Snow bound

Those carrying out track maintenance on the Snowdon Mountain Railway are used to working in hostile conditions during the closed season. But this winter has proved particularly difficult, with snow drifting at much lower levels than usual. A 50-metre gap in the track at their Clogwyn worksite, 2,500 feet above sea level, has been inaccessible due to heavy drifting further down the mountain.

The snow-clearing process involves an excavator followed by the works train and a compressor that is used to blow the track clear. When the trackwork is eventually complete, attention will turn to opening the new summit building, Hafod Eryri, which boasts the highest café and shop in England and Wales. It also has the highest loo which requires 10 tonnes of water to be taken up every day for flushing purposes!

Article courtesy of the rail engineer magazine.