Festrail

The Ffestiniog C Welsh Highland Railways are delighted to be named winners of the National Rail Heritage Awards ‘Network Rail Award for best overall entry’.

This is for the long-term redevelopment of Boston Lodge Works near Porthmadog in North Wales.

The historic works was reconstructed and redeveloped to support the railways needs for the coming decades. With a history stretching back almost 200 years the redevelopment represented a major challenge. The most recent £5m phase of works was supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Ffestiniog Railway Society and the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway Trust. This support has made it possible to conserve and recreate many of the historic buildings on site in addition to creating new facilities.

Paul Lewin, Director and General Manager notes that one of the great wins from the project was finding current day uses for the historic buildings whilst maintaining their historic fabric in addition to opening the workshop to visitors through an innovative hosted tour program.

Nigel Burbidge, recently appointed FRCo Chair, paid tribute to the outgoing FRCo Chair, Dr John Prideaux for his vision and leadership of the Boston Lodge Project over the last decade. Attention to detail, persistence and the selection of strong partners to form the project teams has resulted in a very positive outcome for the project.

During 2026 it will be possible for members of the public to visit the historic workshops and see the results for themselves as part of the Boston Lodge Tour program, tickets for which are available from the Ffestiniog C Welsh Highland Railways website.

North Wales’ most spectacular running event returns this autumn as hundreds of participants prepare to race a steam train from Tan y Grisiau Station to Porthmadog Harbour in the highly anticipated Trailffest Half Marathon.

Taking place on Saturday, 27^th September, the race promises breathtaking views, dramatic terrain changes, and an unforgettable sense of adventure.

Starting near the historic slate quarries at Tan y Grisiau, runners will tackle a challenging yet rewarding route, weaving through rugged hillsides, forest trails, and open countryside before reaching the finish line at the scenic Porthmadog harbourside.

The unique twist? Competitors will be racing against one of the iconic steam trains of the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway as it makes its way down the line.

Runners’ families and friends board the train at Porthmadog before being transported to the starting point, giving them the chance to cheer on their loved ones from the carriages as the race unfolds.

One of the most memorable moments of the event comes in the final mile, as participants make their way across the iconic Cob Embankment, offering sweeping views over the estuary before the dramatic finish at Porthmadog Harbour Station.

After crossing the line, runners and supporters can celebrate together at Spooner’s Café, where refreshments will be served ahead of the closing ceremony and awards presentation on the platform.

Entries are now open, and demand is expected to be high.

Runners can secure their place at www.trailffest.co.uk, while tickets for the accompanying steam train experience can be booked via the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway’s Booking Office on 01766 516024.

Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways is celebrating being voted Best Attraction in Wales, at the prestigious National Tourism Awards for Wales.

As the summer season gathers pace, the railway is proud to be welcoming visitors with the recognition of having been named Wales’ number one destination in 2025.

The award recognises the railway’s continued excellence in delivering an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages.

From breathtaking journeys through Snowdonia National Park to exceptional visitor facilities and warm Welsh hospitality, Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways continue to set the standard for tourism in Wales.

The accolade was presented at a glittering ceremony, where Paul Lewin, General Manager, and Stephen Greig, Visitor Experience Manager, collected the award on behalf of the railway.

The award was sponsored by Folly Farm, with Gareth Morris (left) presenting the trophy to Paul (right) and Stephen (centre).

“This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our incredible staff and volunteers, who strive every day to deliver an unforgettable experience for every visitor,”

said Paul Lewin.

“We are immensely proud to be recognised as the Best Attraction in Wales and look forward to welcoming even more visitors to enjoy our spectacular journeys this summer.”

With two lines stretching over 40 miles combined, the railway offers visitors the chance to step back in time aboard beautifully restored carriages, enjoy steam-hauled travel through ancient woodlands and rugged mountain passes, and explore historic stations and towns along the route.

The summer season is now in full steam, with autumn excursions offering the added bonus of changing foliage, quieter carriages, and even more wildlife along the way.

The line also features accessible services, dog-friendly carriages, and station cafés stocked with local produce.

For more information or to book tickets, visit: www.festrail.co.uk

One of Ffestiniog Railway’s most historic locomotives, will be in steam at The Greatest Gathering, hosted by Alstom in Derby from Friday 1^st to Sunday 3^rd August.

The event will feature Prince hauling passenger trains on a demonstration line using two original Ffestiniog Railway carriages.

This special appearance comes at a significant moment in Prince’s long and distinguished career. On 2^nd August, it will be exactly 70 years since the locomotive first returned to steam in preservation.

The following day marks 70 years since it hauled its first passenger train on the revived Ffestiniog Railway in 1955.

Originally built in 1863, Prince is one of the oldest narrow-gauge steam locomotives still in operation anywhere in the world.

When the Ffestiniog Railway closed in 1946, Prince was left mid-overhaul. For the reopening in 1955, it was chosen as the first locomotive to be restored, using a boiler that had been delivered before the closure.

It became the cornerstone of early revival efforts, working regular passenger services through the pioneering preservation years.

Still an active part of their fleet today, Prince recently underwent a full overhaul in preparation for the Railway 200 and Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Its upcoming visit to Derby allows visitors to see, hear and ride behind a locomotive that played a vital role in shaping the preservation movement in the UK.

Joining Prince on the demonstration line will be Trangkil No.4, built in 1971 for use on a sugar plantation in Indonesia and now based at the Statfold Barn Railway.

The Greatest Gathering is a unique event, which brings together remarkable locomotives and celebrates the legacy of industrial and narrow-gauge railways.

It is a fitting showcase for Prince, a locomotive that has inspired generations of railway enthusiasts for over a century and a half.

Set within the UNESCO World Heritage Site ‘Slate landscape of North Wales’, the Ffestiniog Railway is the world’s oldest narrow-gauge railway with almost 200 years of history, taking passengers on a 13½-mile journey from the harbour in Porthmadog to the slate-quarrying town of Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Historic trains climb over 700 feet from sea level into the mountains through tranquil pastures and magnificent forests, past lakes and waterfalls, round tight bends clinging to the side of the mountain or tunnelling through it.

For more information visit www.festrail.co.uk

On Saturday 5^th July a ceremony was held at Penrhyn station to formally unveil two plaques which marked the completion of the project for renovating the external side of the Penrhyn Station building, an accomplishment that won the National Railway Heritage Award for a Volunteer Project in 2024.

The project was originally undertaken due to rotting in a lot of the external timber cladding. Due to the Grade 2 Listing of the building, Listed Building officers were invited to the site before the project commenced so that it could be agreed what work would be acceptable and what was not.

Work to the building included fitted insulation and waterproofing to the walls which had to be propped up in places to renew the frame of the building. Plastic gutters were also replaced with cast iron at the rear and chimneys were rebuilt where necessary.

The volunteers involved in the project were invited to the ceremony plus a guest if they wished, this included Paul Scarisbrick, a retired Architect, who volunteered helping specify what was required to gain Listed Building approval. Other attendees included representatives from the NRHA, Network Rail, the sponsors of the award and a local councillor.

Representing the NRHA was Andy Savage, the Chairman and long-time FR volunteer; Robert Heywood and Gavin Johns, one of the two judges who judged the project back in July 2024.

Gavin had attended a tour of Boston Lodge with FFWHR General Manager; Paul Lewin on Friday, judging the Boston Lodge project as part of the Award process for 2025.

Meryl Roberts, the local Gwynedd County Councillor and Chair of Penrhyn Town Council also attended the ceremony.

The Ffestiniog Railway were represented by a number of staff and volunteers including Iain Wilkinson, Kate Knowles and Phil Hawkins.

The ceremony started with introductions by Alan Norton before speeches from Andy Savage, Gwyn Rees (Network Rail) and Meryl Roberts.

Following the speeches, the two plaques were unveiled by Sue and Tim Sharp, two of the regular volunteers on the project. The plaques are placed either side of the entrance door, through which volunteers go when they are staying in the hostel.

After this, attendees travelled in a reserved coach on the Mountain Spirit to Tan y Bwlch where there were opportunities to have a look at the current project of renovating Station House.

All in all, a very successful day and a fitting way to celebrate the renovation of Penrhyn Station.

The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways have cemented their place in heritage railway history with a spectacular four-day celebration marking the 70th anniversary of preserved passenger services on the Ffestiniog Railway.

Coinciding with the national Railway 200 campaign, the Railway 200 – FR Platinum Jubilee Weekend drew thousands of visitors to the stunning landscape of North Wales, showcasing more than two centuries of railway innovation and community spirit.

On Sunday, history was made with the headline event: the 200 Wheels on the Cob Cavalcade.

Twenty-five locomotives, many in steam, paraded across the iconic Cob embankment, cheered on by spectators and narrated by railway historians Tim Dunn and Anthony Coulls.

The celebratory moment culminated in Prince, the first engine in the Cavalcade, breaking through a ceremonial banner held by young local supporters.

The line-up of engines, spanning over 230 wheels in total, was a powerful visual tribute to 200 years of railway heritage.

Spanning four days, the spectacular event entertained both railway enthusiasts and first-time visitors with a packed programme of re-enactments, vintage rolling stock, historical locomotives and unforgettable photographic moments.

