Ffestiniog Railway
17th October 2011
Below: A trip on the Ffestiniog Railway, some 13 miles long between Porthmadog and Blaenau Festiniog, is always a superb experience and kicked off the Welsh holiday in style with a trip behind one of the original ‘Fairlie’ locomotives, Merddin Emrys, which is an articulated design maximising the benefits of two engine units, an ability to negotiate tight curves, all weight available for adhesion and the economy of one crew. The 1879 built locomotive is seen here running through Harbour Station in readiness to join its train.
Below: Heading up the line past Boston Lodge works and the old engine sheds, Lyd was seen on view. This is a new construction of the famous Lynton & Barnstaple prairie (2-6-2T wheel arrangement) locomotives, of which non of the original four have survived. It is seen newly painted into Southern Railway livery.
Below: Blaenau Festiniog in the rain! Down to about 800ISO for these photographs, though very atmospheric!
Below: The engine runs around the train whilst an Arriva trains 150/2 Sprinter has arrived at the mainline station on the left having come up the Conwy Valley route from Llandudno Junction.
Below: It is dark now! Climbing the short gradient off the original formation and onto the 1970s deviation route to avoid one of the reservoirs created in this area as part of a hydro-electric power generating system.
Below: And finally night falls over Porthmadog Harbour behind the station buildings.
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