Welsh Highland Golden Spike

Saturday, February 2009 the Welsh Highland and Ffestiniog Railways will be linked in a golden spike ceremony, in Porthmadog, Wales. Actually a golden clip, they do things a little different over there.

Now the work begins for those of us in the U.S.  Time to spread the word, with the world economy going in the tank, it would be a shame for the Welsh railways to fail after all they have done to restore the lines.

I know that not everybody can afford to take off every other year or so, but, for a relatively inexpensive trip Wales works.

Give it a thought. Castles, little trains, mountains,sea,and great people.

I’ve been to London several times (big city) and York (old city) great trains museum there.  But if you would like to visit an area that lets you turn your mental clock back 50 years, it’s got to be Wales, OK Scotland was pretty cool to.

I’m going to work on a trip plan next time I get home, but I’m thinking there’s a loop from Manchester west along the north coast, then south to Aberystwyth (ask Avrila) then back to Manchester.  Train travel is very reasonable, and fast.  If you rent a car, try Avis, avoid National.  Someday I’ll have to tell about the Vaxhaul, $1600 for two weeks (OUCH).

Might be a good year to go if you can afford it. Lots of people are going to stay home and there might be some good deals to be had.

Welsh Highland Update 3.0

Latest news is that  the Welsh Highland will begin service to the public over the entire route in July 2009.

Might be worth planning some vacation time for late summer or early fall. The dollar is quite strong against the pound right now, and airfares have dropped to levels we haven’t seen in a year.

If you are thinking about a day or two in Porthmadog, the Oakeley Arms, about 5 miles from Porthmadog in Maentwrog, is worth a look.  A delightful hotel with a Pub/Restaurant in the building.  And old building with many odd hallways, and stairs, it’s easy to get lost on your way to your room.  When we checked in last year, the desk clerk had some time finding our rooms.  Oh the food in the pub is first rate, and priced for a budget.

For those on a tight budget, a Travel Lodge has opened in Porthmadog.  The rates are on a par with U.S. motels.

Remember to stop by Spooners in the Ffestiniog station at Porthmadog and have an ale with “The Princess”

Welsh Highland update (update)

Just so you know.. While pretty much complete, the link from the Welsh Highland Railway to the Ffestiniog will become fully operational during June 2009.  And it looks at this point like those who want to take the entire trip will have to change trains twice.

The Welsh Highland out of Caernarfon will operate as far as Beddgelert.  From Beddgelert to Porthmadog looks like a combination of Welsh Highland Porthmadog, and some Ffestiniog trains.  Then of course from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog will be much like the current Ffestiniog service.

Probably this is a good thing. Quick walk changing trains, and you will get to see at least three different locomotives in the process.

For those of you that haven’t been to Wales, and I suspect that’s most of you.  Wales is a step back in time, the Railroads, Castles, and most of all, the people are great.  Less expensive than a vacation in England and a bit less frantic.  I have other posts that go into some detail on the railways of Wales, if your interested it’s worth a quick look.  In that post I’ve covered the railways I have seen in person. But there are many more, and I may add an additional post using some second hand information, until I can get to them as well.

My daughter rode the Vale of Rheidol Railway, out of Aberystwyth, and she tells me it’s a very nice ride, and a well run operation.

The other must ride (although I haven’t as yet) would have to be Snowdon Mountain Railway. This railway is so steep that the locomotives have a cog wheel under the center of the frame that runs on a third rack rail.

Start saving now, it’s worth the trip.  Just a quick thought.  After mid September air fairs and room rates drop quite a bit, and Wales in fall is very nice.

Welsh Highland Railway update.

Latest news from Wales is hat that last sections of the Welsh Highland may be set in place sometime late this month. This makes the Easter 2009 open for passenger traffic, look like a go.

A Garrett at Caernarfon, on the Welsh Highland.

Next year it will be possible to take a train from Caernarfon, south through the Snowdona National Park to Porthmadog on the west coast, then east on the Ffestiniog Railway to Blaenau Ffestiniog. That’s about a 40 mile trip, plan for the whole day for this trip.

Not sure at this point what locomotives will run the through trips, the big South African Garratts are too large to run past the yard at Boston Lodge, so I assume the the Double Fairlies from the Ffestiniog will handle any “express” trains.

Double Fairlie on the Ffestiniog.