The event began with a poignant recreation of the very first preserved passenger service from 1955, complete with original carriages, chain-shunt manoeuvres and a special appearance by one of the few surviving volunteers from that pivotal day, Rob Smallman.

From the nostalgic to the groundbreaking, the event traced the evolution of the preserved railway through themed train services, heritage goods wagons, and a thrilling six-mile downhill gravity train ride running back from Dduallt.

Each day celebrated a chapter in the railway’s story  from the earliest preservation efforts to the engineering feats of the Deviation line and the enduring work of modern-day volunteers.

Set within the UNESCO World Heritage Site ‘Slate landscape of North Wales’, the Ffestiniog Railway is the world’s oldest narrow-gauge railway with almost 200 years of history, taking passengers on a 13½-mile journey from the harbour in Porthmadog to the slate-quarrying town of Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Historic trains climb over 700 feet from sea level into the mountains through tranquil pastures and magnificent forests, past lakes and waterfalls, round tight bends clinging to the side of the mountain or tunnelling through it.

The Welsh Highland Railway is the UK’s longest heritage railway and runs for 25 miles from Caernarfon, past the foot of Snowdon and the picture postcard village of Beddgelert, then through the stunning Aberglaslyn Pass and on to Porthmadog.

Visit: www.festrail.co.uk

During the recent Summer Solstice weekend, in the Northwestern corner of North Wales, the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways hosted one of the most highly anticipated narrow-gauge railway events of the year… the ‘Railway 200 – FR Platinum Jubilee Weekend’.

This memorable event spanned four days (19^th of June – 22^nd of June 2025), marking the 70^th Anniversary of passenger trains running in the ‘preservation’ era of the Ffestiniog Railway whilst also linking in with the national Railway 200 celebrations – the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway.

Thursday, 19^th of June 2025

The action kicked off on Thursday evening with a very fitting re-enactment of the first passenger train run which took place 23rd July 1955 as Mary Ann ran two return trips across the length of the Cob with carriage 23 & Van 12. There was no run-round facility at Boston Lodge back in 1955, so the train set back to Pen Cob and performed the ‘chain shunt’ to get the locomotive to the other end of the carriages.

Among those who were lucky enough to get a seat on one of these two special Simplex hauled trains was Rob Smallman, one of the very few surviving volunteers/staff from the running of that first train.

Friday, 20^th of June 2025

The second day of the event continued to focus on the earlier days of the preservation era as the railway pushed on to Tan y Bwlch. For those who were up bright and early, Upnor Castle, hauled the Early Bird train to Blaenau Ffestiniog – once a regular sight in the 1970s, closely followed by Britomart which set off with Vans 11 & 12 to mark 60 years since it arrived on the railway.

Memorable moments were scattered throughout the Friday with a particular highlight taking place at Harbour Station where three stalwarts of the early days – Mary Ann, Prince & Merddin Emrys gathered for an excellent photo opportunity.

The event organisers chose two appropriate vintage trains to represent this era – the first being the ‘Garraway’ set with Vans 11 & 12 and other carriages in the very fetching ‘Woolworths’ livery of green & cream. The second was the Flying Flea set which was used for the relief service and basically made up of whatever could be pressed into service the quickest: namely some bug boxes and a couple of vintage bogie carriages once they became available. Both of these sets ran shuttles to Minffordd / Tan y Bwlch with a variety of appropriate motive power including Prince or Merddin Emrys in their fetching new green liveries.

There would have been regular clearance trains to get the line up to scratch and reopened to Tan y Bwlch – and beyond, back in the day. These were recreated on Friday by Moelwyn, back in green and running between Minffordd and Dduallt with some empty wagons and Van 10. There were opportunities to compare and contrast with our modern-day Infrastructure Train, hauled by Harlech Castle with purpose-built vacuum-braked carriages and wagons in smart matching livery.

On the Welsh Highland Railway, the Penrhyn ladies, Linda & Blanche, took a Ladies Day Out special to Caernarfon whilst the morning ‘Aberglaslyn’ service was hauled by K1.

In the evening, Prince & Merddin Emrys hauled a non-stop special service from Harbour Station to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Regular corridor trains also ran to Blaenau throughout the day – with a variety of motive power and interesting double-headed combinations – culminating in the Sunset Special hauled by Taliesin. 

Boston Lodge & ‘The Top Yard Arms’

During the event weekend, Boston Lodge Engineering Works was a focal point of the action with numerous exhibits and stalls, locos under restoration, footplate rides and a chance to look at some of the changes that have taken place with thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Amongst the engines on display were Earl of Merioneth, Welsh Highland Heritage Railway’s Russell and Mountaineer whilst the Carriage Works played host to Kerr Stuart, the chassis of 2050, the Ashbury brake carriage and Spooners boat amongst others.

The newly restored Top Yard at Boston Lodge was the social hub of the event with award winning local brewery, Purple Moose, running the ‘Top Yard Bar’ and music throughout the evenings courtesy of ‘The Travelling Sessions’.

Saturday, 21^st of June 2025

The Saturday took things up a notch as the focus turned to the Deviation – a significant and historic undertaking, without which the Ffestiniog Railway would likely never have made it back to Blaenau Ffestiniog.

The action kicked off with the Early Bird service hauled by Taliesin… still hot from the night before! This was immediately followed by a heritage goods train hauled by Merddin Emrys which formed part of the railway’s nod to the Railway 200 celebrations… the wagons in this mammoth train came to a total of 200 wheels! The train was hauled up to Blaenau Ffestiniog and back to Dduallt, where the loco was shunted into the siding before it was “brakes off” and the wagons returned to Porthmadog by gravity alone. This proved particularly popular with photographers at Tan y Bwlch Station.

Once the gravity train has made its way back to Porthmadog, eyes began to turn to the spiral at Dduallt, which would play host to another series of memorable highlights in the afternoon.

Visitors made their way to this iconic station via a special train of bug boxes, hauled by Palmerston. Linda and Blanche arrived with a train from Blaenau Ffestiniog and locked into the Bay Platform, allowing Prince to arrive with a train of wagons representing the works trains that ran while the Deviation was being built. What followed was a series of run pasts which allowed visitors the opportunity to see trains passing ‘over and under’ Rhoslyn Bridge – a sight not seen regularly since the early 1980s.

Once Prince had headed off towards Blaenau Ffestiniog, Merddin Emrys arrived with another train from Porthmadog with both trains departing in their respective directions at the same time – allowing a rare opportunity for visitors to see, or ride on, passenger trains passing ‘over and under’ the bridge.

Sunday, 22^nd of June 2025

It’s safe to say the best was most certainly left until last as Sunday played host to the highly anticipated ‘200 Wheels on the Cob’ cavalcade.

This was a historic moment as the entire Ffestiniog Railway & Welsh Highland Railway fleet, whether they were ‘in steam’ or not, made their way onto the famous Cob Embankment.

The excitement in Boston Lodge was palpable during the morning as preparations for the Cavalcade ramped up.

The majority of the locomotives were assembled at Minffordd Station in the correct order, the Welsh Highland engines assembling at Boston Lodge. This was done both to make best use of the space at Boston Lodge and to provide a run past for those viewing from Boston Lodge. Locomotives appeared in the order they entered service on in the preservation era. The Cavalcade was operated in an Operating Possession of the line with a specific operating method implemented to ensure the safe delivery of the cavalcade.

Those lucky enough to be in the Cavalcade viewing area at the end of the Carriage Shed were treated to commentary from Tim Dunn and Anthony Coulls who talked visitors through a short history of each engine as they rounded Boston Lodge curve onto the Cob.

Once all engines had crossed the Cob on their first run and had arrived at Porthmadog Harbour Station, a small ceremony took place whereby the first engine in the Cavalcade; Prince, drove through a banner to officially start the Cavalcade.

The ceremony was attended by MP Liz Saville Roberts and Lord Richard Faulkner who were joined by a group of young local railway supporters who were delighted to be given the responsibility of holding up the ceremonial banner.

What followed was a truly spectacular site as all 25 steam engines lined up along the Cob. This extraordinary Cavalcade amounted to 234 wheels, a very fitting nod to the national Railway 200 celebrations.

It’s safe to say that this highly anticipated narrow-gauge event certainly lived up to the hype.

The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways (FFWHR) have recently been awarded for ‘Best Attraction’ in Wales for 2025 by Visit Wales. The Railway is also celebrating the completion of a £5m project thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Building on the inscription of The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales World Heritage Site, of which the railway is part, the Heritage Fund project set out to refresh this anchor attraction in North Wales, which celebrates its 70^th anniversary this summer. The project included major works to revive the historic buildings at the railways works at Boston Lodge. These are the oldest railway works in the world still fulfilling their original function and have built locomotives in the 19^th, 20^th and 21^st centuries.

A multi-faceted project, the Heritage Fund support enabled the railway to completely refresh the way it is interpreted for the 200,000 visitors that come in to contact with the railway each year.

Skills training featured strongly in the program, for current employees, volunteers and the local community alike. An outreach program has given the opportunity for work experience to over 200 young people and more than 250 young people have been engaged with a schools’ programme.

