A day on the Ffestiniog Railway (Rheilffordd Ffestiniog) - Driver, Passenger & Line-side Views
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ต.ค. 2023
- Please join me for a day on the Ffestiniog Railway, filmed from the locomotive, train and line-side
The Ffestiniog Railway(Welsh: Rheilffordd Ffestiniog) is a 13 ½ miles (21.7km) long, 1ft 11 ½ inch (597 mm) narrow-gauge heritage railway located in Gwynedd, Wales, connecting the harbour town of Porthmadog to the slate mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. Please join me for a ride from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog through some of the finest scenery to be found anywhere in Wales on one of the worlds oldest heritage railways
I'd like to say a big thank you to Claire and the booking office staff for their help in making this video possible, along with the locomotive crew and all at the Ffestiniog Railway, past and present for their hard work that has made this railway the wonderful visitor experience it is today.
Porthmadog Harbour station is the starting point for both Ffestiniog Railway and the Welsh Highland Railway trains, resulting in busy periods at the start and end of the day when trains return to be stabled overnight and the locomotives run across the Cob to Boston Lodge works where they are maintained and prepared for their next duty. On a sunny evening it's hard to think of a nicer place to enjoy a pint than at the railways very own pub and restaurant where the railway action can be watched from the outside seating area.
Trains use both sides of the long island platform and a walk to the end is rewarded with stunning views all round as well as being a great vantage point to watch trains crossing the Cob (a wall separating the sea from the Afon Glaslyn flood plains). Our locomotive has coupled up to its train and we are ready to set of on the picturesque ride to Blaenau Ffestiniog. I could write a book about the views from the train window, until then, please join me on a scenic journey through beautiful Wales.
The railway holds a special place in history for a number of reasons, it is the oldest surviving railway company in the world, being built by the "Festiniog Railway Company" spelled with a single 'F' in the act passed to allow construction to start in 1833 with the line opening on 20th April 1836 . The line was built on a continuous downhill grade between Blaenau Ffestiniog and the port at Porthmadog to transport slate from the quarries to the port for onward shipping. Loaded waggons used gravity to run down to the port with the empty waggons being hauled back to the quarries by horses that had ridden down hill in special waggons called 'dandy waggons'.
By the end of the 1850's it was clear that more capacity was required leading to the board investigate the possibility of using steam locomotives, the outcome of which was the placing of an order with George England and Co for two narrow gauge 0-4-0 steam locomotives, the first, named 'Mountaineer' was delivered on 18th July 1863, followed a few days later by 'The Princess'. After running in trials and some modifications they entered service on 23rd October 1863 allowing the use of longer trains to increase capacity and in 1865 they enabled the introduction of passenger trains, making the railway the first narrow gauge railway in Britain to run such trains. The first double Fairlie articulated locomotive was introduced in 1869, these locomotives are now one of the most widely recognised features of the railway.
By the 1920s the railway suffered a gradual decline in traffic owing to slate being replaced by modern materials and the loss of overseas trade during WW1. Ordinary passenger services ceased on 15th September 1939 and slate traffic ended on 1st August 1946. The act created to allow the building of the railway made no specific provision for its closure, thus another act was required to repeal the old one, as luck would have it, the company didn't have the money to do so, as a result the track was left in place to be reclaimed by nature. The abandoned railway attracted railway enthusiasts and eventually with financial help from Alan Pegler the next chapter in the railways history began resulting in the first train of the new era running across the Cob in 1955.
For more information about the railway please click on any of the following links -
www.festrail.co.uk/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ffestin...
To book your own Ffestiniog Railway adventure, please click on this link - www.festrail.co.uk/
Track gauge - 1 ft 11½ ins (597mm)
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Tim, this lovely, considered composition really hit the mark.
The rest of my day is now running about 40 minutes late, as I reached the end of ‘the reel’.
The brooding clouds, fascinating composition and majesty of the mountains, held together with your intimate studies from the train, along the consist and beyond, punctuated with the landscape, were riveting. Thanks
Hello Peter I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm in tropical Australia as I type this at a place called Normanton, the starting point for the Gulflander Railway, it's night time and it's still over 30c, it was 40c during the day. I hope this railway lives up to expectation, the best bit so far has been watching the brightly coloured parrots eating the fruit of the mango tree in someone's garden, I could do with some Welsh rain to cool me down. Cheers. Tim.
@@Timsvideochannel1 will make a difference journeying to Croydon on the ‘Tin Hare’. 1950s rail motor? Hope it lives up to expectations!
@@Pjs75I visited the depot this morning and I'm optimistic that I will be able to mount a camera on the front of the train.
Tim's videos are excellent, the addition of facilities shots and other areas of railfan interest make these worth see!!
