Time Capsules - Old Photographs from the past

Llanfair railway station
Time Capsules
Llanfair railway station

Monochrome photo of an empty Llanfair Railway Station (Wales).

I assume this is what we now know as Llanfair Caereinion railway station, the Western terminus of the narrow gauge Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway?

I have not been lucky in trying to identify / verify this station or photo. So any help is appreciated!


Photo © The Step Back Through Time Collection
Picture added on 26 December 2008
This picture is in the following groups
Step back through Time, trains and stations
Comments:
I think this is pretty obviously a standard gauge station, but Llanfair as a name is very common in Wales. I thought it might be Llanfairfechan, but now doubt it having Googled that station. You have presented us with another mystery, Marcel! Are there any Welsh readers who can help?
Added by Peter John Langsdale on 26 December 2008
This is Llanfairpwll station on Anglesey, on the main London Euston-Holyhead line - the village is the one with the long name:
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogoch.

This is obvious because in the background, above the footbridge, is the Marquis of Anglesey's Column. He led the cavalry at the Battle of Waterloo where he lost a leg.

I am quite certain because I used to live in the station house when my father was the Stationmaster from 1952 to 1955.
Added by Vernon Hughes on 08 January 2009
Thank you very much, Vernon. I thought that the station always had the nameboard Llanfair PG, and eventually the whole name, specially for visitors!
Added by Peter John Langsdale on 08 January 2009
Peter, if you look carefully at the black and white fence below the footbridge you can see the full name made out of pieces of wood attached to the top of the fence!
Added by Vernon Hughes on 09 January 2009
Aha! However Marcel is in a better position to see that than myself, as he has the original photo! Time to get your magnifying glass out, Marcel!
Of course we all know that the name translates to "The church of St. Mary in the hollow of white hazel trees near the rapid whirlpool by St. Tysilio's of the red cave". My youngest son was born at Aberystwith, still lives nearby and has learned Welsh. I tried to learn the language around 1967 when I lived in Cardigan, but moved away after a couple of years - eventually to Bahrain, and Arabic was not for me!
Added by Peter John Langsdale on 09 January 2009
This is indeed the station at Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Anglesey. The switchover has been taken up years ago, and where the freight wagon is on the left is now a large car park for James Pringle's Edinburgh woollen mills outlet. Long gone also are the flower beds, and the canopy. The station was shut for a while, and the platforms taken up, thanks to a Dr. Beeching, but after the Tubular bridge fire it was reopened to shuttle between Holyhead - Llanfairpwllgwyngyll. Later it was re-instated and two 37 metre platforms were constructed.
I work in the little signal box seen at the end of the terraced houses, partly hidden by the 'UP' signal.
Added by Steve Jones on 29 January 2009
This is definately NOT Llanfairfechan Railway Station......
Added by Richard Griffiths on 20 June 2010
Llanfair was a shortening of the longest station name in the world . I think
Added by John on 07 November 2010
Many locals shorten it to Llanfair PG !
Added by Pete Melling on 21 February 2011
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