Nearly 600 individual volunteers have contributed their time to the project, amassing almost 40k hours and more than 100 of those volunteers are new to the railway. Overall volunteer contribution over the whole of the FFWHR is more than 90k hours per year.

Building work with a value of £3.3m has been led by local contractors using local subcontractors and only bringing in specialists from elsewhere when local contractors were not available.

Celebrations took place on the 1^st of May when the completion of the project was marked by a visit from the Heritage Fund team and leaders from the heritage and tourism industries.

Andrew White, Director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales said:

Paul Lewin, Director and General Manager of Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways commented:

For those who wish to find out more, a new visitor experience in the shape of a behind the scenes, guided tour of Boston Lodge is now available.

The three-hour tour, with its professionally trained hosts, brings visitors in to contact with the railway, its history and operations in a new way.

The guided tours along with train tickets can be booked online at www.festrail.co.uk

The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways won the ‘Best Attraction’ prize at the recent National Tourism Awards for Wales.

The highly anticipated National Tourism Awards for Wales took place on the 27th of March at Venue Cymru in Llandudno. Hosted by Visit Wales, the event celebrated the best of the tourism industry throughout the country.

In November 2024, the railway was awarded the ‘Go Attraction of the Year’ award at the Regional Go North Wales Tourism Awards and as a result, qualified for these National Wales Awards.

The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways’ General Manager, Paul Lewin and Stephen Greig, the railway’s Visitor Experience Manager, attended the awards ceremony in March and were both delighted to pick up the prestigious prize.

Paul Lewin said:

Stephen Greig said:

Having received the award, the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways have now turned their attention to the start of a new season. Their first passenger trains of the new season set off on Saturday, 29th of March and they will now hope for a busy 2025!

The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways (FFWHR) are now offering an exciting new range of ‘Have a Go’ workshops, where participants can learn a variety of different skills including Painting, Signwriting and Welding. 

If you are 16 or older and looking to add to your CV with some valuable hands-on skills training this Autumn, then why not get involved. 

These free workshops will be hosted on various dates in October and November, with future dates set to be confirmed soon. They will provide an opportunity for participants to learn and practice skills such as: Lathe Work, Welding, Hot Riveting, Carriage Painting and Signwriting as well as an introduction to Stripping down a Locomotive. 

The FFWHR Boston Lodge Project team’s Iain Wilkinson, said:

Workshops are provided free of charge thanks to the Interpretation & Boston Lodge Project, made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Ffestiniog Railway Society and FFWHR Trust. 

Please note: Some restrictions apply – due to the nature of the ground surface and activities of a working environment. 

In 1873, when the curly roof van at Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways (FfWHR) was originally built, a daughter would never have been allowed to follow in her father’s footsteps and work at a carriage works – let alone been allowed to paint it!

However, times have changed and signwriters Glenn Williams and his daughter Sarah have lined the curly roof van together, this year.

Glenn joined the FfWHR carriage works in 2000 on a Lottery funded apprenticeship to learn from craftsmen at the Boston Lodge Works.

Sarah, who joined the railway during ‘Young Volunteers Week’ in 2016, added: 

In 2021, Sarah joined the staff in the Boston Lodge Carriage Works and is currently lining and putting gold leaf on ‘19’ alone for the first time. It’s the same carriage Glen worked on solo during its last refurb in 2007.

Glen added:

Film Cameras were set up on the platform, not an unusual sight at The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways’ Harbour Station but this time they weren’t focused on the loco, Merddyn Emrys, but on two familiar famous faces walking up the platform in stewards’ uniforms.

Earlier in the season we welcomed S4C’s Iaith ar Daith (Language on Tour) film crew to the Railway as well as the two stars of an episode for the new season, Welsh comedian and presenter Tudur Owen and Spanish and Welsh Comedian, Ignacio Lopez.

Each episode in the popular TV series follows a Welsh first language celebrity, this time Tudur and a non-Welsh speaking celebrity as they try to ‘Dysgu Cymraeg’ (learn Welsh) in the programme.

For this episode Ignacio, a regular on shows such as ‘Live at the Apollo’ and ‘Have I got News for You’, joined Tudur to spend a day stewarding on the Mountain Spirit Service, from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog.

The pair were in the capable hands of staff member 18-year-old Mackenzie Diggons, in his second season on the staff at the Railway. Mackenzie, from nearby Criccieth is first language Welsh and works and volunteers at the railway part time while studying engineering.

The celebrities were tasked with working with Mackenzie and speaking to passengers in Welsh, as they served customers from the trolley service in the first class pullman carriage.

Mackenzie said:

This episode has been aired on S4C on 29^th September at 20:00 and is available on the S4C Clic app on catch up.

It’s a big weekend for the ‘Kalahari’ team at Dinas as the newly restored NG15- 134 joins in the Welsh Highland Railway’s Super-Power event for the first time. While K1, the original FfWHR Garratt travels the line the NG15 –134 is scheduled to make her debut in steam at Dinas. The restoration work has spanned 25 years.

Adrian Strachan spoke to us ahead of the event:

“It was a momentous day on Wednesday this week when 134 moved under its own steam at Dinas for the first time in over 30 years. All the volunteers and staff involved in the rebuild can be very proud that the loco looks so good and performed very well during the first test moves. We are looking forward to showing off the fruits of our efforts at the Superpower weekend before further trials and running-in will take place on the railway”

Tell us about the origins of the loco?

“The class of NG15 locos were built in several batches, designed by Henschel in Germany to requirements from German South-West Africa (now Namibia) at the time, where there was a very long line that ran from the coast up to the mines. It was called the Otavi Railway and this loco worked there with the rest of the class. The locos were then all moved to South Africa in the 1960’s when the Otavi line was regauged to the wider Cape gauge. The locos were almost as powerful as the NGG16 Garratts working there and capable of working at higher speeds, achieving higher mileages per day and moving more goods”

How did you get involved?

“When I first used to drive on the Railway I would pass by this engine twice an hour, more or less, while driving the Garratt loco’s! I was always a fan of the NG15 as were many of the volunteers at the time. We would see it rusting in the siding and hoped it would run one day.

“Different groups had tried to progress the renovation but it was often in the shadow of rebuilding the Welsh Highland Railway through to Porthmadog and the FRCo’s NGG16 loco policy for the WHR.

“Around three years ago I was approached to take over the renovations, as the previous project leader had sadly passed away. I said that I was interested but as someone who likes to get things done, I didn’t want this to be a long-term project for me so I am really pleased at where we are now just three years later.

“This period has seen enormous commitment and effort from the volunteers and there has been good support from staff at the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways who also do skilled work on the project for us. This is paid for by the Welsh Highland Society.”

Festiniog Railway Company

Sefydlwyd 23 Mai 1832 gan Ddeddf Seneddol / Established 23rd May 1832 by Act of Parliament

“For myself, this is the interesting phase as we have made a number of modifications and tried to overhaul the loco to the highest standard we can. Now we are going to see if it can perform on the Welsh Highland just as well as the Garratts and haul the regular trains alongside them”

Have there been any alterations needed to make it suitable for WHR?

“Strictly speaking the Loco could run as it was in South Africa, as we don’t have any curves less than 50 meters on the WHR main line. The loco has 3 fixed driving axles in the frame as does the Garratt. There are some sharper curves in the Boston Lodge Carriage Shed so we have made some modifications to meet those requirements.

“There are some other changes we have made to improve the locos performance particularly as on the WHR it will run much of its time backwards uphill, differently to Africa where the class mainly ran in the forward direction, so we have centered the dome in the boiler whereas it was historically at the front of the boiler. Moving the dome gives us an inch and half of additional water margin for the fireman to mortgage on a return journey up the steep hill in Beddgelert Forest”

“We have also improved the safety of the cab design by extending the floor to remove the fallplate in the original design, enclosing the space with doors, and also modified certain key controls so they operate in the same manner as our NGG16 Garratts.

“After such a long project we hope the NG15 -134 delights everyone who gets to travel behind her on the railway in the future.”

Media Gallery photos here

As Ffestiniog Travel marks 50 years as a leading rail holiday specialist the company remembers a remarkable lady who had an idea which, by chance became the start of a business which has organised holidays for thousands of rail enthusiasts over the last half century.

Mair Watson was originally recruited to work at the Ffestiniog Railway. Founder and Director of Ffestiniog Travel, Alan Heywood, explained how the overseas railway travel company which now employs 8 staff and runs more than 40 tours a year, began.

Alan, who is now retired but works on a voluntary basis, started as traffic manager at the Ffestiniog Railway in 1969 and explained not very long afterwards they were looking for somebody who could help them in the booking office.

“It was all of course done manually in those days.” he said.

Mair, had been working at Butlins before she joined as the booking clerk at Harbour Station. Alan said:

“One of the things we did apart from selling tickets for the FR was to sell British Rail tickets.

“This arrangement had been in existence since the mid-sixties after the Dr Beeching cuts. “British Rail wanted to de-staff the stations along the line but not to close the railway.

“This was a bit of a political hot potato. People perceived it as wanting to close the Cambrian line but what British Rail wanted to do was to save money and close the booking offices.

