Casgliadau Arlein

Photograph showing HRH Princess Margaret during a royal visit to Dinorwig Quarry on the 17 May 1962. HRH Princess Margaret can be seen standing in a yellow wagon (known as ‘y garej felyn’). The photograph also shows Sir Michael Duff, owner of the Faenol Estate and Dinorwig Quarry. Sir Michael Duff is the first on the left, standing side on, wearing a black coat.

There were two of these wagons at Dinorwig quarry – used to transport important visitors and members of the Faenol estate family up to the quarry. One of the wagons could seat four people, whilst the other could seat eight by having back to back seats. The wagons were built in the Gilfach Ddu workshops using the axel and wheels of a slate carrying wagon – this was to ensure that the wagons could travel on the quarry’s internal transport system i.e. the narrow gauge railways and inclines.

They were painted yellow to match the other ‘garej felyn’ owned by the quarry – this was known as ‘Y Salŵn’ (the Saloon). This was a carriage built by the Gloucester Railway Carriage a Wagon Co, and was used on the Padarn Railway. The Saloon would transport important visitors and members of the Faenol estate family from Felinheli to Gilfach Ddu. It was also used once a month to transport quarrymen’s wages from a bank in Felinheli up to the quarry – during these journeys two men with guns would guard the Saloon.