The Glanrafon work base, site of the former Glanrafon Sidings, was at the northern end of the stretch covered by WHLR Ltd's Contract 3E-2, started in May 2001. The spelling "Glanrafon" is usually applied to this site, whereas the nearby bridge should be "Glan yr Afon".

Fencing contractors Achnashean Contractors Ltd (a.k.a. North Wales Fencing) of Llandygai were first on site, erecting stockproof fencing from here to Rhyd Ddu, a job which was largely completed by mid-July 2001.

A large pile of crushed slate waste was delivered to the Glanrafon Sidings site in July 2001. This was used to consolidate the marshy ground on the trackbed at this site and on the short stretch north from there to the bridge. This material was also laid on the trackbed prior to the laying of ballast.

The three pictures below (credit: WHLR Ltd) show work in progress at Glanrafon on August 2nd 2001, with machinery being used to scrape wet areas from the trackbed.

The following pictures (WHLR Ltd) show work in progress on August 8th and 9th 2001. The portable messroom and lavatory were standing adjacent to the remains of the weigh house at the foot of Glanrafon incline.

Brian Humphreys' JCB is seen at work on hardening the wide trackbed at the Glanrafon Sidings site,using crushed slate waste; the view (left) towards Waunfawr with Mynydd Mawr and Llyn Cwellyn gives an idea of the scenic backdrop to this remote site.

The next three pictures show mechanical tipping of mud scraped from boggy areas of the trackbed.

At the end of June 2002, tracklaying back from Rhyd Ddu by the volunteer gang reached the Glanrafon Sidings site. WHLR Ltd had already moved its main base of operations in the mountains to Snowdon Ranger, in order to progress Contract 3E-1. The Glanrafon site was then taken over by Jones Bros as their work base for the refurbishment of Glan yr Afon Bridge.

WHLR Ltd machinery was noted back on site at Glanrafon in early June 2003, for the laying of ballast back from here to the bridge prior to tracklaying to join up the gap between the track laid north from Rhyd Ddu and south from Snowdon Ranger. Rapid progress was evident by June 14th, with track laid through the Glanrafon site, and proceeding into the reverse curve leading to Glan yr Afon Bridge. Completion of this section allowed the ballast train to continue its rapid progress with making the track ready for passenger trains northwards to Snowdon Ranger.