Great Orme Tramway

Alternatively: retired engineer's day out :-)

We took the bus to Llandudno today, had a look at the town, and took the cable tramway up to the Great Orme where the views over to Anglesey across the Menai Strait were a delight (see extra)

Quite fascinating* to stop at the halfway station and see the winding mechanisms in action. The difference in weight between the up and down trams is made up for by electric motors, although, not as much power is involved as I might have guessed.
It is almost two separate systems in the upper and lower sections. Passengers change trams at the halfway station. The lower half shares some of the streets in the town with vehicles and has some seriously steep sections with tight turns so it needs more electrical assistance.

https://greatormetramway.co.uk/en/how-it-works

The arm on the roof of the tram is part of a redundant signalling/Comms set up, now superceded by a radio based system.

Llandudno has some interesting architecture, it reminded us of places like Devonport and Invercargill (New Zealand) but with added candyfloss and chips.

* Gill said so too :-)