The Line That Refused To Die (first shown January 3rd 1980)

repeated 30th September 1980. A railway dies when its heart is rotten and its owners no longer believe in it. In 1954, the narrow-gauge Festiniog line in North Wales was dead. It had turned away passengers, trees grew through its track, and its upper section was soon to be drowned by a hydro-electric scheme.
From the earliest days, when hordes of workmen struggled to build its mile-long embankment across the tide-ripped Glaslyn estuary, the line had a threatened existence. But the latest disaster seemed final. Railway expert Robert Symes uncovers the background story of the Festiniog's many brushes with death, and how a new generation of determined men brought it triumphantly to life once more. Film cameraman PETER CHAPMAN Film sound IAN SANSAM Film editors COLIN JONES , GEOFF MOORE Producer ROBIN BOOTLE Contributors
Robert Symes
Peter Chapman
Editors: Colin Jones, Geoff Moore
This is one of the video clips I have collected for the Ffestiniog Railway video archive.
A list of known programs is here: www.festipedia...
This is from a 2nd generation copy of the tape sent to the FR by the producers. I have a better transfer from Bob Symes own vhs tape, which is also used for the dvd available here:
www.sprucestudi...
Hopefully one day there will be a proper release from the BBC of this excellent program.

[@DavidHennessey1984]

Bob Symes and Alan Garraway... Both sadly missed, but never forgotten.

[@eliotreader8220]

did Bob actually drive the steam engine or was he just having a ride on her

[@DavidHennessey1984]

@@eliotreader8220 No idea.

[@gquayle]

Great film, thanks for uploading

[@geoffbrown2747]

Pure magic, just love Bob, I visited his Guildford home and garden railway in the 70s, he presented my friend Warren and myself with a trophy for our junior model layout at the Astolat, Guildford Model Railway Exhibition. What a great railway the Ffestiniog is!

[@georgecarter838]

A very well done documentary. I learned a lot of it's history. Thank you for sharing this.

[@tango6nf477]

And now the Welsh Highland Railway is completely reinstated too, these lines are an absolutely great example of what can be done with determination creativity and foresight. Marvellous thank you.

[@eliotreader8220]

seeing Welsh pony in this shows how much Work the Ffestininog railway has carried out to return her to working condison again after 80 years Hip hip horray

[@davidcann4329]

Indeed, a really interesting video with some long forgotten views of dereliction, now gratefully left in the past in most cases.

[@Mason58654]

Very interesting! I like the insightful look at their carriage construction in preservation days.

[@robtyman4281]

Guess this guy was the 'Brian Blessed' of the day back then!

[@eliotreader8220]

its wonder seeing Welsh Pony appear in this as they fully restored the steam loco to steam recently

[@jodypitt3629]

And snooker tables, don't forget that!

[@Tony_7791]

Full of their own self importance back then

[@davidwright7193]

I am not a number