The Associated Octel Company and the Amlwch branch
"Associated Octel was an important customer of the railway from the opening of its Amlwch plant in the early fifties until 1993. There was a daily Ellesmere Port - Amlwch and return freight which conveyed

Click for larger image

Ethylene Dibromide (grey tanks) and Liquid Chlorine (white tanks). A brake van each end was necessary as the train reversed at Hooton and barrier wagons were used because of the hazardous nature of the cargo. The other traffic to Amlwch was Raw Sulphur imported via Mostyn Dock. All the above mentioned traffic now travels by road, in the case of the Chlorine because the H&SE objected to large amounts being stored at Amlwch. A study was also made nationally which found that hazardous goods are safer transported by road (!). The line from Gaerwen to Amlwch closed when the Octel traffic ceased but efforts are being made by Isle of Anglesey Railways to reopen the route to passengers." - reproduced from Dave Sallery's website - (see bottom of page for acknowledgment)

Click on Images below to enlarge.
© Dave Sallery	"Railfreight grey No. 47370 heads the Amlwch - Ellesmere port working through Amlwch town on 15 February 1992. The section of line from the former passenger station to the chemical works was worked by AOC's own shunting locos as a private siding until the early seventies after which main line locos worked through to the works. The train pictured left Amlwch in mid morning and recessed in Llandudno Junction until late afternoon. The return working arriving in Amlwch in the early morning."
© Dave Plimmer	"24082 crosses the main road into Amlwch on the Octel light railway, with an extra service on the afternoon of the 29th December 1977. The crossing gates were operated by men sent out from the Octel works."
© Dave Sallery	Engineers inspection, Amlwch - 1992 "An engineers inspection saloon is seen at Amlwch on 6th June 1992. The private siding to Associated Octel begins just past the loop in the background."
© Dave Plimmer	"Another special working and 40014 leaves Amlwch light engine on 5th April 1980. It is passing through the former exchange sidings - no longer used as the BR locos worked through onto the Octel light railway. To the left is the original goods shed - on the edge of the original station site, and a bit of the platform is still visible."
© Dave Plimmer	"At Amlwch Port, 24082 leaves its train and runs into the loco siding to allow the company's own diesel to come out and pull the train into the works. There was no return traffic on this day and 24082 returned light to Llandudno Junction."

Thanks to Dave Plimmer for kindly letting us reproduce photographs. His website can be found at www.2d53.co.uk/amlwch/menu.htm

Also,thanks to Dave Sallery for kindly letting us reproduce photographs. His website can be found at www.penmorfa.com