Ffestiniog Railway
July 13 2003

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We travelled on the Ffestiniog Railway on July 13. Despite the gauge this is a serious railway operation and deserves the fame it is achieved over the years. We met up with some familiar faces at Porthmadog, 6024 Society regulars John (with wife Gill) and Leon Salter who just happened to be on holiday in the area.

Porthmadog harbour on a lovely morning. July 13 2003

Porthmadog harbour on a lovely morning. July 13 2003

Locomotive on the 10 coach 10:20 to Blaenau Ffestiniog was Double Fairlie 0-4-0+0-4-0 Earl of Meirioneth seen here at Porthmadog Harbour station. July 13 2003

Locomotive on the 10 coach 10:20 to Blaenau Ffestiniog was Double Fairlie 0-4-0+0-4-0 Earl of Meirioneth seen here at Porthmadog Harbour station. July 13 2003

From the left your webmaster, Jeremy Phelan and Leon Salter at Blaenau Ffestiniog. July 13 2003 © John Salter
From the left your webmaster, Jeremy Phelan and Leon Salter at Blaenau Ffestiniog. July 13 2003 © John Salter

This is the view from 'The Cob' towards the mountains of Snowdonia. July 13 2003

This is the view from 'The Cob' towards the mountains of Snowdonia. July 13 2003

The view from The Cob with annotation. July 13 2003

The view from The Cob with annotation. July 13 2003

Double Fairlie 0-4-0+0-4-0 Earl of Meirioneth crosses The Cob leaving Porthmadog with the delayed 13:40 service. July 13 2003

Double Fairlie 0-4-0+0-4-0 Earl of Meirioneth crosses The Cob leaving Porthmadog with the delayed 13:40 service. July 13 2003

Double Fairlie 0-4-0+0-4-0 Earl of Meirioneth climbs on the 1 in 78 away from Tanygrisau with the 15:10 from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog. It has just crossed Portal Road crossing. July 13 2003
Double Fairlie 0-4-0+0-4-0 Earl of Meirioneth climbs on the 1 in 78 away from Tanygrisiau with the 15:10 from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog. It has just crossed Portal Road crossing. July 13 2003

2-4-0stt Linda, running about an hour down, with the 16:00 service from Porthmadog at Groesfforth, near Glan-y-Pwll depot, on the approach to Blaenau Ffestiniog. July 13 2003

2-4-0stt Linda, running about an hour down, with the 16:00 service from Porthmadog at Groesfforth, near Glan-y-Pwll depot, on the approach to Blaenau Ffestiniog. July 13 2003

Linda near Glan-y-Pwll depot on the approach to Blaenau Ffestiniog. July 13 2003

Working flat out to make up the hour delay former Penrhyn Railway loco Linda climbs at 1 in 78 across Stwlan Dam level crossing, away from Tanygrisau, with the 17:30 ex Blaenau Ffestiniog. Hearing the engine working this hard it was obvious the loco had a Lempor exhaust. Not surprisingly Linda sounds very similar to Puffing Billy 6A. July 13 2003
Working flat out to make up the hour delay former Penrhyn Railway loco Linda climbs at 1 in 78 across Stwlan Dam level crossing, away from Tanygrisiau, with the 17:30 ex Blaenau Ffestiniog. Hearing the engine working this hard it was obvious the loco had a Lempor exhaust. Not surprisingly Linda sounds very similar to Puffing Billy 6A. July 13 2003

The area around Blaenau Ffestiniog is covered in the the remains of slate quarries. There are many inclines making their way up the hillsides. This shows the remains of the Wrysgan Quarry incline near Tanygrisau. It operated from the 1850s to 1946. July 13 2003
The area around Blaenau Ffestiniog is covered in the the remains of slate quarries. There are many inclines making their way up the hillsides. This shows the remains of the Wrysgan Quarry incline near Tanygrisiau. It operated from the 1850s to 1946. July 13 2003

Click here to move on to the Talyllyn Railway.

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