For any train buff, this is worth the trip. Several airlines serve Manchester, England. For those that dont want to deal with London it’s a great way to get into the U.K.

Take the time to check out the other little railways in the area.

Save the Wales.

Ok, silliest title I’ve come up with in a long time.
Want to turn your mental clock back 50 years or so?
From London or Manchester, grab a train and head west to Wales. For those of you that follow sience fiction, Cardiff is the new center of the Si.Fi. world. Dr. Who and Torchwood are produced in Wales in and around Cardiff.
A few hours north near Porthmadog, on the coast is Port Merion. This first class hotel is “The Village” from “The Prisoner”. Port Merion is worth a day on it’s own, but be advised, that the hotel grounds are on a very steep hillside, on the coast. Lot of up and down walking, and night be a bit much for some people.
Of course Wales has more little railways than you have the time to see, on any one vacation. Rather that repeat my work, I ask you to check out my post “Narrow gauge railways in Wales” under the trains category, on my blog.
One little gem I found is the Oakeley Arms, in Maentwrog, about ten miles east of Porthmadog.
The Oakeley, an old hotel, resturant, and local pup, is mostly stone construction, the rooms are large by U.K. standards, and the food is first rate. A good cook and local produce make for great dinners. The halls in the hotel will make you wonder why you have never seen a mystery movie made here. Lots of turns, and nearly hidden stairs, make this a most interesting building.
From the Oakeley it’s a short drive to Ffestiniog and the slate mines, the other direction and 15 minutes brings you to Porthmadog, and to the south a half hour sits Harlech Castle. A bit beyond Harlech is the town of Tywyn and the Talyllyn Railway. This little known railway, smaller than the Ffestiniog, is a gem. Great museum and a nice ride into the hills. Have tea at the end of the line, while the crew gets ready for the return trip.
Wales is great for unwinding, get away from the job. The only problem, is that if you spend a week with the Welsh people, you might start thinking silly things, like “Is there some way I could make a living out there”.
If somebody offered me a driving job, and it could be done. Too many problems, being a U.S. commercial driver. Well if it could happen, I’d be there as fast as I could get there.

Narrow Gauge Railways in Wales

Wales could have the highest concentration of little railways in the world.

The crown jewel of Welsh Railways must be the Ffestiniog running from Porthmadog, Wales up to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Link to them at http://www.festrail.co.uk

The Ffestinog was built to haul slate from the mines around Blaenau Ffestiniog, to Porthmadog, and later to the transfer yard at Minniford. Opened in 1836 as a gravity operation, the entire line was on a steady down grade to Boston Lodge about 1 mile south of Porthmadog. On special days, the gravity trains are still run, a train of slate cars pulled up the line, then let run back toward Boston Lodge, just gravity, and a crew of brakemen enjoying the ride. Draft horses supplied the up hill power until 1863 when the first steam engines were brought on board. Although much changed some of the original Locomotives are still in service. Prince continues in daily use after nearly 150 years.

The Ffestiniog worked quite well for decades, but fell on hard times, with the introduction of heavy trucks, and new roofing products, that reduced the demand for slate. In August 1946 what was thought to be the last train ran on the Ffestiniog ran from Blaenau to Porthmadog.

That probably would have been the end, but an error in the original charter for the railway, had no provision for scrapping. While not in use, it was not permitted to tear up the railway.

Eight years later, after several tries, a group of rail fans, began the project of reopening the line, and on July 23 1955 a small World War 1 surplus gas powered locomotive, “Mary Ann” pulled a short train the mile from Porthmadog to Boston Lodge.

It took until 1982 to complete the line back to Blaenau. The largest problem being a reservoir that covered part of the line. This was overcome by adding a loop at Ddualt where the line curves back over itself ,and climbs to a higher track bed clear of the water.

At Porthmadog there’s a well equipped station. Great resturant and pub, Spooners Cafe & Bar. Take the time to tip a pint with a princess. Princess one of the first engines on the Ffestiniog back in the 1860s has retired, and sits in the bar. Not every day you can have a beer with a Locomotive to lean on.

Princess in Spooners Bar

The Ffestiniog is working toward completing the Welsh Highland from Caernarfon south through Snowdon National Park, to join the Ffestiniog at Porthmadog. This will probably be completed in the fall of 2008, and will open to passenger traffic for the 2009 season. The golden spike will complete a nearly 40 mile ribbon of two foot gauge steel, taking passengers through some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.