“So, they asked the Ffestiniog Railway to take over as a type of clearing house for ticketing. Mair and I inherited this task, together with the late Alan Skellern”.

Alan added:

“In a way Ffestiniog Travel’s owes its very existence to something Mair said.

“We were selling domestic rail tickets for the UK, but people who were on holiday here particularly from the Netherlands and we have no idea why the Netherlands would come to the booking office and ask for travel to get home.”

“Mair was able to get them as far as the ferry port at Harwich but no further.

“She came to me and said can we apply for a licence to sell the Sealink ferries and continental rail?

“I said well, we can ask…and we did!”

At the time British Rail were dubious about the request and felt there wasn’t enough business to be had in a rural area such as Porthmadog, as setting up an international rail bureau would mean training a team and new equipment and systems.

Alan wasn’t to be defeated and persuaded them they could do it.

“I had at the back of my mind that the Ffestiniog Railway Society had about 5 thousand members and they would undoubtedly support us when it came to booking tickets at continental railways as railway enthusiasts, then we weren’t just relying on local people.”

“We should pay tribute to Mair as in a manner of speaking it was the start of where we are now.”

Mair was with the company until she retired and worked very closely with Alan and built up a huge amount of experience selling continental rail journeys and running the ticket office.

Alan remembers Mair, who passed away in 2009 with affection.

“We nick named her Auntie Mair as I was 29 when we started working together and she was older than all of us and in her 30s.”

Granddaughter, Leah Watson is now the manager of the FfWHR’s Spooners bar and restaurant. She remembers Mair, her nan or ‘nain’ would put her and her brother and sister on the train in the summer holidays and send them up to Blaenau Ffestiniog with money for a Mars bar and drink.

Leah said:

“Nain would be waiting for us on the platform when we got back and check with the guard we had been good!”

Mair was also a kind and thoughtful colleague and friend to all who knew her. Whenever help was needed, somebody to work late or cover a Saturday duty, or even babysit for colleagues with young families, Mair was first to volunteer.

Beddgelert Station Mistress, Sarah Buchanan remembers ‘Auntie Mair’ handing out hydration drinks to the loco crew in the guards’ room on hot days and insisting they drank it all, however nasty it tasted.

“She was a whizz with numbers and knew all of the jobs in the booking office inside out. She was able to work out in moments why figures weren’t adding up when anyone else would have been pouring over them for ages.”

Although Ffestiniog Travel’s existence is thanks to Mair she wasn’t one to travel for work and turned down the offer to run tours, preferring to run the ship or the railway back at base.

This October, there is a celebration tour to the same destination in Switzerland as the original tour in 1974.

Alan added:

“We are taking a group out to Switzerland which was our first destination. Not quite the original itinerary with no Eurostar in those days! I am looking forward to leading the very special celebration tour. “

Maria Cook is the General Manager of Ffestiniog Travel. She said:

“Over the years we have earned a reputation that is second to none. The Team work hard to keep it, ensuring that customers receive the highest level of customer satisfaction and a quality product with every booking.

“As a result, growth has been an organic process and we have managed to stay true to our roots as a small specialist operator specialising in rail holidays.

“We are extremely proud to boast that we have around 60% repeat business, which is a rarity in the travel industry. However, we are victims of our own success as we must deliver a tour programme every year that includes something new for our regulars. At the last count, the total number of countries visited was over 60!

“Ffestiniog Travel has developed into a company that offers escorted and tailor-made holidays in the UK, Europe and worldwide destinations, specialist private group tours plus rail and flight tickets. We have an average annual turnover of £2.5M and have donated £1.3M to the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways to date.

“Ffestiniog Travel has had to evolve over the years to survive but one fundamental area of the business has always been the European Ticketing department, Auntie Mair’s legacy!”

You can find out more about taking your own railway adventures abroad with Ffestiniog Travel Rail Holidays of the world here.

Oliver Bennett, Stephen Greig and Chris Harrison first became involved with the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways (F&WHR), as young volunteers in 1999.

The trio have now each clocked up 25 years working and volunteering on the railway.

Stephen, Chris and Ollie joined as members of ‘Young Volunteers Week’ (known then as “Kids’ Week”) in their early teens.

On the exact anniversary, 4th August 2024, the three teamed up to run the 10:40 ‘Mountain Spirit’ departure from Harbour Station.

Stephen as Guard, Chris as a volunteer Driver, with Oliver as On-Train Steward.

Stephen, who is now the F&WHR Visitor Experience Manager, said:

“The team working on the then “Kids’ Week” were passionate about making the railway as inclusive and open as possible to volunteers.

“Group leader Eileen Clayton MBE, encouraged and engaged people at a level that was suitable and safe for them, ensuring that volunteering on the railway was made possible for everyone once they were too old for children’s activities – matching peoples’ skill sets and levels of ability to volunteering roles.”

Stephen added:

“It is especially important to not only say just how much our volunteers do for the railway, but the other way around as well. The railway has taught all three of us many skills, life lessons and experiences.

“It is thanks to these skills that Oliver and I have had the opportunity to work here full time. Chris was also a paid staff member but moved on to drive for other railway companies – again, using the skills that he learnt on the F&WHR.”

Oliver, now F&WHR On Train Services Supervisor, added:

“I did not expect, when I started all those years ago, to work my way up to a senior position. It is fun working here and busy – and one thing about it, you make lifelong friendships.”

Chris Harrison, who drives for mainline TOC ‘Great Western Railway’ in his day job, added:

“The best thing about being here, as well as the friends, has been qualifying as a driver – that was what I wanted to do when I first visited the railway.”

In fact, back in 2007, Chris became the railway’s then youngest qualified steam loco driver.

He added:

“It is really a cool thing to do and very nostalgic to get together with Ollie and Stephen to run the train today. I am looking forward now to clocking up 30 years as a volunteer!”

Also marking a milestone in the same week is Guard, Matt Hall.

Matt joined at just under 14 years old in 2004, he was too young to take part properly in the Young Person’s volunteer week, so had to bring his mum along.

Undeterred, he has gone on to be a key member of the volunteering staff!

Festiniog Railway Company, Sefydlwyd 23 Mai 1832 gan Ddeddf Seneddol / Established 23rd May 1832 by Act of Parliament

Matt said:

“Having Linda haul ‘The Quarryman’ on my 20th anniversary was also nostalgically appropriate, as her fellow Penrhyn Lady ‘Blanche’ hauled the Induction Train on my first Kids’ Week twenty years ago as well!

“Passengers on ‘The Quarryman’ really added to the occasion – as I walked through the train checking tickets each carriage applauded once they learnt the significance of the day to me. “Not going to lie, it did feel a bit emotional at this point. A timely reminder of why everyone here does what they do.”

General Manager of the F&WHR, Paul Lewin said: “Congratulations to Stephen, Oliver, Chris and Matt, they are a real asset to our railway. I hope the 2024 cohort from ‘Young Volunteers Week’ follow in their footsteps.

“Volunteering is how I began my career many years ago. I would encourage anyone thinking about volunteering here, to give it a go and become part of something special.”

There’s information about ‘Young Volunteers’ week and other ways to volunteer on the Ffestiniog Railway Society’s website here.

For further information visit the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways Volunteering page. Photos available here

The Ffestioniog & Welsh Highland Railways (FfWHR) have welcomed summer this month and a new platform ice cream stand with their very own designer flavour!

The FfWHR is the only place in the UK where you can buy Steam Coal Ice-cream!

Catering Manager Elwyn Edwards said the idea just came to him as he wanted something unique to the FfWHR which was also made in Wales:

“It is really important for us to serve local produce here at our catering outlets and choosing a Welsh Ice cream maker was top of my list.

“Marios were happy to cater for my idea of steaming in with a brand-new product!

“It is actually a very tasty vanilla and something a bit different which will hopefully raise a smile from our passengers when they come to our new ice cream stand!”

Customers can also enjoy mint choc chip, chocolate, strawberry, salted caramel and a vegan option of red cherry sorbet.

Mario’s Jayne Burden said:

“When we were asked to make something in fitting with the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways we jumped at the opportunity to adapt our luxury Welsh Ice Cream to fit the bill!”

The ice cream has already been selling well and the locomotive crew certainly approve! Ends

For further information please contact lraymond@ffwhr.com

Feature image: Fireman Caleb Lovegrove samples the new Steam Coal Ice-cream.

Earlier this month (Friday, 12th of July) the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways (FfWHR) were delighted to welcome the whole of Ysgol Maenofferen infants and junior school to the station in Blaenau Ffestiniog for a train journey down to Tan-y-Bwlch Station. The trip was organised as a big ‘Thank you’ for the local school’s part in the naming ceremony of the FFWHR’s newest double Fairlie, ‘James Spooner’, last autumn, where the school choir sang for invited guests despite a very wet day!

The FfWHR’s General Manager Paul Lewin, said:

“Having Ysgol Maenofferen take part in our event made it a very special occasion and we wanted to show our gratitude.”

Over one hundred happy faces waved from the train as it left Blaenau Ffestiniog, behind loco, ‘Blanche’ for a picnic lunch at Tan-y- Bwlch station.

