August 06, 2022 - 881 views
Llandudno's Great Orme Tramway celebrated its 120th birthday in style last Sunday.
Passengers heard a special birthday wish for the Tramway from Town Crier Billy Baxter and were entertained by the Llandudno Town Band, which boarded the tram to play “Congratulations” and “Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau”.
The Tramway was built at the turn of the last century, with Llandudno firm Thomas & John Owen doing the building work, while R White & Son of Widnes were the contractors for the rails, machinery and tramcars.
On July 31st 1902, the first paying passengers rode on the Tramway up the Great Orme, seen off by the Town Band playing “God Save The King”.
120 years later, the tramcars are still running up that hill. The Tramway, managed by Conwy County Borough Council, takes around 200,000 people on a unique trip each year, climbing a mile through the Great Orme Country Park and Nature Reserve to the spectacular summit.
As Britain’s only cable-hauled tramway travelling on public roads, it is considered a must-do by visitors to Llandudno.
