Welsh Highland Heritage Railway

Address: Tremadog Road, Porthmadog, Gwynedd LL49 9DY
Telephone: 01766 513402 Email: info@whr.co.uk
Line Length: 1 mile Gauge: 1ft 11¾ inches
Route: Porthmadog to Pen-y-Mount Journey Time: 1 hour (round trip)
Service: March - Thursdays, 18, 24, 25, 27, 28, 31 / April 1 - September 14 every day / September 15, 16, 18 - 20, 22, 23, 25 - 27, 29, 30 / October - every day except 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 29 - 31 •
Tickets: Adult £6.00, Child £3.00, Family £15.00 (2adults and 2 children), unlimited travel on day of issue
Parking: LL49 9DY close to public car park
Website: www.whr.co.uk YouTubevideo location map

Porthmadog (WHR) Station: Refreshments, shop

Gelert's Farm Halt: Engine sheds, museum, miniature railway

In 1961 a small band of enthusiasts broke away from the Ffestiniog Railway organisation to form the Welsh Highland Railway Society. Their aim was to rebuild the original West Highland Railway. By 1973 construction started on the present line which goes along Beddgelert siding, Porthmadog to Pen-y-Mount junction. A passenger service commenced on 2 August 1980 although the official opening was not until 18 July 1981. To start with small industrial diesels provided the motive power but later a number of steam locomotives were acquired.

Now called the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway (WHHR) the name was changed from Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog) to avoid confusion with the much larger Welsh Highland Railway which runs from Caenarfon to Porthmadog.

The WHHR station is on Tremadog Road, Porthmadog, this is where passengers join the railway. A journey down the line goes past attractive views of mountains and cliffs to Pen-y-Mount. On the return ride the train stops at Gelert's farm halt (Engine Sheds) where there is a museum and miniature railway.

At peak times steam power is used, provided by Bagnall 'Gelert' 0-4-2T and Andrew Barclay 'Gertrude' 0-6-0T. At other times trains are hauled by diesel engine.

Bala Lake Railway

Address: The Station, Llanuwchllyn, Gwynedd LL23 7DD
Telephone: 01678 540666 Email: balalake@btconnect.com
Line Length: 4½ miles Gauge: 1ft 11¾ inches
Route: Llanuwchllyn to Bala (Penybont) Journey Time: 35 minutes
Service: April every day except 1, 2, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30 / May every day except 4, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28 / June every day except 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29 / June & August - every day / September - every day except Mondays, Fridays / October 23 - 25 / December 8, 9 •
Tickets: Adult £9.50, Child £3.00 return fare
Parking: Llanuwchllyn Station LL23 7DD free
Website: www.bala-lake-railway.co.uk YouTubevideo location map

Llanuwchllyn Station: Refreshments, loco shed, signalbox, gift shop

The Bala Lake Railway is built on the trackbed that formed the standard gauge Great Western Railway Ruabon - Barmouth route. Opened in 1868 the line from Bala to Dolgellau was built by the Bala and Dolgelley Railway Company. It connected to the Corwen and Bala Railway at Bala Junction and with the Cambrian Railway at Dolgellau. Passenger services to Bala ceased in 1965 with closure of the line from Llangollen to Barmouth.

A great deal of interest was shown by preservationists who could see the potential of the route because of its outstanding scenery. The Merioneth County Council purchased the trackbed in 1970 and proposed an ambitious narrow gauge railway from Bala to Barmouth Junction. Nothing came of this project but it was decided to create a new 1ft 11½ inch gauge line from Bala to Llanuwchllyn.

Work started at Llananuwchllyn where there was a station already, the first 1¼ mile of track opened in August 1972. By the end of 1972 trains were running the 2½ miles to Llangower, the destination at Bala was reached in 1976.

Advantage was taken of the fact that there was surplus equipment available from the numerous slate quarries in North Wales as they switched from rail to road transport. The first trains were pulled by a four wheeled Ruston diesel which came from a Blaenau Ffestiniog slate quarry.

Five steam locomotives are at the railway, four were manufactured by Hunslet in Leeds they are 'Holy War'; 'Maid Marian'; 'Alice' and 'George B'. The other engine was built by Peckett of Bristol and is called 'Triassic'.