Teacher Mrs Jones said:

“The journey went far too quickly, we were singing all the way in our carriage.”

Headteacher Aled Williams, added:

“The children have been very excited about the trip and a massive thank you to the FfWHR for making it possible. It is good to be part of event and activities on the Railway.”

Pupil, Mason Fretwell said he learns a lot about the railway from books and from the Railway’s interpretation boards:

“I saw three other trains this morning, Lyd, Harlech Castell at Ddualt and Merddin Emrys. It has been a great day.”

A vote of confidence also came from year 5 girls, Sara, Megan and Beca who said the school trip had been, “great and amazing!”

Families in Blaenau Ffestiniog and surrounding area will also have the chance to enjoy a train ride to Tan-y-Bwlch, as well as footplate rides, at the next community fun day on July 28th.

UK-born and US-based melodic and progressive house sensation Tom Marsh, known as Marsh. chose the historic Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways (FfWHR) for a fully filmed DJ set to launch his new single.

The epic set, filmed by Marsh’s friend and long-standing collaborator, Sam, in May, is exceptionally cinematic and showcases breathtaking views of the Welsh countryside. 

This outing on the ‘Snowdonia Star’ service was particularly special for Marsh, as his parents, Andrew and Jacqui, had previously volunteered and worked for the Ffestiniog Railway.

“I have been coming here to the railway for years – my dad volunteered here in the 1970s when they were laying track in the mountains to reroute the railway on the line up to Blaenau Ffestiniog,” said Marsh.

“My new single ‘Floodlights’, on the Anjunadeep label, evokes images of light piercing through dark, foggy forests. I first debuted the track in my Kew Gardens mix and it quickly became the most replayed moment of the set!

“The idea started with an ambient, fuzzy chord progression. Then I began jamming with the iconic DX7 Solid Bass patch (courtesy of Myon) and quickly found the bass riff.

“Next came the vocals. I fell in love with the angelic, choral vibes, which added a special hook to the record! It all came together quickly and has been a joy to feature in my recent sets.”

Since the release of his 2023 album, ‘Endless,’ Marsh has soared to the forefront of the melodic and progressive house scene. The album reached #1 on Beatport’s Chart and the artist embarked on a 52-date world tour, selling over 35,000 tickets.

Marsh recently played sold-out shows at London’s HERE at Outernet and New Century Hall in Manchester, with festival performances at EDC Las Vegas and Cercle’s iconic festival at the Air France Museum in Paris in front of 25,000 people. 

This September, Marsh will take his hybrid show ARIA, featuring vocalists and long-term collaborators Jodie Knight and Leo Wood, to the US with performances at iconic venues such as LA’s Fonda Theatre, Chicago’s Concord Music Hall, and New York’s Webster Hall.

Summer festival highlights include Anjunadeep Open Air Seattle, a fully filmed live performance, Anjunadeep Explorations, Electric Forest and Deep Tropics. Marsh’s new “Floodlights” single is now out on Anjunadeep. 

Head over to Marsh Musician’s YouTube channel to watch the whole set on the railway. Anyone wishing to make the same journey can visit the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways’ website – www.festrail.co.uk – to find out more! 

Feature image: Marsh on the Snowdonia Star.

A group of Coleg Glynllifon students have recently been awarded certificates in recognition of their work experience on the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways.

Between the group, they have completed an outstanding 800 hours of work experience from last November to May this year.

The Railways’ work placement officer, Erfyl Williams said:

“It is our second year working with Coleg Glynllifon. It has been great to see the group’s confidence growing each week.

“They have been able to develop their social skills and team building as well as learning some practical line side and track work skills.

“All of these things helps prepare them for the world of work.”

Volunteering at Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways

Some may think the off-season means a quiet and restful period of relaxation here on our railways, but it’s quite the opposite! Instead, this signals the start of our extensive Winter Works programme, where Staff and Volunteers will work side by side to complete a large and varying list of tasks including… Lineside Clearance, Carriage Painting & Woodworking, Locomotive Restoration and much more!

There’s a whole host of reasons why Volunteers come over to be part of the wider Ffestiniog family during the Winter months… a sense of belonging, community and wellbeing are among the most commonly cited. It’s also a great opportunity to put your existing experience to good use or pick up some brand new skills!

There’s something special and unique about playing a part of the collective effort to get the railway we all love in tip-top shape for the start of a new season.

If this sounds of interest, take a look at the panels below, which provide an overview of when we are in need of help from our Volunteers over the coming months. Once you’ve noted some dates you would like to come over and help, send us an email at volunteer@ffwhr.com  

We will then get back to you with further information… Let the off-season work commence!

Visit: www.festrail.co.uk

The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways (FfWHR) welcomed Bob Smith, an experienced pattern maker, to its Boston Lodge Works as a volunteer in his early 70s after a career in engineering in Leicester at Rover Cars.

Bob had made the move to Penrhydeudraeth, North Wales with his wife Lesley to retire but word of his skill set soon reached the nearby FfWHR. 

“Heavy work was becoming of a bit of challenge,” said Bob, now 81 and still an active member of the Railway community, “…so at 76 I was paired up with Adam, a lad of 23.”

Adam Livingstone had just completed an apprenticeship in woodwork and was employed at Boston Lodge in the Carriage Works, when Bob arrived.

Bob said,

“Now I could see Adam didn’t suffer fools! But when we began working together, he could see I knew my stuff and we got on like a house on fire.

“We didn’t have a cross word in our years working together and I was able to pass on my skills too. 

“Pattern making involves wood turning and sand casting to make a pattern to go to the foundry to turn out engineering parts.

“There was a lot for Adam to get his head around, like making patterns in contraction and taper, getting the angles right!”

Adam Livingston now runs his own business, Livingston Joinery, and is a contractor for FfWHR.

27-year-old Adam said:

“I had completed my apprenticeship and then went on to learn pattern making from Bob, those skills have transferred into skills I now use in my business.”

“We already had the basics of hand tooling from the FfWHR apprenticeship and the concept of pattern making came when Bob joined as a volunteer. 

“Having different generations working together is something the FfWHR does well, especially joining at Kids week just like I did.

“I was always surprised by the number of volunteers that come in later in life like Bob, who having retired, now want to carry on teaching people and passing on their skills as well as learning themselves. 

“I was the last one on my college course. Without the Railway to keep skills alive, trades like bench joinery will be lost with most people now working on site not on traditional bench work.”

Bob said he is happy to retire now and enjoys relaxing in Spooners at the FfWHR Harbour Station. After finishing his apprenticeship at 21 and making patterns until April 2023, he clocked up over 50 years in the trade.

His volunteering is a legacy contribution to the skills at the world leading Boston Lodge Works. 

Caption: Adam Kingston and Bob Smith reminisce about making a complex pattern for a Kerr Stuart loco fuel pump.

For further information visit the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways Volunteering page.

A brand-new official MONOPOLY: Eryri Edition – featuring the great and good of Eryri, including the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways – has been launched.

The game sees bespoke property spaces and cards.

The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways feature on the cover of the box, the montage in the middle of the board, a mention in one of the ‘Chance’ cards, whilst also having their own tile on the game itself, which hits the shops Tuesday, 21st of March 2024.

Winning Moves UK – an official MONOPOLY maker – has produced the brand-new MONOPOLY: Eryri Edition board game, under license from Hasbro, a leading toy and game company. Winning Moves UK makes MONOPOLY editions for places all over the world, including high-profile popular tourist places, such as Palm Beach, Dubai and The Hamptons.

When news of the game was announced last year, the public was invited to suggest landmarks and organisations to be featured in the game. Landing on ‘Mayfair,’ the game’s top-ranking space, is Yr Wyddfa, the highest mountain in Wales and England, and a tourist magnet for North Wales, attracting millions of visitors each year.

At the other end of the board, ‘Old Kent Road’ – the game’s most affordable square – is Ty Hyll, on account of it being a very high-profile historic landmark according to Welsh legend (reputedly dating back to the 15th century). Its English meaning is: ‘The Ugly House.’

In between are leading Eryri landmarks and organisations including Portmeirion Village, Harlech Castle (featuring in a set of three different castles) and the world’s smallest house. In all, 30+ Eryri landmarks and organisations feature in the game.

“The response from the public to MONOPOLY: Eryri Edition has been overwhelming,” says Yasmin East, Custom Games Executive at Winning Moves UK. “A very big thank you to everyone who sent in nominations and congratulations to everyone featured in the game.”

In addition to the bespoke squares, all of the tokens are customised, replacing the traditional MONOPOLY counters with: a Carneddau pony, a campervan, a sleeping dragon, hiking boots, a castle tower, and a train car. The Chance and Community Chest cards are bespoke as well. One card says, ‘You have won second prize in a Sheepdog trialling contest,’ replacing the ‘beauty contest’ card from the classic MONOPOLY original. Whilst another penalises players, saying: ‘You’ve been caught wild camping in the National Park!’

