Ffestiniog Railway
The Ffestiniog Railway is a 13½-mile narrow-gauge (1 ft 11½ in) heritage railway in north-west Wales, running from Porthmadog harbour up the Vale of Ffestiniog to the slate-quarry town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. The railway was opened in 1836 to bring slate from the Blaenau quarries to the coast for shipment, originally worked by horse-and-gravity but converted to steam haulage in 1863, making it among the earliest narrow-gauge steam railways in the world.
The Ffestiniog Railway Company has operated continuously since its incorporation in 1832, making it the oldest independent railway company in the world. The line declined steadily through the twentieth century with the contraction of the slate industry, ceasing operations entirely in 1946. A volunteer revival began in 1954, with the first preserved trains running from Porthmadog in 1955; reaching the original quarry destination at Blaenau Ffestiniog took until 1982 due to the need to construct the "Deviation", a major loop including a spiral, to bypass a section flooded by the Tanygrisiau reservoir.
The line is famous for its Double Fairlie articulated locomotives, unique to the Ffestiniog and built in the railway's own workshops at Boston Lodge. The line has been operating jointly with the Welsh Highland Railway since the WHR's 2011 reopening.
History
The Ffestiniog Railway closed in 1946 after disastrous wartime losses. The railway was effectively abandoned until 1954, when volunteers led by Alan Pegler and Allan Garraway began a restoration effort. Reopening from Porthmadog in stages began in 1955 (to Boston Lodge and Minffordd), reaching Tan-y-Bwlch in 1958.
The major engineering challenge was the loss of the original alignment between Tanygrisiau and Blaenau Ffestiniog, which had been flooded by the Tanygrisiau hydro-electric reservoir in 1957. The railway's response was the "Deviation", a 2½-mile new alignment built largely by volunteers from 1965 to 1978, including the unique Dduallt spiral, the only railway spiral in Britain. Blaenau Ffestiniog was reached in 1982.
Original line history
The Ffestiniog Railway was opened on 20 April 1836 as a horse-and-gravity slate-tramway between the Blaenau quarries and Porthmadog harbour, operating on an exceptional gradient permitting loaded slate trains to descend by gravity, with horses being carried up the train in special wagons for the return. The line was converted to steam working in 1863 and to passenger working in 1865, becoming an exemplar of narrow-gauge railway practice and influencing narrow-gauge developments worldwide. The slate trade declined steadily after 1900, leading to closure in 1946.
Stations and infrastructure
Porthmadog Harbour is the western terminus and the principal interchange with the Welsh Highland Railway and Network Rail. Boston Lodge is the historic locomotive works and depot, one of the oldest railway workshops still in use anywhere. Tan-y-Bwlch is the principal mid-route station, with passing loop and a popular café. Blaenau Ffestiniog is the upper terminus, with cross-platform interchange to the Network Rail Conwy Valley line.
Route and stations
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Special events and operations
The line operates daily for most of the year, with special events including diesel galas, vintage weekends, photographers' specials, and Santa Trains in December. Through running with the Welsh Highland Railway is operated for selected services.
Visitor information
The Ffestiniog operates daily with several departures per day in summer; reduced services in winter. Porthmadog Harbour is a short walk from Porthmadog Network Rail station; Blaenau Ffestiniog has cross-platform Network Rail interchange.