We have a whole railway to operate well, two really. Late exhibit entries are coming in now for tracks to the trenches. There is the ffestiniog railway which is a preserved narrow gauge steam railway which runs from porthmadoc to blaenau ffestiniog up the vale of ffestiniog. Update now sold out update now sold out glorious snowdonia national park, experience magnificent scenery in comfort whilst savouring the romance of gleaming steam engines and carriages. Ffestiniog travel run tours for rail enthusiasts who also want to see the countryside and experience the culture of the countries they visit. The welsh highland narrow gauge steam railway runs from coast to coast through the mountains of the snowdonia national park, and what better way of seeing it than from one of the beyer garratt steam engines. On hot summer days they were rewarded with ice creams thrown from the buffet car door. Waterlooman2017 what a fantastic day out this is, beautiful scenery, interesting. Phil girdlestone started working with locomotives in 1970 as a part time fireman and then driver on the ffestiniog railway fr.
A six disc dvd set or two disc bluray edition featuring the view from a camera clamped to the front of merddin emrys on the ffestiniog and garratt 87 on the welsh highland. Experience the nostalgic pleasure of steam train railways. Ffestiniog railway driver s eye view blaenau ffestiniog to porthmadog wales. You will be one on one with the driver, as participants you will help clean and prepare the loco before firing it up and taking it for a spin. Established by an act of parliament in 1832, built to serve the slate industry of blaenau ffestiniog. You will get the railway to yourself for the day and individual instruction from our driver and fireman. The route was cleverly designed so it was all on a gradient and the trains could just run downhill using gravity. It is a major tourist attraction located mainly within the snowdonia national park the railway is roughly 1.
The welsh highland railway is by far the more dramatic and enjoyable journey, imo. Ride the welsh highland railway from porthmadog to rhyd ddu and return. Til that the festiniog railway company of wales is the oldest surviving railway company in the world, founded by an act of parliament in may, it operates the ffestiniog railway, the first narrow gauge railway in britain to carry passengers, and survi. A signal box was at boston lodge pen cob halt but it only held the staff instruments and did not have a lever frame. Trainnaming honours network rails partnership with. An added bonus of this course is that its a onetoone experience. The ffestiniog railway is a major tourist attraction located mainly within the snowdonia national park. Engineer ridealong experience tsrr texas state railroad. The railway hub is a central point for all rail news past and present from the railway magazine, heritage railway and rail express. Our driver experience courses are designed to give you the thrill of being at the controls of a powerful narrow gauge steam locomotive, doing the job for which it. Porthmadog to blaenau ffestiniog and caernarfon to porthmadog return.
You blow the whistle, release the brakes and open the regulator, a hiss of steam and the train starts to move the start of the. Add in helpful and friendly staff and you get more than a hint of magic. Ffestiniog and welsh highland railways are proud to launch the third year of summer of fun. Welsh highland heritage railway rheilffordd ucheldir cymru, porthmadog. The ffestiniog railway is the oldest operational railway company in the world, being founded by act of parliament in 1832. Shot from a camera mount attached to the handrail at the front of merddin emrys, this double dvd set gives a drivers eye view of the route ahead. Should i go on the welsh highland railway or ffestiniog railway. We are delighted to announce two real celebrity machines will be making a firsttime visit to apedale. Inside motion the monthly newsletter of the ffestiniog. Our cottage has its own request stop out in the oak forested hillside above the vale of ffestiniog, between tan y bwlch and dduallt. Rail holidays, escorted rail tours, train journeys, exploring the worlds heritage railways or simply buying a train ticket all reasons why ffestiniog travel can claim to be britains complete specialist in rail holidays of the world. Thirty minutes later the driver brings the train, hissing and steaming, to a halt. It is truly a great little railway and is the oldest independent railway company in the world today.
You can really help the railway and yourself by volunteering. It opened in 1836 to take slate from the quarries of blaenau ffestiniog. Ffestiniog railway society introduction to volunteering. The woods are wreathed in mist, lending it an air of mystery. If you are lucky you may get pulled by one of the unique double fairlie locos. A steam train drives up the track, we see the sign at portmadoc station.