The Welsh Highland is quite a return from the dead story, in that it did not dodge the scrappers torch. With the exception of a few feet here and there, the entire railway was lifted, for the scrap value of the rails. That the new Welsh Highland is nearly complete says much about the people that stuck with the idea of bringing it back. Much has been written about the confict surrounding this project. Lets just say that the partners in the project were not always on the same page. Last time I was in Wales all the parties seemed to have found a balance, and have assumed positions in the operation well suited to their interests.

The Welsh Highland Caernarfon currently runs on the completed sections of the build from Caernarfon, near the Castle to Rhdy Ddu, deep in the Snowdon National Park. They operate what may be the most powerful 2 foot gauge steam locomotives now in use. Only the Welsh Highland Porthmadog’s Polish diesels may be more powerful ,at 400 plus horsepower, one can’t help but think that the big diesels will be called on for rescue missions from time to time. Beyer-Garretts built in the late 50s for South African freight service, these locomotives are big, powerful and look oversized when standing next to most Welsh locomotives.

Garrett at Caernarfon
At this point the big Welsh Highland Garretts will not see use past Porthmadog on the combined railway. They are simply to big for the tunnels, and other trackside construction, east of Boston Lodge.

Prince and Earl of Menioneth

at Tan-y-Bwlch station.

The Ffestinog can be reached by regular train sevice at Blaenau Ffestiniog, from the Conwy Valley Line. This is curently run by Arriva Trains. You would catch the Conwy, at Llandudno Junction, near Conwy on the north coast. The Conwy Valley is a worthwhile trip on its own. Take the time for a stop over at Betws-y-Coed. Across the footbridge in the station there’s a miniature railway for the kids, and for those of you that are model train nuts, like me, there’s a great trains hobby shop.

Find out more about the Conwy line at , http://www.conwyvalleyrailway.co.uk/

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Conwy Valley railcar at Betws-y-Coed

Just across town from the Ffestinog is the Welsh Highland, Porthmadog. This group was the first to start the idea of restoring the Welsh Highland, and while no longer the lead dog, will play an important part in the new railway. This is a better site for those with children. The soon to be complete 40 mile trip will prove too much for most youngsters. At the Welsh Highland,Porthmadog , the flavor is very family, and the museum is just right. The crew here is a little more easy going, and seems to have more time to chat.
The Welsh Highland Porthmadog also has a nice sandwich shop, and book store that is not to be missed.

The Welsh Highland Porthmadog web site is, www.whr.co.uk/s/index.en.php

Ruston loco at Welsh Highland, Porthmadog

Call ahead and for a small fee, adults can arrange a Cab ride in one of the Locomotives. Great chance to check one item off that things I always wanted to do list.

About an hours drive south of the Ffestiniog you will find the town of Tywyn and the Tal-y-Llyn Railway.

This little railway, built in the 1860s, struggled for many years, finally under the ownership of Sir Hayden Jones. The quarry that was the railways largest customer was closed, and Sir Hayden ran the railway at a loss untill his death in 1950. That looked like the end of the Tal-y-Llyn, but a group from the area, led by Tom Rolt , worked out an agreement to operate the railway, and three years later received the railway from Sir Hayden’s widow. They did pay 1350 pounds sterling for the railway, which was about the scrap value.

Having dodged that bullet, the Tal-y-Llyn has gone on to become a first class operation. Great ride behind coal fired locos. The coal fire does have a special charm to it.

Be sure to try the Tea Room at Abergynolwyn . Yes you probably can’t pronounce it, but just think “end of the line”. There they move the locomotive to the down end of the train ( great photo opp ) and take a break before heading back toTywyn.

The museum at Wharf Station is small but packed with history. Well lighted for photos, something notably lacking in many museums. Lots of very small locomotives, and for the kids, well, maybe big people too, there’s a room of Reverend Awdrys work. Known best for Thomas The Tank Engine, Rev. Awdry worked with the Tal-y-Llyn for years.

Tal-y-Llyns wonderful web site is at. http://www.talyllyn.co.uk./

Loco “Tom Rolt, at Wharf Station

Tom Rolt at Abergynolwyn.