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Ffestiniog Railway, Wales

A Ffestiniog locomotive - this image is by Guy Chapman and is copyright free

Modern railways have their origins in horse and man drawn rail systems built to serve coal mines. The earliest of these were built in central Europe, with the first example in Britain dating to 1630. The Ffestiniog railway in north Wales gives a link back to these earliest days of rail. Ffestiniog is the oldest railway company in the world, created by an act of Parliament in 1832. The line used the power of horses and gravity to serve the slate quarries around Blaenau Ffestiniog. Only two years previously, George Stephenson's steam locomotive Rocket had started pulling trains on the new Liverpool to Manchester line.

The Ffestiniog line was successful, carrying slate, and increasing numbers of passengers. But into the twentieth century both slate haulage, and the line's passenger business went into decline. The Second World War - when road travel was virtually suspended - was the last dominant period for railways. In 1946, as soon as the war ended, the Ffestiniog Railway closed down. But railways had long been viewed as too important to be left to the mercies of profit and loss. As early as 1844 William Gladstone's government had passed legislation limiting third class fares to a penny a mile. As soon as the Ffestiniog railway closed a group of enthusiasts set to work to reopen the line, which they managed to achieve in 1954. Since then the railway has become one of north Wales's most popular tourist attractions. The line passes through beautiful and remote areas of Snowdonia, inaccessible by road.

Address: Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway, Harbour Station, Porthmadog, Gwynedd, LL49 9NF

Opening Times: Services run on various days throughout the year. Make sure you check the official web site for service times.

Directions: The line runs from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog, with parking facilities at both. Porthmadog becomes very busy in summer, so it is best to park at Blaenau Ffestiniog and get on the train there. There are also parking facilities at some stations along the line - Minffordd, Tan-y-Blwch, and Tanygrisiau. Click here for an interactive map centred on Blaenau Ffestiniog Station.

Access: There is ramped access at Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog. Some trains have wide access doors for standard sized wheelchairs. Contact the railway before hand to discuss your needs.

Contact:

telephone for general enquiries - 01766 516000

for booking - 01766 516024

fax: 01766 516005

e-mail: enquiries@festrail.co.uk

web site: http://www.ffestiniograilway.co.uk/index.asp

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