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[Pic 5] Cwt y Bugail Quarry - Emerging into the main pit (Sept 1987)

Emerging from the intact (short) tunnel mentioned in Pic 4, the tramway enters the large main pit. Note the intact rails (mostly still there even in 2006) plus the wagon chassis and boiler/tank (?) remains on the left - more of this pits similar remains can be seen in pic 7. Just behind the camera the track splits into two routes - see below for more detail.

[Pic 6] Cwt y Bugail Quarry - Tramway inside northern pit (Sept 1987)

The main pit is located slightly to the north of the mills, and is badly degraded - plus it has been greatly infilled. Pic 6 is retained because it shows how close the chunks of waste came to the tramway.

[Pic 7] Cwt y Bugail Quarry - View down into the northern pit (Sept 1987)

The tramway inside the northern pit fans out into a 'Y' shape as it runs between large amounts of infilled waste with the western (left) line running to the mouths of the two opened deep chambers in the northern pit wall. As mentioned previously this tramway is still virtually intact. The two chambers are intact and slant down to a good depth with tunnels* running off east and west at the bases. All slate obviously had to be uphauled out of these from the main underground workings, and would then be trammed along the main tramway route to the mills.

* Underground most of the tramways are still intact - but rockfalls have occurred making parts unsafe to enter.

[Pic 8] Cwt y Bugail Quarry - Slate hut on waste tips (Sept 1987)

Finally, i couldn't resist adding this photo of a very neat slate hut (shelter) built into one of the tips above the mills. Note the chimney at the far end. Such shelters (and a warm fire!) would have been invaluable up here in this wild exposed location during the freezing grip of winter. Infact Cwt y Bugail was often closed (sometimes for several months) because of bad wintry weather throughout its working existence.

Notes:-

A photo of a traction engine boiler (since removed) exists in Alun John Richards 'Fragments of Mine & Mill' book (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch 2002) along with two other Cwt y Bugail associated photos.

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