Cwt y Bugail slate quarry

Photo Gallery Page 1

A wonderful survivor of the quarry's working life until recently was this single cylinder steam engine.  This was originally an Aveling & Porter traction engine.  It was used to haul waste rock up from one of the working areas.  The rubbish or "bad rock" was then dumped to form the large tips so common in all quarries.  It was probably the inaccessibility of this boiler which saved it from the scrap merchant.

In the Summer of 2003 a group of traction engine enthusiasts removed the complete
stationary engine.  Apparently this has been done to create a cosmetic resoration of an
1865 Aveling & Porter traction engine.

This is a view of the boiler during the salvage process.  The removal
of such valuable links to the past is, in my opinion, inexcusable.

The remains of the Cwt y Bugail barracks block.

Due to the gradient out of the quarry, loaded wagons were hauled out by
using a powered cable from the dressing shed.  The cable ran around
a wheel which was situated here near the tramway junction.

A general view of the ruined dressing mill area.  The Rhiwbach Tramway
can be seen on the embankment in the distance.

Inside the ruined mill can be seen some
of the bearings for the drive pulleys.