Thank you for your kind comment, it is appreciated 😊.
Particularly loved the fast forward initially 😃
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Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the video, especially the fast forward segment. 😊.
Thanks Tim, great compilation, I really enjoyed it!
Thank you, it's nice to know you enjoyed it.
New friend thanks for sharing this video Full support
Hello, it's always nice to make new friends, I'm pleased you enjoyed the video.
Vanderfull video! 👍👍🚂🚃🚃🚃
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I think i 've seen this place before but it's worth looking twice ! cheers .
Some of the footage has been used in ''Driver's Eye' videos, this video is intended to portray the railway from all perspectives, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Did that day out in 2004 and unfortunately haven't been back since. Thanks for the memories!
Thanks for a lovely video Tim. While I am not normally a fan of those "Benny Hill" timelapse sequences, I really enjoyed your "rush hour" sequence and thought it was very nicely put together, as was the whole thing. It gave a good feel for the whole experience.
Thank you, I really appreciate your kind comment.
Adoro os teus vídeos, Tim, são lindas as paisagens, este barulho do trem, é tudo de bom, parabéns, que venha sempre mais vídeos assim. Forte abraço, aqui do Brasil.
Obrigado pelo grande abraço, que bom saber que você gosta desses vídeos. Muitas felicidades. Tim.
awesome !!!!
Hi Tim! At the start. There was something at breakfast that gives special effects in your pants. Beans makes a good sound ever, grins 😅. The steam engines are great and makes a good work 👍. Best regards from Hans and Cheers 🍻🇦🇹.
Hello Hans, I'm glad you enjoyed the video, especially the fast segment. I am in tropical Australia now at a place called Normanton and I could really use a cold beer right now, it is night time and still over 30c, it was 40c during the day and there is a parrot making a lot of noise outside my window. Cheers. Tim.
@@Timsvideochannel1 Hi Tim, have a nice journey and here is the cool six pack 🍻🍻🍻.
@@johannperaus6890 Thank you, I'll drink one and put the other five in the fridge 😊😊
Driver's Eye Views are more magical than looking at the scenery I've seen so often before. Passenger views are for the big spiral known as The Cob. Nice ride.
Hi, I try to offer a variety of views, although I always try to get permission to film a driver's eye version.
2:15 "Rush" hour.......Riiiiiggggghhhhhttttt! LOL
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Witaj, Tim. twój bardzo ciekawy opis jest tłumaczony w rodzaju żeńskim, tak jakby stworzyła go kobieta. Dziękuję za interesującą godzinę spędzoną z pociągami. Pozdrawiam.😀
Cześć, polegam na tłumaczu Google i naprawdę jestem mężczyzną. Cieszę się, że film Ci się spodobał.
The Conwy Valley line - Standard gauge!. (27:00) And I thought it was all Narrow Gauge in Wales! That's the impression I got, anyway.
It's strange I have commented on this saying it's narrow gauge where it's standard
@@Mediawatcher2023 The Porthmadog-to Ffestinnig line is narrow-gauge, but there's a Standard-Gauge line that comes in from Conwy. Seeing them side-by-side you can see the difference in width, even on a video screen.
@@neilforbes416 Hello Neil, I'm glad you got that sorted out. I'm in Australia at the moment ready to ride the Gulflander train in a few days time. It's 3ft 6inch gauge and I think I'm the hottest I've ever been in my life. Cheers. Tim.
@@neilforbes416 your'e doing this by observation i gather even though you haven't been there.
@@Timsvideochannel1 I look forward eagerly to see the video! Cheers, Tim!😁
24 carat production as usual invoking memories of more than 60 years of riding the FR!
Thank you, I'm pleased you enjoyed it, the guys at the FR are doing a great job.
30:18 Am I reading that plaque correctly on the loco? Built 1992?
Yes, it was built at Boston Lodge works in the early 1990's and they are still building steam locomotives today.
@@Timsvideochannel1 WOW! The craft will never be lost while there's a foundry in Wales still building steam locos!👍👍👍
@@neilforbes416 I keeps the skills alive.
@@neilforbes416 amazing isn't it
What is the fuel source on these locomotives?
These locomotives are coal fired.
Hi Tim, No doubt about it your a wonderful film maker you cover every angle thank you, Looking at the comments the great rail gauge debate is still on 😁maybe you will find the mythical "FORBES GAUGE" in QLD OR NZ 😆have a wonderful holiday cheers bob. PS Don't forget to look out for the giant termites when your on the gulf lander hope your got a saddle available.🤣
Hello Robert, thank you for your kind comment, I finished my tour of the outback yesterday, it was an awesome trip and I've got some great stuff to share over the coming months. Cheers. Tim.