The Bala and Festiniog Railway, a branch of the Great Western Railway, obtained access to Blaenau Ffestiniog by purchasing the narrow gauge Festiniog and Blaenau Railway of 1868 and converting it tio standard gauge. Manod Viaduct was built (on a slight curve) of stone with five courses of brickwork forming the external arch rings, and replaced the timber trestle viaduct which had been adequate for the narrow gauge railway.
W J Crompton, RCAHMW, 12 January 2012.