Martin Williams, Bill Rear and G. K. Fox – A Welsh station erstwhile Cambrian, late Great Western and its motive power depot. - Backtrack Volume 13 No. 3 March 2002
Welsh Chocolate with Cream. John Reohorn. 124-33.
See letter page 354: use of Abbey Forgate Loop post WW2; booking tickets to Bala Junction, and date of photograph of 45xx with CCE. See marvellous letter on page 595 recalling school trip from Ruabon to Bala Junction thence over the mountains on foot to board Tanat Valley train. Illus.:GWR ‘Manor’ No. 7823 Hook Norton Manor on the Cambrian Coast Express in 1962, GWR 43xx No. 4377 leaving Berwyn station, GWR Dukedog No. 9015 near Llandre, GWR ‘Manor’ No. 7817 Garslington Manor calls at Morfa Mawddach, Dolgelly station in 1952, Double-headed on Talerddig Bank. No. 4599 pilots BR class 4 No. 75006, The fireman of No. 2255 taking the single line token at Talerddig, Dukedog No. 9018 in the cutting at Commins Coch, No. 7800 Torquay Manor in black livery calling at Llangollen station in 1953, Bala Junction in 1963, Barmouth bridge in 1965, No. 7800 again but this time in BR green in 1962 climbing the bank toward Llandre, BR No. 75026 passing through Drws-y-Nant station, Cambrian Railways No. 894 at Dovey Junction, Penmaenpool station, GWR No. 7821 Ditcheat Manor arriving at the passing loop at Garneddwen, A 45xx hauls the Cambrian Coast Express along the Dovey shore south of Aberdovey, Another double-header on Talerddig Bank. BR No. 82031 pilots GWR No. 7819 Hinton Manor, No. 7818 Granville Manor passing Ynyslas station, Dovey junction and GWR No. 5322 arriving with the through train from Birmingham at Dovey Junction. - Backtrack May 2014
- Backtrack Volume 33 No. 334 February 2019
The ’43XX ‘Class — useful Great Western locomotives. 96-9.
Colour photo-feature: No. 5330 in fully-lined green outside Swindon Works in 1957; No. 6316 in what caption states to be green livery at Carmarthen on Freight train in 1960; No. 6373 in black livery with express headcode on corridor stock in both carmine & cream and maroon liveries at Lydney Junction on 15 August 1959 (Trevor Owen); No. 7330 with side windoww cab and lined green livery on Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society’s AGM special on 24 September 1960; No. 7319 in filthy condition leaving Hereford on stopping passenger train in 1964; No. 7341 at Penmaenpool on Llangollen to Barmouth Junction passenger train; No. 5306 in unlined green with single Hawksworth brake composite corridor coach near Wolf’s Casrle Halt between Fishguard and Clarbeston Road in Juune 1962; No. 7307 with a mineral train enters Neath Riverside in October 1962 (P. Esgate); No. 7337 with side window cab and unlined green livery descends into Brimscombe from Sapperon Summit qith a freight train in April 1962 (J.L. Champion). Note no locomotive had a copper-capped chimney and only No. 7330 had a polished safety valve cover. - Backtrack Volume No. March 2022
Ian Travers. The Great Western Railway Ruabon-Barmouth route. Part Two. 156-9.
Part 1 see page 80. Text concentrates on improvements brought by Grouping and comparison with what was done in Cornwall. The influence of the major holiday camp at Penychain and thhe competion with the LMS for its traffic. An unusually extensive bibliography enhances this work. In an ídeal world Wales would enjoy a proper railway network rather than a series of disconnected bits and pieces. Illustrations: 8750 class No. 9669 with single coach at Bala Town with 08.20 to Bala Junction in July 1963 (P.A. Fry: colour); Llangollen station with Butlin’s train from Penychain to Birmingham Snow Hill double headed by 8750 class No. 9669 and a Manor class 4-6-0 with train partly formed of LNER stock, some still in teak livery, on 4 September 1954 (P.B. Whitehouse); Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0 No. 46446 with two coaches with brief residual service between Bala and Barmouth following floods of 12 December 1964 approaching Garneddwen summit before descending into Wnion Valley (D,.J. Mitchell: colour); Penmaenpool station, crossing loop & wooden tressle toll bridge (K.G. Carr); Flag Station Halt; Collett 0-4-2T No. 4867 on auto train for Dolgelley in excursion platform at Barmouth; LLys Halt on 25 August 1962. See also letter from Chris Magner on page 381 on the final locomotive workings and the washout near Bala that brought the line to a perilous close and the diffculties created for Dolgellau hospital patients. - Backtrack June 2022
- Steam World August 1994
- Steam World
Snell, John. Cambrian memories. Part 4. 52-6.