The MONOPOLY: Eryri Edition is available to purchase at the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways’ retail and online stores, Waterstones, Yesteryear Toy Shop and extensively online, including at Booghe.co.uk and Amazon.co.uk

Many locals may have fond memories of the Ffestiniog Railway’s famous beer trains, which until 1996 were the only place to get a drink when Dwyfor’s pubs were still closed on a Sunday. Others will have treasured family memories of visiting the newly revived railway during summer holidays. People in Blaenau Ffestiniog might have witnessed the first train arriving back in 1982…

All of these stories are invaluable pieces of the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways past. As part of the National Lottery Heritage Fund Interpretation & Boston Lodge Project there is a fantastic opportunity for people to tell their stories. This ongoing project is an ambitious £5.2 million endeavour that will tell the story of the railway and it’s 200-year history to thousands of visitors. The project will involve more people in the railway and help those people to develop skills. Historic buildings will be rescued, and some new buildings created. Boston Lodge Works is the oldest continuously operating engineering works in the world. Through this ambitious and exciting project, we will tell the story of the railway and so help thousands of visitors understand the area’s pioneering spirit and global impact and explain how the industry has shaped the landscape and community over 200 years.

General Manager, Paul Lewin, commented:

“We can feel our history slipping through our fingers – we must act now to save that history.”

Your stories must be recorded now before they’re lost forever.

Upcoming tours of Boston Lodge Works (the engineering works of the railway) mean that now is the chance to weave your stories with the well-established history of the railway to bring the past to life for visitors and the local community.

The collection of these stories forms just a small part of the project, which focuses on improving how the history of the railway is told, as well as building works at Boston Lodge.

If you’re interested in telling your story, please contact the Interpretation Team at interpretation@ffwhr.com. Interviews can be conducted in-person or remotely. These will then be kept in the Company archives, one of the oldest railway archives in the world.

Of course, there are always opportunities for those who wish to get involved with the project more broadly. Opportunities include attending workshops, behind the scenes tours, or even volunteering! More details can be found on the project website: nlhfproject.festrail.co.uk.

Two Welsh railways are collaborating on a special hire agreement for the 1864-built steam locomotive ‘Palmerston’.

The Vale of Rheidol Railway (VoR) at Aberystwyth has agreed to display and then overhaul ‘Palmerston’ for the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways (Ff&WHR), based at Porthmadog. Both railways are members of the ‘Great Little Trains of Wales’ consortium.

‘Palmerston’ will arrive in Ceredigion in late February and will spend the first half of the 2024 season on static display in the VoR’s brand new Museum, Display and Events building at Aberystwyth station.

The locomotive will then enter the VoR workshops in July for work to return it to traffic in time to feature in steam as the star guest at the line’s ‘Rheidol Steam Festival’ event from August 24-26, when it will be hauling trains to Devil’s Bridge.

‘Palmerston’ is one of the original locomotives built for the Ffestiniog Railway, where it worked from the 1860s to the 1930s. During this time, it was hired to the VoR to help with additional traffic generated by the opening of a large Territorial Army camp at Lovesgrove in 1912-’13. It also helped to haul timber in the Rheidol valley to support the war effort.

‘Palmerston’ is the oldest surviving engine to have worked on the VoR, which will open its brand new museum on March 23.

The Ff&WHR will also be launching their own ‘behind the scenes’ tour at the line’s Boston Lodge Works later in the year.

Both railways have worked hard to create a new visitor experience, which means that passengers will have the opportunity to see first-hand and learn more about a wide collection of narrow gauge locomotives up close. Locomotives which are normally hidden away from public view will become accessible.

Llŷr ap Iolo, VoR managing director, said:

“We are very grateful to Paul Lewin and the team at the Ff&WHR for agreeing to the loan of ‘Palmerston’ for the 2024 season. We are excited to have it running on the Vale of Rheidol Railway at our event in August.

“It has been 10 years since its last visit to Aberystwyth, so it will be great to have it here again for all to experience once more.”

Paul Lewin, Ff&WHR general manager, said:

“The Ff&WHR are striving to bring our railway alive for our visitors in a new way. We have invested heavily in interpretation and conservation of the historic loco works at Boston Lodge.

“Rather than simply catching a fleeting glimpse of our locos and workshops, we will invite our visitors right in to the heart of the place. Similarly, the Rheidol team are making their impressive collection openly available for the first time.

“This is all great news for visitors and it makes so much sense for us to work together. For those looking to make the most of precious leisure time, a visit to Wales has never looked more appealing.

“As we prepare to celebrate our platinum jubilee, we can only begin to imagine how pleased our founders would be to see us working together, striving to continue to be the best place to see narrow gauge steam.”

Visitors to the VoR will be able to see ‘Palmerston’ on public display in the restored 1938 engine shed at Aberystwyth station.

This building has recently been transformed into a museum, display and events space as part of a larger project called ‘Wales to the World’, which is developing the terminus at Park Avenue into a Great Western-style station suitable for the modern tourist.

The building will also contain locomotives from the VoR’s collection, as well as engines from elsewhere. In July, ‘Palmerston’ will move into VoR’s workshops at Aberystwyth, which will allow work to be undertaken to return the locomotive to steam.

‘Palmerston’ will play a starring role in a three day ‘Rheidol Steam Festival’ event at the railway over the August bank holiday, alongside the home fleet of locomotives. The weekend will include an intensive timetable of trains, with plenty to see and do across all three days of the event.

Event organiser Phil Budd said:

“It will be an exciting weekend to be in the Rheidol valley, with plenty to enjoy. It will be great to see ‘Palmerston’ in steam, hauling trains alongside our resident locomotives. With the long summer evenings and fantastic Aberystwyth sunsets, it will be a brilliant time to visit Ceredigion”.

‘Palmerston’ will then return to Porthmadog in late September, in time to play a starring role in the Ff&WHR’s annual ‘Bygones Weekend’. This annual event celebrates the rich heritage of the Ffestiniog Railway, with historically accurate train formations and costumed characters.

Feature image: Steam locomotive ‘Palmerston’ which will be visiting the Vale of Rheidol Railway this year.

Vintage Ffestiniog experience is the description given by the Ffestiniog and the Welsh Highland Railway of their new rail journey service “The Victorian”

FFWHR tell Welsh Country their plans for the 2024 season.

“ ‘The Victorian’ service gives you a Vintage Ffestiniog experience, riding in some of our beautifully preserved heritage carriages in the original ornate livery of the Victorian era, hauled by a traditional Ffestiniog locomotive.  

Upon arrival at Harbour Station (Portghmadog), passengers will be greeted on the platform before taking their seats, ready for a leisurely mid-morning departure. Sit back and enjoy the journey as you set off from Harbour Station across the iconic Cob causeway.

Boston Lodge, our historic workshops, are situated at the other end of the Cob*, so look out to the right of the train for a glimpse into this amazing site that has seen locomotives built in three different centuries and is still building and repairing locomotives and carriages today.

We are grateful to grant funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to enable extensive work to preserve Boston Lodge whilst enhancing it for the future. 

The Vintage Ffestiniog experience continues through majestic forests as it steams its way up the Vale of Ffestiniog to the idyllic Tan-y-Bwlch station, set in the heart of the woodlands of the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park. 

During the hour interval break at Tan-y-Bwlch station, passengers can explore the picturesque woodland trails and enjoy a tasty treat from the Tearooms, as you admire the woodland birds flocking to the bird table! It’s also an opportunity to read some of our fascinating Interpretation boards, which provide an insight into our rich and varied history.

Following the interval break, the train will then make its way back down the valley to Porthmadog, where you’ll get another chance to admire the dramatic views! 

Our ‘The Victorian’ experience will run on select days throughout April and May, with tickets available to buy on our website or by calling our Booking Office: 01766 516024

Please note, further dates may be added in future subject to demand.

Once you’ve travelled on our ‘The Victorian’ service, make sure you pencil in a date in the diary to visit the Talyllyn Railways, who will be offering their very own ‘Slate Trail’ train experiences. The Ffestiniog and Talyllyn Railways are proud to be part of the UNESCO Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales as both were built to service the slate industry.”

Vintage Ffestiniog experience also gives the passenger the chance to experience the best of ‘Eryri’ (Snowdonia) with other steam services …

“Our trains steam through the heart of Eryri (Snowdonia National Park) offering a truly unique way to experience the splendours of this remarkable area of North Wales!

Picture yourself sat in one of our comfortable carriages, gazing out at the majestic mountains, glistening lakes, and spectacular coastlines, on board one of our comfortable carriages, being hauled by one of our historic heritage steam engines!

So whether your chosen service allows you to sightsee the historic Castle walled streets of Caernarfon, enjoy a riverside work in the picturesque village of Beddgelert or gaze up at the dramatic slate landscapes of Blaenau Ffestiniog… there’s something to suit everyone! 

While all this may seem a million miles away from city life… the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways are ideally placed in the North Western corner of Wales. There’s easy access to Caernarfon, where our Northern Terminus on the Welsh Highland Railway is located, just 15 minutes off the A55 North Wales Coast Expressway, making the Welsh Highland Railway only two hours away from much of the North West.

Our Gelert Explorer service departs at 1130 and returns at 1600 with pre-order picnic hampers available and 90 minutes to explore Beddgelert, making it an ideal trip for a day out in Snowdonia.

