gripper rail

Following an accident in 1896, most of the line was fitted with 'gripper rails'.

The second recommendation was that a gripper system be installed (see Gripper rail section).

A gripper system was also installed on the rack railway (see Gripper rail section).

At the beginning of the sections of gripper rail, the ends are staggered and chamfered to help guide the gripper into place.

It is said that in very high winds, a train can proceed over the exposed sections of the line with the carriage held in to the rails by the gripper rail.

A 'gripper' is fitted to each locomotive, which fits around the gripper rails and holds the locomotive to the rails and prevents the pinion coming free from the rack.

The gripper rails are not fitted in the top and bottom stations, around Llanberis yard, on any pointwork, nor on the less steep lengths of railway just out of Llanberis and near Waterfall.