Truly a great little railway, ffestiniog is the oldest independent railway company in the world today. Recreating the drive an engine activities at hunslet hundred, but with a longer length of track, you will be able to try your hand at the regulator of a hunslet locomotive with our driver for a fiver experience in minffordd yard. Prior to 1912 the ffestiniog railway used the staff and ticket system for train protection. With cameras mounted on the buffer beam and around the cab, we can see the line and the scenery even better than the driver. Your chance to have a go at driving our steam engine for a return trip or two at the end of the day. Old fashioned style and modern comfort, texas state railroad is a train tour like youve never experienced. We are recognised by the guinness book of world records as the oldest railway company in the world, being founded in 1832. The ffestiniog railway the uks leading narrow gauge line built to carry slates to the sea, takes. Comparably massive garratt locomotives relative to their gauge hauling the trains, and dramatic for a railway line traverses such as the aberglaslyn pass south of beddgelert to experience.
He joined the permanent staff in 1978, reaching the post of works manager at boston lodge works, where in addition to maintenance work he started to make modifications to improve locomotive perfo2rmance, most notably the conversion to coal. When i was first told this as a boy, i imagined wells fargo, guns blazing across texas. Flickr is almost certainly the best online photo management and sharing application in the world. A onceinalifetime opportunity to sit in the engine room of the train. Texas state railroad piney woods texas area railroad tours. Update now sold out update now sold out davies was an engine driver on the ffestiniog railway he joined the staff at boston lodge works as an apprentice at the age of 15 in december 1959. The festiniog railway company, in north wales, is the oldest surviving railway company in the world. They are the ffestiniog railway s 40hp simplex once known as mary ann and moelwyn the uks only surviving example of one of the baldwin tractors which were very popular with american and canadian. Im on the very splendid merddin emrys, a pushme pullyou double fairlie locomotive built in 1879, on the ffestiniog railway, fulfilling a lifelong dream to travel on the footplate of a steam train. Show off your favorite photos and videos to the world, securely and privately show content to your friends and family, or blog. Your course starts with a short health and safety briefing before taking the controls of one of our passenger steam locomotives. Welsh highland railway or ffestiniog railway railuk forums. Travelling behind one of these pulling a 12 car train up the steep gradients is an experience not to be missed.
We run 20 of the uks largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the countrys train operating companies every day, there are more than 4. Ffestiniog railway bristol group are holding a sale of second hand, mainly railway, books that have been donated to them on saturday 4th april 2020 from 10am to 1pm at frome cricket club, rodden road, frome, somerset, ba11 2ah. In 1869 fairlies company built a locomotive, named little wonder for the ffestiniog railway, a narrow gauge slate railway in north wales. Merddin emrys being a double fairlie gives a superbly smooth ride for use as a camera platform. The festiniog railway heritage group aims to research, conserve and recreate many aspects of the festiniog railway s heritage. Some weekend and anti social hours working is required. Our driver experience courses are restricted to one person to maximise driving time, under the guidance of one of our regular drivers. After that date it was replaced with the electric train staff ets system which gives improved flexibility. Youve always wanted to drive a real steam locomotive or you want a present. They will drive a full 15 mile round trip from llangollen to carrog under full supervision. The ffestiniog and welsh highland railways stretch for 40 miles through the glorious snowdonia national park, allowing you to experience the magnificent scenery in comfort whilst savouring the romance of gleaming steam engines and carriages. Having used them to book tours with my family, this is the first time i have done one of their group tours. Various shots of the driver and guard, he waves a flag and the train draws out of the station.
A trip on the festiniog railway from blaenau to porthmadog behind merddin emrys filmed from pullman car 150. The successful applicant will be required to train as a diesel locomotive driver and operator for the kmx tamping machine. Requirements a good knowledge of pw practices and pw engineering. We own, operate and develop britains railway infrastructure. We pride ourselves on offering value for money for families, with most activities being provided free of charge or for a small donation. It doesnt matter whether you have a day, a week, or longer to devote to the ffestiniog railway, we. He joined the permanent staff in 1978, reaching the post of works manager at boston lodge works, where in addition to maintenance work he started to make modifications to improve locomotive perfo2rmance, most notably the conversion to coal burning of hunslet 240. The ffestiniog railway wales stops at the landmark trusts new cottage. The fairlie design meant that the fireboxes and ashpans were not restricted by frame or track width, but only by the overall loading gauge. The ffestiniog and welsh highland railways stretch for 40 miles through the glorious snowdonia national park, allowing you to experience the magnificent. The ffestiniog railway was set up by an act of parliament in 1832 and built to carry welsh slate from the hillside mining town of blaenau ffestiniog down to the coastal port of porthmadog where it was loaded onto ships. The summer holidays start here with our programme of events and activities for all the family to enjoy. Stretching 40 miles through the glorious snowdonia national park, experience magnificent scenery in comfort whilst savouring the romance of gleaming steam engines. Blaenau ffestiniog to llandudno jn cab ride experience by track access portal.
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