Welsh Highland & Ffestiniog Railway: Holiday June
2018/19 - page 4
Snowdonia enjoys an abundance of restored heritage
railways thanks to its rich industrial past. We take a ride on
two steam hauled services operated by Ffestoniog & Welsh Highland
Railways. The scenic Welsh Highland Railway is the UK's longest
narrow gauge line – and North Wales' newest – steaming through the
beautiful Snowdonia National Park from Porthmadog to Beddgelert.
And the Ffestoniog Railway trundles through equally dramatic North
Wales scenery, along the Vale of Ffestiniog between Porthmadog and the
slate mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog.
This is page four of five.
Snowdon
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The Welsh Highland Railway runs from Porthmadog to Caernarfon; we
commenced our journey at Porthmadog Harbour Station at the line's...
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...southern end. Here's the wonderfully restored ticket office at
Porthmadog, the attention to detail was amazing! The Welsh
Highland Railway...
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...is part of the Ffestiniog Railway which also leaves from
Porthmadog. This is the steam engine that hauled the train
carriages, the world's most powerful narrow gauge steam
locomotive. We...
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...made our way along the platform to find the open carriage at the end
of the train in order to get a good view of the length of the train on
the journey. Notice the traditional semaphore signals.
Now,...
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...Mike was an excited chappie to be riding on a steam train once
again, flashing the Welsh Highland Railway tickets as the steam train
chuffed out of...
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...Porthmadog across the main road! In fact it steamed along the
highway for a short while before bearing right into the Snowdonia
scenery...
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...bound ultimately for Caernarfon, a journey of some 25 miles
(40km). The open carriage we choose had its drawbacks, the rain
came in and it filled with sooty steam when in tunnels but it all
added...
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...to the fun and was very handy for grabbing an appealing photo
quickly when the train rounded the Snowdonia curves. Along the
route the Welsh Highland Railway steam train passed through...
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...the beautiful Aberglaslyn Pass
along the River Glaslyn. We only did the journey to
Beddgelert (cost £21.90 round trip) rather than all the way to
Caernarfon (£39.80) as we intended to visit...
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...Sygun Copper Mine there, so it
was at Beddgelert we alighted. The Welsh Highland line originally
closed in 1936 and fully reopened as a heritage railway in 2009.
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip!
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We caught the Ffestoniog Railway train at the country station of
Minffordd, its first stop along this historic narrow gauge heritage
railway line from Porthmadog. We bought tickets on...
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...the train and got a 10% discount from the £25.60 fare having
previously ridden the Welsh Highland. The steam train chuffed
along the scenic Afon Dwyryd valley for a while before arriving...
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...at Tan y Bwlch Station, shortly joined by the service from
Ffestiniog passing on the opposite platform. After departing Tan
y Bwlch...
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...the train trundled on high above more of Afon Dwyryd valley,
providing some grand views of the Snowdonia countryside from the
carriage. The...
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...line could largely run by gravity on the gently downward gradient
from Blaenau Ffestiniog as it transported the slate through the Vale of
Ffestiniog to the harbour at Porthmadog for export. Next we hit...
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...Dduallt and a unique feature on the Ffestoniog Railway - the Dduallt
Spiral, a tight 360 degree curve that allows the train to navigate a
steep part of the terrain. Getting nearer...
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...Blaenau Ffestiniog the view became even more spectacular at
Tanygrisiau Reservoir, created for the Ffestiniog Power Station
hydro-electric facility. Now...
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...it's unusual for a train to stop at a road but it did just that here
where the line crosses the A496 just before the Ffestoniog Railway
steam train...
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...arrived at Blaenau Ffestiniog Station, the terminus of the 13.5 mile
(22km) route which took just over an hour. Here we...
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...observed the unique double-engined Ffestoniog Railway locomotive
being watered and coaled ready for its return to Porthmadog.
The...
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...pic above shows the backdrop of the slate spoil tips scenery from
Ffestoniog station's railway bridge. From the station we headed...
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...into Blaenau Ffestiniog itself, a town famous for its slate
production - see our visit to the
amazing Llechwedd Slate Caverns. We took a...
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...short walk by Blaenau's many slate sculptures before rumbling tums
decided lunch was next on our agenda so it seemed appropriate to make
for...
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...the Quarryman Bar & Grill, a place where slate was very much in
evidence: the tables, chairs, mats; even the wine rack was created
from...
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...slate, oh, let's not forget the dinner plates too! Yes,
Blaenau Ffestiniog sure is justly proud of its slate production
heritage. Refreshed,...
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...we adjourned to the neighbouring craft shop which, as you might
imagine, contained goods crafted from, erm, that's right - slate!
Soon...
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...it was time to head back to Blaenau Ffestiniog Station to catch the
Ffestoniog Railway steam train for the return journey. North
Wales has an abundance of preserved railways. Many were built to
support Snowdonia's slate mining and
quarrying industry but now fulfil a very different purpose...
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...supporting Snowdonia's tourist industry! For more please check
out our UK tourism resources.
Now to our final page for a fantastic walk along Snowdonia's Aberglaslyn
Pass to Beddgelert and a ride on the Great Orme Tramway >>>
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Snowdon
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