Contemporary regional newspapers record that the horse drawn Harlech Tramway ran from near the Cambrian Railways' Harlech station 600 yards (550 m) west to the beach from approx 1878 to 1886. The tramway was developed by Mr Godfrey Morton of Tremadog (1810–1880). It was probably mainly used to facilitate beach loading of ships with slate from the Noddfa slate quarry, although tourist facilities in the Harlech area have also been developed at this time, sponsored initially by Samuel Holland, the county's M.P.