Re: Info please on visiting the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highlands railways
| September 01, 2018 03:45AM |
John,
On The FR the Pullman/Observation cars are usually on the Porthmadog end of the train, on WHR trains on the Caernarfon end.
So if you want to enjoy the landscape, ride first class from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestinog and one of the last cars back to Porthmadog to have a good view of the locomotive (specially on the Dduallt spiral).
It you prefer to have the locomotive on front of your panorama window, do it the other way aound and take 1/- the third coach back from the locomotive to have a good view of it on the "up" journey.
Travelling the WHR you start the oposit way from Porthmadog: Ride the (semi) open coach from Porthmadog to Caernarfon and first class back to Porthmadog.
On the WHR there are two different Pullmans: Bodysgallen and Glaslyn. Glaslyn is the glass-ended Observation coach, Bodysgallen the more traditional Pullman coach with no end windows. You might want to keep this in mind when booking your seats.
As for dining options there are different decent pubs/restaurants in Porthmadog. Three weeks ago I did try "The Ship", "Royal Sportsman Hotel", "Spooner's" and "Passage to India" (indian restaurant, the name gives it away ;-) ) And all of them did feed me with good food.
Others did point it out previously: If you have some time to spend in Porthmadog, try riding the WHHR as well! The line is short but it gives you the opportunity to visit their museum and learn a bit about the differen railway's histories. A huge plus is the very well stocked souvenir shop with a big selection of railroad books from all over the world. (I did buy my copy of the "315" book there for example.)
Are you travelling by rental car? Then try and plan a visit to Llanberis into your intinerary, this is another "hub" for narrow gauge, as there is the Llanberis Lake Railway which takes you along the shores of Padarn lake, trains usually pulled by one of the resident Quarry Hunslets, The Snowdon Mountain Railway which is a rack railway up Snowdon Mountain and las but not least there is the Welsh Slate Museum. This Museum is still one of my favourite Museums to visit. Situatet at the headquarters of Dinorwi Quarries it explains the history of slate mining in Wales.
During the month of September you have a chance to have a free ride on board a swiss steam train on a portion the Snowdon Mountain Railway as one of the Brienz Rothorn Bahn's steam trains have been transported there for a visit.
Very best Regards,
Urias
Ps: The Pictures are from 2013, I don't have any more recent ones available online at the moment.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/01/2018 03:47AM by Urias von Meyenburg.
On The FR the Pullman/Observation cars are usually on the Porthmadog end of the train, on WHR trains on the Caernarfon end.
So if you want to enjoy the landscape, ride first class from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestinog and one of the last cars back to Porthmadog to have a good view of the locomotive (specially on the Dduallt spiral).
It you prefer to have the locomotive on front of your panorama window, do it the other way aound and take 1/- the third coach back from the locomotive to have a good view of it on the "up" journey.
Travelling the WHR you start the oposit way from Porthmadog: Ride the (semi) open coach from Porthmadog to Caernarfon and first class back to Porthmadog.
On the WHR there are two different Pullmans: Bodysgallen and Glaslyn. Glaslyn is the glass-ended Observation coach, Bodysgallen the more traditional Pullman coach with no end windows. You might want to keep this in mind when booking your seats.
As for dining options there are different decent pubs/restaurants in Porthmadog. Three weeks ago I did try "The Ship", "Royal Sportsman Hotel", "Spooner's" and "Passage to India" (indian restaurant, the name gives it away ;-) ) And all of them did feed me with good food.
Others did point it out previously: If you have some time to spend in Porthmadog, try riding the WHHR as well! The line is short but it gives you the opportunity to visit their museum and learn a bit about the differen railway's histories. A huge plus is the very well stocked souvenir shop with a big selection of railroad books from all over the world. (I did buy my copy of the "315" book there for example.)
Are you travelling by rental car? Then try and plan a visit to Llanberis into your intinerary, this is another "hub" for narrow gauge, as there is the Llanberis Lake Railway which takes you along the shores of Padarn lake, trains usually pulled by one of the resident Quarry Hunslets, The Snowdon Mountain Railway which is a rack railway up Snowdon Mountain and las but not least there is the Welsh Slate Museum. This Museum is still one of my favourite Museums to visit. Situatet at the headquarters of Dinorwi Quarries it explains the history of slate mining in Wales.
During the month of September you have a chance to have a free ride on board a swiss steam train on a portion the Snowdon Mountain Railway as one of the Brienz Rothorn Bahn's steam trains have been transported there for a visit.
Very best Regards,
Urias
Ps: The Pictures are from 2013, I don't have any more recent ones available online at the moment.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/01/2018 03:47AM by Urias von Meyenburg.
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
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