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Ffestiniog Railway

Harbour Station, Porthmadog, Gwynedd LL49 9NF

Tel: 01766 516024    Fax: 01766 516006

e-mail: enquiries@festrail.co.uk

website: www.festrail.co.uk

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The world-famous Ffestiniog Railway was originally built to transport slate from the mines to Porthmadog, where it was transferred to ships for export and use throughout the world. Like many other little railways, its original role has been superseded, but this one has found fame as one of the country's leading attractions. The world's oldest narrow-gauge passenger-carrying railway, it runs behind steam locomotives on the 13½-mile journey from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog; the route climbs 700 feet into Snowdonia National Park through pastures and forests, by lakes and waterfalls, round horseshoe bends and at one point turning back on itself in a complete spiral.

Calling en route at Minffordd, Penrhyn and Tan-y-Bwlch, the trip takes just over an hour. Trains can be hired for private functions, anniversaries or fine dining evenings, and the year brings many special events, including trips on vintage trains using rolling stock dating from as far back as 1860. The Ffestiniog found itself at the cutting edge of railway technology in the 1870s: pivoted wheels, or bogie, which gave a superior ride and allowed coaches to take curves more smoothly, had appeared in North America in 1873 and it was on the Ffestiniog that it first came to the UK.

There are shops selling gifts and souvenirs at the termini and Tan-y-Bwlch. Porthmadog has a café serving anything from sandwiches and snacks to three-course meals, and the café at Tan-y-Bwlch is open while the trains run. Most trains have corridor coaches where refreshments are sold.

The railway may be little, but it provides a big experience with a variety of driving programmes, starting with the more easily handled Penrhyn Lady class locomotives Linda, Blanche or Taliesin, leading up to the ultimate challenge of one of the famous Double Fairlies hauling 10 carriages. Drivers will enjoy one-to-one personal tuition and work an eight hour shift, with 14 miles driving and 14 miles firing. Another course involves operating one of the oldest steam engines in the sidings at Minffordd, shunting a rake of slate wagons.

The Ffestiniog Railway is operated and maintained by volunteers, and help is always welcome, either working with the railway or joining the Ffestiniog Railway Society.

Directions:  For map click here

  This entry is in the Hidden Places of Wales.

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