Our longer services such as the Snowdonia Star (departures from Caernarfon) and The Harbourmaster (departures from Porthmadog) give a full railway day out with time to explore the other end of the line, but back in time for a stroll and a nice meal to round off the day. 

For families, the popular Woodland Wanderer (departures from Porthmadog) is a brilliant options! It’s great for those with small children and Dogs as it offers an hour intermediate break at Tan-y-Bwlch station, providing an opportunity to explore the various woodland walks or enjoy a little something from the station tearooms while the kids let off steam in the play area!

If this sounds like your kind of thing, then head over to our website, browse through our various journey options, pick your favourite and book your ticket, it’s that simple!

Full details on all our 2024 services can be found on the ‘Train Services’ page on our website www.festrail.co.uk  and we have added a simple timetable to give more detail for each service.”

*Welsh Country has more about the Cob Toll House at www.welshcountry.co.uk/welsh-slate-and-porthmadogs-the-cob-toll-house/

The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways have been shortlisted for two prestigious awards at the upcoming HRA (Heritage Railway Association) 2024 Annual Awards.

New double Fairlie, James Spooner has been shortlisted for the Coiley Award for Steam Locomotive Engineering and Marketing Lead, Osian Hughes has been shortlisted for the HRA Award for Rising Stars.

The Coiley Award for Steam Locomotive Engineering is awarded to a HRA member organisation who has completed an outstanding engineering project in the overhaul, restoration, or preservation of a steam locomotive or self-propelled vehicle.

The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway’s newest double Fairlie, ‘James Spooner’ is the 5th new build loco built by Boston Lodge works since 1979. It was officially launched on the 20^th of October 2023 in a ceremony staged at Blaenau Ffestiniog station.

Since it was first announced in early 2016 that work to build a new double Fairlie would commence, the outstanding efforts of both staff and volunteers at Boston Lodge workshops along with significant financial contributions from supporters has resulted in what is one of the most significant engineering achievements in the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway’s recent history.

The newest locomotive pays homage to the original James Spooner of 1872 and several Victorian-era features have been incorporated in the design – including the iconic boiler-mounted bells, stovepipe chimneys, square sand boxes and an open cab – featured on the early double Fairlies.

The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway’s Marketing Lead, Osian Hughes, has also been shortlisted in the Rising Star category.

Since joining the company in 2020, it was clear Osian was going to make a significant contribution with his positive attitude and problem solving ability which has greatly aided the railway over the past three years as it has changed its business model. He has worked hard to learn about the company and the world of railways taking an active role in Great Little Trains of Wales and with the Wales on Rails project which connects GLTW with the community rail partnerships in Wales to encourage leisure rail travel into and around the country.

A fluent Welsh speaker, he has worked with the Welsh Language Commission to create a Welsh Language Development Plan for the Company so that our improvement in this area can be monitored. He recently organised an exhibit of loco and carriages at the National Eisteddfod, manned largely by Welsh speaking staff and volunteers to highlight the importance of the Welsh language to the company.

The winners will be announced at the 2024 HRA Awards in Brighton on the evening of Saturday, 10th February.

For further information please contact:

Chris Parry
Marketing Officer
Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways
Tel: 07774 109788
Email: cparry@ffwhr.com

On Friday October 20^th, the newly-built locomotive James Spooner was officially named at Blaenau Ffestiniog Station by Liz Saville Roberts MP in the presence of one hundred and fifty invited guests, including pupils from Ysgol Maenofferen and Ysgol y Moelwyn who entertained the assembled guests with their singing.

James Spooner was built at the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways’ Boston Lodge Works over a period of eight years, and is the latest in a long line of locomotives constructed at the works. Boston lodge is in the unique position of having built new locomotives in three different centuries.

James Spooner will now enter service on the Ffestiniog Railway and form a trio of Boston Lodge built Double Fairlie locomotives alongside Merddin Emrys (built 1879) and David Lloyd George (Built 1993).

 James Spooner – Background Information

The Ffestiniog Railway has always felt quite different from preserved railways. Often cited as being rather commercial it is not a preserved railway trying to recreate a certain era or scene. The company itself is still the original company founded in 1832 and looking forward to celebrating 200 years before too long. Brought back to life after nine years slumber in 1954 the focus then was on keeping the railway alive by operating as a tourist railway rather than preserving something. As time has passed the commercial strength of the railway has made it possible to focus on heritage alongside the day-to-day operations. Buildings and historic infrastructure have been saved as well as the mighty impressive collection of original rolling stock. In recent years locomotives once considered beyond saving are restored to service and long-lost items to needed to complete the collection recreated. Now the heritage of the line has become a key selling feature. Heritage and commercial operations are closely woven together and will become more so as a result of recent world heritage status granted to the slate industry of North Wales.  The requirement for a new locomotive for the core commercial operation has resulted an interesting new machine reflecting the heritage of the railway whilst intending to deliver reliable steam traction.

General manager Paul Lewin maps the story of the journey to the re-launch of No8 James Spooner:

In 1872 when James Spooner was originally built it provided an answer to a commercial problem, namely hauling heavy trains on the Ffestiniog Railway and back then avoiding the requirement to ‘double’ the railway. In 2023 as the railway continues to fight modern economic challenges James Spooner re-emerges as part of the answer with the ability to haul long trains and importantly presenting a striking image, for the modern day railway that thrives by entertaining visitors.

It is important to understand that Fairlie locos can readily be split in to power units and the superstructure. Over the years practically all of the power units have given service under all of the different superstructures. It is interesting to note that the creation of new power bogies is rarely greeted with the level of interest that the arrival of a new superstructure creates. The FR of 50’s through to the 70’s made the most of the residual life in the power units from the old days of the company prior to closure. By the 1980’s a number of those units were so far gone that there was no real option but to withdraw them from service completely. One such pair, worn out after decades of use, are present at the NRM under the superstructure that carries the name ‘Livingston Thompson’. By 1986 a brand new pair of bogies were created thanks to the generosity of a sponsor (Mike Schumann, now the president of the railway). These initially saw service under Merddin Emrys when there was much amazement at just how good newly built units were compared to the very tired units the railway had become accustomed to. This excitement was short lived due to a boiler problem with Merddin, more on which will be said later in this article.

Since that time new power units have been built for all the operational fleet including the set with piston valves that currently reside below David Lloyd George. This conversion was tried on single Fairlie Taliesin which had suffered cylinder problems. The final set of power units that originated in the old company times last saw service some ten years ago, were replaced and now sit beneath the superstructure of withdrawn locomotive ‘Earl of Merioneth’. They are worthy of a little further comment as they were partly overhauled ready for use with the Earl of Merioneth which was launched in 1979. With resources so limited back then time simply ran out and the engine was needed in traffic. The top end bogie had been beefed up in certain areas but in a rather unbalanced way which saw stronger rods and crossheads but not the axle boxes and horns which immediately became the limiting factor. With no time to complete similar modifications, the bottom end bogie was given a quick overhaul and pressed in to service. Each unit had slightly different valve gear which was rather unsatisfactory. Although improved a little over time some problems continued until their withdrawal. They are in poor condition and whilst they could be overhauled once more there comes a time when clean new material if preferable in units expected to perform in demanding service conditions.

Turning to the locomotive superstructures these are seen as the main part of the locomotive and of course carry the names with which we are all so familiar. Two locomotives made it to the new era of the Ffestiniog Railway in 1954. These were Merddin Emrys of 1879 and Livingston Thompson of 1885 by now carrying the more popular name of Taliesin. Taliesin worked in its largely original format until the late 60’s however its name was again changed to Earl of Merioneth, one of the titles bestowed upon the late Duke of Edinburgh. Merddin was fitted with new tanks in the mid-sixties. Low cost, simply fabricated and frankly ugly tanks, which did little to reflect the historical outline of these locos. They  did provide a workable machine capable of hauling large trains which was the prime concern at the time. With the demise of its ageing boiler in 1969 Earl of Merioneth was withdrawn ultimately to reside in the NRM carrying its original name of Livingston Thompson.

Around this time the subject of Fairlie boilers came to the fore. The two extant examples were thought to be life expired or about to become so.  The FRCo called on the Hunslet engine company to provide a solution. With the benefit of hindsight we can see that design suggested, which was effectively two boilers of the type used by Linda and Blanche placed back to back, was in fact badly flawed. It took a decade or more however for this to become apparent by which time both boilers had been installed.

The first Hunslet boiler was fitted to Merddin Emrys in 1971 and ran for its first decade in service without any great issue. During this time the company decided to build a replacement locomotive which would carry the name Earl of Merioneth like the loco it aimed to replace. With limited resources the engine was built in a modern brutalist style. This arrangement aimed to carry sufficient fuel for a whole days work and water for a full round trip (neither of which delivered any great benefit). The result was a unique loco, only partially admired at the time of its launch. It has to said, ridiculed by some and viewed with an element of horror by some FR aficionados. The engine was not a success at first, it had poorly balanced wheels and abysmal steaming. Over time issues were resolved and the image softened. It became a high mileage reliable performer for two decades or more. It now has a very strong following from those that worked with it. It was effectively the first new build locomotive in preservation and became for many a Ffestiniog Railway icon.

