Languishing At Llandudno - 1

Topless And Traditional Tours

Traditionally the lump of limestone rock that sticks out to the west of Llandudno is known as The Great Orme althugh its correct apellation is shown on the above map extract. Less acknowledged is the Little Orme to the east of the town.

Apart from walking (doubtless outside of fbb's comfort zone) there are FOUR varieties of public transport that climb up the rock, all of them of interest to a determined and committed blogger.

Traditional Tramway

By far the most interesting technologically is the so-called Tramway ...

... which it isn't. Despite the trolley poles the "trams" are not powered by electricity. Technically the cars should be described as a Funicular Railway. Even more pedantically, the "tramway" is, in fact, TWO Funicular Railways meeting end-on at Halfway Station.

The tracks do not join. Each separate railway is cable hauled with the cable in a conduit between the rails.

Here is Halfway Station c/o Google Earth.

The winding equipment is here for both lines. To add to the linguistically challenging verbiage, both lines have a passing loop halfway! Here is that for the lower section ...

... and a similar loop on the more exposed upper section.

The track looks different. That is because once in open country and away from roads shared with other vehicles and pedestrians, conduits for the hauling cable were no longer necessary. So the rope and the rollers which guided it are very visible!

It is a glorious near-silent ride - but expensive.

Here the cars are seen approaching the upper track halfway point (quarter way?)

The cars are joined by a wire rope which raises one carriage whilst lowering the other; hence the need for a loop at the halfway point on each line.

Chilly Cable Car

Equally expensive is the Cable Car!

Compared with the size and luxury of typical mountain cable cars in e.g. Switzerland ...,

... that on the Great Orme is just a tin bucket, open to the elements and offering just a few seats.

Its lower station is quite high up above the pier ...

... not in the town like the tram. The lower station has no parking, just a trudge up the hill from the Pier.

It's the white building up the hill.

Here are the prices.

Presumably puppies are not allowed to travel - only adult dogs?

Topless Tours

Alpine Coaches, based in Llandudno, holds the City Sightseeing "franchise" which offers four possible trips.

Here is the map from the leaflet.

The main open top bus tour (RED) takes you to Conwy.

It runs full season from Easter to October half term, but with three different frequencies.

The company has various double decks including a semi open ...

... with fully glazed roof. More conventional open toppers also operate.

A secondary service (YELLOW) runs east to Rhos-on-Sea but for a much shorter season.

It is a shorter ride and a bit cheaper.

The other long-season service (BLUE) is the third option for the Great Orme. This is the territory of an unusual vehicle. It looks like a fairly norman minibus ...

... seen above at the Summit car park. But it can be converted to a semi open topped minibus.

The rather crude diagram on the leaflet shows us some of the places visited by the tours.

As well as the Summit, this intriguing Great Orme vehicle will take you to the Copper Mines and the Distillery. Again it runs for a long season.

There were seven trips when fbb was looking and this reduces to five throughout October. Let's hope they keep the lid on as it was when fbb snapped the bus at the summit.

The PURPLE tour looks a bit feeble - because it is! It simply takes you round the private toll road that encircles the Great Orme. 

The views are superb and there is a stop at a wonderful viewpoint ...

... but it is the vehicles used on the tour that bring joy to the seasoned (but wealthy) traveller.

Like the Rhos open top tour this is a short season operation. Note that the Great Orme tour price is for the tound trip to match the Marine Drive ride's fare.

So it looks as if a trip up the Great Orme will cost you between £10 and £14!

Why not a bargain "Orme-Rider" Rover Ticket? Four single trips on any of the three "modes" at £30 would surely be an attractive deal for tourists and create some additional revenue for the stolidly separate rides currently available.

However, the fbbs ascended the large lump of limestone for just £2.60 return each, a grand total of £5.20 - and they had a tour of Llandudno included.

See tomorrow's exciting episode!

 Next Llandudno blog : Tuesday 18th September 

Saturday Variety

First Cable : First Dangle

It was light blue ... then it went red ...

... as sponsorship was obtained from Emirates and branded as Air Line.

It then went purple with a much lower sponsorship from tech firm IFS. Dangle cars have been red ...

... and are now IFS purple.

But recently, the purple brand has had a refresh at the two stations.

Publicity has a distinct taste of the Bearded Bus Beautifier from the Bush about it!

Every detail is  now brightly purpled!

But the big question still remains. Is it a success?

Financially it appears to be a disaster with ridership being well below what was anticipated. One huge problem is that it is not easy to get at. The London Eye ...

... is very much in evidence on the South Bank whilst the Cable Car is out on a limb and, from a tourist point of view, round by the bins.

Here is an unofficial video asking the question.

But from this weekend there is a major change to the structure of the Cable Car.  The beast is owned by Transport for London (who probably wish they didn't); it is sponsored by IFS. But from this weekend it will be operated by First Group.

Anyone for a Barbie dangle car?

Perhaps not!

Talking of Branding

When London Underground rebranded Bond Street station as Burberry Street most commentators thought ot was a step too far.  The impression given by TfL was that they understood peoples' concerns and would not be doing such a drastic "rebrand" ever again - not ever - no never.

So they've just done another one!

To get us in the mood fbb will introduce his readers to an advert for a mobile everything imaginable

Apparently, you can also make phone calls on it - but they cost extra! fbb did find a short video (most are 20 minutes long) about the Samsung Z fold 6. The video was by an American gentlemen who was so enthusiastic you would think the phone had just saved his life - several times. And, of course he called is the Zee Fold 6!

Hang on to the fact that this phone unfolds to double the size. Mr excitable was keen to stress that it had a strengthened hinge, although as the product is new, it is not clear how he knew.

Now we go to a London Underground station.

Yes, folks, it is a rebranded Old Street on the city branch of the Northern Line.

Some of the station names are untainted by this stupidity as in this picture ...

... which would seem to add to the potential confusion. But a short promotional video does encourage viewers to visit Fold Street, carrying their folding phone. 

Whilst so doing such excited travellers can enjoy more hilarious folded things.

A Street lamp ...

... a bench ...

... and a phone box.

Chortle, chortle!

Hey, fbb has just had another jackpot idea.

Ideal for dangling rides in windy weather!

Beer Brand for Bradford!

Yes, that is a Trans Pennine train on the can. The company has commissioned it own brand of beer.

The mind boggles.

You'll Never Get fbb on One!

Yet another driverless tram, circumnavigating the depot very slowly.

A bit more about this tram.

Hmmmm?

A Puzzle Picture

Where might these palm trees be?

Somewhere on Lothian Buses route 16?

Answer tomorrow.

And more variety tomorrow!

 Next Variety blog : Sunday 28th July