Rustynail
02-12-2011, 06:38 PM
Cwmorthin is a large slate mine near Blaenau Festiniog. It was worked from the early 1800s until, on a much smaller scale, the 1980s. During it's height it was one of the more dangerous mines to work in, earning it the name "The Slaughterhouse".
I've been in a couple of slate mines before but this one is epic. Visted last xmas hols.
Adit.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010018.jpg
Icicles.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010019.jpg
Spot the Land Rover drive flange. Apparently in its last days the owner used a battered old Land Rover to drive into the mine and transport the slate out. There is an area that seems to have been used for servicing the Land Rover, with parts, old oil filters etc. lying around.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010022.jpg
Passage where tyre tracks can still be seen.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010030.jpg
Remains of winding engine house at the top of the Old Vein incline.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010027.jpg
Remains of winder at top of the Back Vein incline.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010031.jpg
Looking down the BVI.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010033.jpg
Heading down the BVI.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010037.jpg
Slate waste wagon stuck part way down.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010040.jpg
Sign at one of the many bridges.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010044.jpg
Bridge of mild peril.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010046.jpg
Bridge of death, probably.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010057.jpg
Bridge of, er... fuck that!
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010069.jpg
Bottom of BVI. wagons abandoned.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010072.jpg
Huge chamber with some very dodgy steps.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010048.jpg
I've been in a couple of slate mines before but this one is epic. Visted last xmas hols.
Adit.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010018.jpg
Icicles.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010019.jpg
Spot the Land Rover drive flange. Apparently in its last days the owner used a battered old Land Rover to drive into the mine and transport the slate out. There is an area that seems to have been used for servicing the Land Rover, with parts, old oil filters etc. lying around.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010022.jpg
Passage where tyre tracks can still be seen.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010030.jpg
Remains of winding engine house at the top of the Old Vein incline.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010027.jpg
Remains of winder at top of the Back Vein incline.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010031.jpg
Looking down the BVI.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010033.jpg
Heading down the BVI.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010037.jpg
Slate waste wagon stuck part way down.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010040.jpg
Sign at one of the many bridges.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010044.jpg
Bridge of mild peril.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010046.jpg
Bridge of death, probably.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010057.jpg
Bridge of, er... fuck that!
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010069.jpg
Bottom of BVI. wagons abandoned.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010072.jpg
Huge chamber with some very dodgy steps.
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt319/rustynail2009/xmas2010048.jpg