Reaction to the form of the Earl of Merioneth led to a plan to rebuild Merddin Emrys properly bringing back the original Fairlie outline to the Ffestiniog Railway. Blessed with strong financial support from a sponsor it took half the time of the rather protracted build of the Earl of Merioneth. Steps to get the correct shape including the addition of boiler lagging that made the shape of the boiler look externally like the ‘waggon top’ style boilers fitted to the original locos. It worked out well and Merddin is often referred to as original and best by loco crews.

The joy of the arrival of the reshaped Merddin was short lived. Arriving on shed one evening steam leaks from below the boiler cladding were found to emanating from serious cracks in the boiler throatplate. A plan to repair and add longitudinal stays meant both of this type of boiler would continue in service but require regular monitoring and repairs. This problem was to inform plans for the future of the Fairlie fleet, a future which would see new boilers planned which learnt lessons from both the immediate past and some generations beyond.

In 1992 a new Fairlie emerged with a new all welded boiler designed by Bob Meanley of Tyseley. This boiler had conical boiler barrel sections giving much more strength particularly around the throatplate areas. The tanks, cab and smokeboxes returned to the style of the 1890’s and resulted in a very presentable locomotive. Ironically this locomotive was first outshopped on the oldest and poorest power bogies in the fleet. None the less the locomotive proved economical and effective.

The new boiler design worked reasonably well but had persistent trouble with welded stays. In particular the crown stays over the firebox, which penetrated the outer wrapper at varying angles, have seen multiple repairs. Careful investigation revealed improved techniques for stay welding that could help, but during a ten year overhaul in 2023 the entire crown section of the outer wrapper was replaced. Whilst this feels like a major repair it has to be borne in mind that this ‘new’ boiler is in fact now 30 years old.

In 2015 a review of the Fairlie fleet and future needs was presented to the Ffestiniog Railway Company board. A new design for a boiler had been worked up that builds on the best features of all of the designs currently in use. By building a new boiler the risks associated with boiler failing in service would be reduced. This approach was thought preferable to further heavy repairs on both the Hunslet type boilers. The basic boiler bare of smokeboxes and superheater was expected to cost at least £120,000 a figure which would be exceed by quite some margin. The new boiler design came from the works staff and was approved British Engineering Services. This was quite a landmark for Boston Lodge who had previously tended to rely on external suppliers for design and supply of boilers.

At the same time as settling on a new boiler the subject of how to deal with the superstructure of the Earl of Merioneth came in to focus. This superstructure was showing its age. It had been heavily repaired and modified in 2006 to become the first coal fired double engine conversion after years of using oil fuel. Modern engineering techniques mean that it is sometimes easier to build new tanks and cab etc rather than repair the old ones. Having once accepted this the knock on effect was that the 1979 superstructure might be consigned to a skip. It also becomes clear that the new superstructure does not have to follow the same design of that which it replaces. A whole range of choices emerge as a result.

The board felt that a design that reflected the early shapes of Ffestiniog Railway double engines would be the best route forward. It was hard to imagine a modern design succeeding. It was also felt that our future success revolved around representing our history and also presenting a striking image for marketing purposes. Equally there was a strong feeling that Earl of Merioneth of 1979 was important in its own right because, as previously mentioned, it was the first new build of the preservation era. The result was the decision to build new and to keep the Earl of Merioneth complete until such time as a case for its restoration is made.

James Spooner was the engineer that planned the Ffestiniog Railway and its first manager back in the 1830’s. Locomotive No8, the second FR double Fairlie which entered service in 1872 was named after him. The loco ran until 1928 and was cut up by 1935. This left a gap in the FR numbering scheme and now in 2023 loco No8 along with the name James Spooner will once more be present in the operating fleet.

The team working on the design of the locomotive were heavily influenced by the images of the various early stages of double Fairlie design captured in the photos in the company archive. The result is a locomotive fit for modern day use, not a replica of a previous machine but reflecting key features of them. With the later style of these locomotive well represented in the modern day locomotives reflecting the earlier locos seemed fitting.

James Spooner features rather attractive stovepipe chimneys suggesting power and purpose. It also carries bells to the design created for the early FR locos. (Although bells are thought to have been cast for all the FR locos in the 1870’s it is not at all clear if they were ever fitted to the smaller engines. Two examples survive in the company archive which provided the inspiration and the starting point for creating new ones).

The engine carries the same Victorian Plum livery carried by Welsh Pony and ornately lined to match well with the original 1870’s carriages in the FR fleet. This livery evolved from a temporary unlined finish applied to Welsh Pony, a colour which was then lined in a gold and straw colours but to a pattern applied to sister loco ‘Little Giant’ in its 1860’s works photo. Originally a temporary arrangement the livery was so popular with members that requests were made for it to be varnished and kept. This was duly done and the scheme chosen for the initial outshopping of James Spooner. This brings the delightful prospect of two matching FR fleet locos working together, two locos which ten years ago would ever have been in prospect as returning to operation.

For further information please contact:

Chris Parry, Marketing Officer
Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways
Tel: 07774 109788
Email: cparry@ffwhr.com

The Ffestiniog and Eryri Railway is celebrating receiving the stamp of approval from the Welsh Language Commissioner.

The Welsh Offer, the commissioner Efa Gruffudd Jones’ official recognition, is given to organisations that have collaborated to plan ambitious Welsh language provision.

The Ffestiniog Railway is the world’s oldest narrow gauge railway with almost 200 years of history. Its historic trains take customers on a journey full of wonderful views from the harbour at Porthmadog to the slate quarry town of Blaenau Ffestiniog.

The Welsh Highland Railway is the UK’s longest heritage railway and runs for 25 miles from Caernarfon, past the foot of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and the village of Beddgelert, then through the Aberglaslyn Pass and on to Porthmadog.

Osian Hughes, Ffestiniog Railway’s marketing lead, said:

“We are delighted to receive the approval of the Welsh Offer from the commissioner’s office. This is an extremely significant achievement for the railway and we are determined to continue to improve and develop our Welsh Offer further.

“There is a strong Welsh culture in the area we work in and, as an organisation, we value the language and culture of Wales. The Welsh Offer makes us more relevant and helps us display pride in the Welsh language.”

 Efa Gruffudd Jones said:

“It’s nice to see that the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways are being ambitious with the Welsh language services they offer. We are very proud that they dedicate themselves to ensuring that the Welsh language is seen and used every day by the staff and with their customers.

 “The Welsh Offer is a great opportunity for organisations of all kinds to raise awareness of their Welsh language services. This will lead to an increase in the use of services and enable more people to live in Welsh.”

The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways will be present at the Llŷn and Eifionydd National Eisteddfod with their ‘Lilla’ engine and carriages on display at the Boduan site from August 5-12.

More information about the Welsh Offer is available at: www.welshlanguagecommissioner.wales/businesses-and-charities/cynnig-cymraeg .

Feature image: ‘Lilla’ engine from the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways will be on display at the Llŷn and Eifionydd National Eisteddfod.

About the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highlands Railways  

The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways are the largest and most successful tourist railways in Wales. A non-profit making organisation owned by a charitable trust, the railways are of deep historical significance and the custodian of heritage assets ranging from dry stone structure and buildings through to historic rolling stock of international significance. 

Main website: www.festrail.co.uk. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram…hashtag: #bestrailwayintheworld

For more information, please contact Chris Parry, Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways marketing officer, on Phone: 01766 516071, Mobile: 07774 109788 or Email: cparry@ffwhr.com

We are excited to be reopening our historic railways this Spring and are delighted to share with you our new set of experiences; ‘Woodland Wanderer’, ‘Mountain Prince’, ‘Gelert Explorer’ and ‘Glaslyn Venturer’. Services commence on 27^th April. Not all services run every day. Booking on line is strongly advised.

‘Woodland Wanderer’ is a heritage style service from our Harbour Station in the coastal town of Porthmadog to Tan-y-Bwlch Station, recreating trains from the 1960’s and using some of our carefully restored vintage carriages. A great trip for families and those with dogs, providing an hour break for a scenic woodland walk and refreshments at our station tearooms.

‘Mountain Prince’ is an extended version of the ‘Woodland Wanderer’ where customers will be travelling up to Dduallt Station and around in a complete spiral above the station, with fantastic views and a chance to find out more about ‘The Deviation’ the huge project to reroute the railway in the 1970’s. The service will stop at Tan-y-Bwlch on the return, where customers can enjoy refreshments at our tearooms.

‘Gelert Explorer’ is our Welsh Highland Railway service from Caernarfon to Beddgelert, complete with a hamper service and time to explore the picturesque village. This is a complete day out and a brilliant opportunity to sit back, relax and enjoy the views as you travel through Snowdonia National Park. Pamper yourself with our Gelert Gold service with first class Pullman seating and luxury hampers.

‘Glaslyn Venturer’ is our alternative Welsh Highland Railway service which will begin running later in the year on the southern end of the line, from our Harbour Station at Porthmadog to the beautiful village of Beddgelert. This journey is complete with a hamper service and a layover at Beddgelert village.

All services run in accordance with current Government Guidelines and we are proud to have ‘Good to Go’ accreditation.

Full information on all of our new services can be found on our website; www.festrail.co.uk.