THRILLING RAILWAY ROUTE

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4407, 13 July 1901, Page 3 (Supplement)

THRILLING RAILWAY ROUTE

Of all the railway lines round the British coast that which hugs the shore in North Wales has the most thrilling memories (says a writer in "Chums ). Extending, as it does, from Chester to Holyhead, it is to rea dover which tho traveller to Ireland passes, and if he knows of its history and its peculiarities I will guarantee that his brain keeps active during the first half, at least, of the journey. He will have plenty to think about, particularly on a rought night, when there is a wind from the sea that you could almost lean against. Leaving quaint Chester be* hind, one is soon at Bagilt, the scene of an old-time disaster. Here happened an accident of a character to whioa portions of the line are peculiarly liable — invasion by the sea. To keep it at bay strong defence walls have been built at certain points; but when a gale is acccmpanid by a high tide there is always the possibility that it may fore© its way on to tho metals. For this reason some sections are patrolled night and day in times of storm. Each of the platelayers is given charge of one mile of the permanent way, and oyer this “beat” ho is constantly passing in readiness to give the alarm immediately he discovers that the sea has succeeded in making an incursion on his territory. In spite of these precautions, however, the wild waves have on several occasions played havoc with the Chester-Holyhead iron road. Jluring one of these terrible gales in which the Royal Charter perished they make an attack on it at Bagilt. carrying away flic rails and the telegraph posts, and cutting off communication with Ireland._ Where the accident occurred there is now a viaduct, under which the waves have unimpeded progress till they dash against the mountain slope on the other side of the line. Between Llandulas and Penmaenmawr there is a clear run. without much to awaken memories of the past, and then one reaches the spot where, in the early days of 1899, a train plunged into tho waves. Unknown to anybody, notwithstanding that the patrols were out at the time, the sea washed away about 100 ft of the wall.- attacked the embankment, and finally completely swept off all support from under both lines. And the rapidity with which it did this mischief is truly amazing, considering that th o sea wall at this point was 25ft high and nearly two yards thick. The gap must have been made in a quarter of an hour at the outside.