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December
2008, and Double Fairlie 'David Lloyd George'
is seen approaching Penrhyn. |
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The
Ffestiniog Railway is the oldest independent
railway company in the World - being founded by an
Act of Parliament in 1832.
The railway was
built as a gravity and horse drawn line to transport
slate from the quarries in the mountains around
Blaenau Ffestiniog. As the slate industry
flourished, so did the railway and the town of
Porthmadog. Slates from Blaenau Ffestiniog were
exported to ports all over the globe - many in ships
built in Porthmadog.
The railway was
extremely successful and introduced many innovative
engineering solutions to cope with the rapid
increase in output from the quarries and in the
number of passengers it carried. Engineers from
around the world came to study the Ffestiniog
Railway and, as a result, it has influenced the
design and construction of railways in many
countries.
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June
2008, and 'Blanche'
arrives at Minffordd with an up train bound for
Blaenau Ffestiniog. |
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However, the slate
industry - and then passenger numbers - slowly
declined, until finally the railway closed to
traffic in 1946. Luckily, pioneering railway
enthusiasts were determined that the railway should
survive and it was re-opened in 1954.
Over the last fifty
years, the Ffestiniog Railway has become a leader in
railway preservation and is now one of Wales’ top
tourist attractions. Visitors to the railway can
enjoy the outstanding natural beauty of Snowdonia as
they pass through areas inaccessible by road
undisturbed by the sights and sounds of modern life.
Our trains provide
‘access for all’ to the spectacular countryside of
North Wales - whether you prefer to sit back and
relax in comfort or you are someone who can’t get enough of
the ‘great outdoors’. We cater for both needs - and
many in between! |
