Sub-sub-sub-fonds GFB - Hafan Tramway papers

Papers relating to the planning and construction of the Hafan Tramway, which was a narrow-gauge railway in Cardiganshire, constructed for the transport of lead ore from the mines at Bwlch Glas and stone from Hafan Quarry to the station at Llanfihangel Genau’r-glyn (Llandre). It is referred to consistently in the Gogerddan estate papers as the Hafan Tramway. The principal instigators of the project were Thomas Molyneux, an industrialist of Earlestown, Lancashire, and John Davis. The route initially was to extend to Ynyslas or Clarach to facilitate shipping but this proved impractical. The tramway was completed in 1897 and it also ran a limited passenger service. Molyneux also planned a tunnel under Hafan, extending the line to Bryn yr Afr mine. The tramway enterprise was not economically viable and it only lasted two years. By 1906 proposals were made to reconstruct a mineral line, mainly on Gogerddan land, with the possiblility of converting to standard gauge between Llanfihangel Genau’r-glyn and Tal-y-bont if necessary. It was also proposed to reopen the Hafan quarry if viable.
The papers comprise deeds, surveys, reports, valuations and various other papers, 1875-1913, and numerous letters, 1888-1919, a large proportion of which are from Thomas Molyneux of Earlestown, the principal instigator of the scheme..