Exciting, Rare Photographs at Conwy Archives

Rare photographs depicting an important and exciting moment in Llandudno’s history have just been placed for safe-keeping in Conwy Archive.

Taken by Mr George White of R White & Sons of Widnes, who were the contracting engineers for the Great Orme Tramway, they show the tramcars and winding gear arriving in Llandudno in 1900-1902 and being hauled up Old Road, workmen constructing the track, the new carriages and the jockey cars, all proudly displaying the Great Orme Tramways livery. 

The depositors, John and Edward Orme, both worked for Whites.  The company, which had been founded in 1869, was of enormous significance in the engineering world, having specialised in aerial ropeways and mountain railways.  It built not only the Great Orme Tramway but also the Snowdon Rack Railway.  Both Mr Ormes recall their time at Whites with great affection and regretted seeing it eventually go into receivership in 1980.  However, it was at this point that they came across the photographs, thrown out as rubbish, and, recognising their significance, have guarded them ever since.  They have now placed them in the Archive, where they can be seen and enjoyed by all with an interest in Llandudno’s history and the history of tramway engineering.

Other papers relating to the history of the Great Orme Tramway are already available in the Archive (ref. no. CX77), documenting the difficult conditions under which Whites operated, particularly in their working relationships with the original engineer, H Enfield Taylor and the Directors of the Tramway Company. 

The list of Great Orme Tramway records can be viewed on our online catalogue and scans of the newly acquired photographs will be added shortly.  Visit www.conwy.gov.uk/archives and follow the link to the Archives Catalogue.