Fairbourne Steam Railway

Address: Beach Road, Fairbourne, Gwynedd LL38 2EX
Telephone: 01341 250362
Line Length: 2½ miles Gauge: 12¼ inches
Route: Fairbourne to Barmouth Ferry Journey Time: 1 hour round trip
Service: February 11 - 19, 21 - 23, 25, 26, 28, 29 /March every day except Friday / April every day except 20, 27 / May every day except Friday / June every day except 15, 22, 29 / July every day except 6, 13 / August every day / September every day except 14, 21, 28 / October every day except 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19 / November 1 -4 / December 15, 16 •
Tickets: Adult £8.20, Child £4.70, Family £18.95 (2 adults and 3 children) unlimited travel on day of issue
Parking: Fairbourne LL38 2EX
Website: www.fairbournerailway.com YouTubevideo location map

Fairbourne Station: Refreshments, model railway, mainline railway

There has been a railway at Fairbourne since 1895 when carriages were horse drawn. In 1912 the Cambrian Railways opened Fairbourne mainline station bringing many more tourists to the area.

Narrow Gauge Railways Limited were seeking suitable locations for its 15 inch gauge lines and in 1916 they purchased the Fairbourne tramway. The track was re-gauged from its original 2ft to 15 inches, a single engine built by Bassett-Lowke called 'Prince Edward of Wales' provided the locomotive power.

The Fairbourne Steam Railway (FSR) changed owners a number of times between World War I and II. At the end of the war in 1945 the track was in a poor state of repair, it seemed unlikely that the railway would run again.

Three businessmen from the Midlands purchased the FSR in 1946 and quickly started restoration. By 1948 the line was completely re-laid to Barmouth Ferry.

Increasing traffic through the 1950s saw a proper station built at Fairbourne, colour light signals and a passing loop at the golf course.

Ownership changed in 1984, the decision was made to change the line to 12¼ inch gauge in 1986. Again in 1990 the railway was put up for sale, unfortunately it took five years to find a buyer.

New proprietors were found in April 1995, they made considerable investment to bring bring the FSR back to a high standard. In February 2009 it was changed to a charitable trust which should secure the future of this miniature railway by the sea.

Four steam locomotives are available they are 'Sherpa' 0-4-0ST; 'Beddgelert' 0-6-4ST; 'Russell' 2-6-4T; 'Yoe' 2-6-2T and one diesel locomotive.

Talyllyn Railway

There are five halts not shown

Address: Wharf Station, Tywyn, Gwynedd LL36 9EY
Telephone: 01654 710472 Email: enquiries@talyllyn.co.uk
Line Length: 7¼ miles Gauge: 2ft 3 inches
Route: Tywyn Wharf to Nant Gwernol Journey Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Service: February 11 - 19 / March - Sundays / April 1 - November 4 every day / December 15, 16, 22 - 24, 26 - 31 •
Tickets: Adults £14.00, Child £2.00 with an adult, unlimited travel on day of issue
Parking: Tywyn Wharf Station LL36 9EY, Dolgoch Falls Station LL36 9UW, Abergynolwyn Station LL36 9UR
Website: www.talyllyn.co.uk YouTubevideo location map

Tywyn Wharf Station: Refreshments, railway shop, narrow gauge museum, mainline railway

Abergynolwyn Station: Refreshments, shop, children's playground, picnic area

The Talyllyn Railway (TR) opened in 1866 to serve a slate quarry but it also carried passengers from the beginning. By 1911 the McConnels who owned the mine and the railway wanted to close both down. Fortunately a local landowner, Henry Haydn Jones stepped in to save the day. He kept everything going until 1946 when there was a serious rockfall at the mine which forced it to close.

Despite the loss of the mine the TR carried on until the death of its benefactor Hadyn Jones in 1950. The future of the railway looked bleak, there was no chance that it could be run as a viable business. To save money maintenance had been limited to essentials, so everything was in a run down condition.

A man called Tom Rolt and some colleagues got together with the novel idea of operating the TR through a preservation society run mainly by volunteers. So it became the world's first preserved railway.

Originally trains could only run to Abergynolwyn as the last ¾ mile was unsuitable for passenger traffic. In 1970 work started to re-lay the track to the end of the line, by May 1976 it was completed with passengers travelling through to picturesque Nant Gwernol. This station has no road access as it is in the middle of an area of woodland, there are sign posted walks, to help you explore the forest, visit mountain waterfalls or slate mines.

There are six steam locomotives No.1 'Talyllyn' 0-4-0ST, No.2 'Dolgoch' 0-4-0WT, No.3 'Sir Hayn' 0-4-2ST, No.4 'Edward Thomas' 0-4-2ST, No.6 'Douglas/Duncan' 0-4-0WT and No.7 'Tom Rolt' 0-4-2T.

top of the page