Colour photographs: 7819 Hintom Manor on Cambrian Coast Express at Llanbrynmair in August 1964; 78006 between Penrhyndeudraeth and Talsanau on Pwllheli to Machynlleth train in June 1960; 7820 Dinmore Manor with three coaches climbing to Taleddig; 7827 Lydham Manor with preserved 2-6-2T 4555 on Talyllyn Preservation Society special at Penmaenpool in September 1964; 5507 at Minfford with Pwllheli to Machynlleth train.
DVDs & Videos
Include producer, title, release date, and summary of relevance. Mention timestamps if specific footage is of use.
Example:
- B & R Video Productions – Cambrian Coast Express Part 2 (DVD No. 144)
Includes scenes filmed between Barmouth and Dolgellau in the early 1960s. Footage of Penmaenpool station from a down train around 18:30. - Barmouth Rivals: Two Lines to the Cambrian Coast. Unique Transport DVDs, 2021. DVD.
A 58-minute programme exploring the Cambrian and Ruabon routes to Barmouth in their final British Railways era. Includes rare cab and station footage of the Ruabon–Dolgellau–Barmouth line, with coverage of Penmaenpool and other Mawddach-side locations shortly after closure. Features steam and early diesel operations, plus preserved sections such as Bala Lake and Llangollen. - Railways of Wales: Volume One – Mid Wales. Transport Video Publishing, 2020. DVD.
Explores the railways of Mid Wales from the 1950s to the 1980s, including the Cambrian main line from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and the route via Machynlleth to Dovey Junction. Features steam and diesel traction including ‘Manor’ 4-6-0s, BR Standard Class 4s, and Class 37s. Of interest for Cambrian operations relevant to the Penmaenpool area.
Museums & Archives
List physical locations and online archives. Note what materials they hold and whether you’ve used them.
Example:
National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth
Holds OS maps, Cambrian Railways working timetables, and GWR plans of Penmaenpool station. Useful for verifying signalling layout and changes to the goods shed.
Talyllyn Railway Narrow Gauge Railway Museum
Contains original documents related to Cambrian Railways staff, timetables, and photographs of the Dolgellau branch.
Signalling Record Society
- The National Archives, Kew
nationalarchives.gov.uk
Plan and elevation of proposed Penmaenpool Bridge
Reference: RAIL 92/129 – Plan and elevation of proposed Penmaenpool Bridge, Date: 1879 - Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre
wshc.org.uk
Penmaenpool: Water Supply Linen
2515/405/300
Penmaenpool: Alterations – Divisional Civil Engineers Drawing
2515/403/1743 1936
Websites & Forums
Michael Clemens Railways
www.michaelclemensrailways.co.uk
A substantial personal archive covering steam-era railways with a focus on film, photography, working timetables, and ticket collections. Of particular use are the digitised GWR and BR (Western Region) working timetables, including the full Chester District documents for the summer of 1959:
Chester District – Freight Trains, 15 June to 13 September 1959 (PDF, 35.7MB)
Chester District – Passenger Trains, 15 June to 13 September 1959 (PDF, 26.7MB)
These include detailed timings and consist notes for services passing through Ruabon, Dolgellau, and Barmouth, providing valuable operational insight into the period modelled. The site also includes DVD content relevant to the Cambrian Coast and archive cine footage, as well as an extensive collection of original GWR plans and section drawings.
Include URLs and brief description of what’s useful. For forums, note thread titles and key posts.
Meirionnydd Facebook Group
Discussing local news, events, and history across the old county of Meirionnydd, including Dolgellau and the Mawddach Estuary.
Example:
- RMweb Forum – Cambrian Coast Memories thread
Contains user-posted photographs and recollections, including Penmaenpool camping coaches and the goods siding. - Disused Stations: Penmaenpool
www.disused-stations.org.uk/p/penmaenpool – Detailed station history, maps, and photo gallery.
Maps & Documents
List source, date, and what the map or document shows. Use thumbnails or links if relevant.
Example:
- OS 25” Map, Merionethshire XXV.7 (1901 edition)
Shows full track layout, road bridge, and nearby wharf area — useful for scenic planning. - GWR Signal Box Diagram, Penmaenpool (c.1938)
Sourced from National Archives, Kew. Details signal lever numbers and track circuits.