Notes: On 1 July 1969 Queen Elizabeth II's eldest son Prince Charles was invested as Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle. The ceremony could be traced back to 1301 when Edward I had invested his own son with the title.

Part of the event involved a procession into Caernarfon. As the Royal Party were to travel to Caernarfon by train, a stopping place was required outside the town. For the 1911 investiture, the Royal Party had stopped at Griffiths Crossing station, which was 2 miles from Caernarfon. The station had closed on 5th July 1937, and the platforms had been demolished. The line from Menai Bridge to Caernarfon was also a shadow of its former self. Formerly a through route from Menai Bridge to Afon Wen, the branch was terminated at Caernarfon in 1964, and singled in 1966.

The solution was to build a temporary platform, at a point slightly closer to Caernarfon than the original Griffiths Crossing station, adjacent to the Ferodo factory. At this point, a bridge crossed the line to the factory, allowing easy main road access. The British Railways Board 'Notice of Royal Trains' number 222W called the temporary facility the Ferodo Platform.

The platform was located on the south-east side of the line to the north-east of the road overbridge, and actually stood on the site of the 'down' line, which had been lifted by that time. It was a simple construction of about one coach length. A set of steps connected to the Ferodo factory car park.

The Royal Train departed from London Euston at 22.25 on 30th June 1969, hauled by two class 40 locomotives, and arrived at Menai Bridge at 03.10 on 1st July. It waited in the sidings at Menai Bridge until it was time for it to travel to Griffiths Crossing, arriving at the platform at 12.30.

The royal party left their train at the Griffiths Crossing platform, and processed to Caernarfon. After the event was over they travelled back to the temporary platform, boarded their train, and travelled back to London Euston.

The platform was dismantled shortly after.

Sources:

• Bangor to Portmadoc including the Llanberis lines – V Mitchell & K Smith – Middlewood Press 2010
  
• From Chester to Holyhead: The Branch Lines – B Rear - OPC 2003

To see the other stations on the Menai Bridge - Afonwen line click on the station name: Menai Bridge, Treborth, Port Dinorwic (1st), Port Dinorwic (2nd), Griffiths Crossing, Caernarvon, Carnarvon Pant, Dinas, Llanwnda, Groeslon, Penygroes, Pant Glass, Brynkir, Ynys, Llangybi, Chwilog & Afon Wen