An afternoon on the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways (8th July 2025)

#ffestiniogandwelshhighlandrailways #rail200

In a long overdue trip to Porthmadog on the afternoon of Tuesday 9th July 2025 (my first since the Covid pandemic), naturally a visit to the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways was in order.

Harbour station saw a fair deal of activity, with arrivals and departures to and from Blaenau Ffestiniog and Caernarfon respectively, plus some shunting movement of various carriage sets. In traffic on this day were Linda, James Spooner, Merddin Emrys and Taliesin on the Ffestiniog, with Welsh Highland NGG16 Garratts 143 and 87 putting in an appearance.

There was also the opportunity to take a ride halfway up the line on the Ffestiniog's 1960's vintage set, with Taliesin working the 14:50 Woodland Wanderer to Tanybwlch and back. At the latter location, Linda passes on the upward 'Quarryman' service to Blaenau Ffestiniog.

There was also a surprise move of the day back at Porthmadog, with the Ffestiniog's PW Baguley diesel loco Harlech Castle on a lineside watering movement, to reduce the risk of lineside fires in the Summer heat.

CHAPTER POINTS

00:00 Intro
00:16 Shunting activity at Porthmadog
03:35 Departures to Caernarfon, Blaenau Ffestiniog and Boston Lodge
06:46 The Woodland Wanderer Part 1: Porthmadog to Tanybwlch
14:18 An interlude at Tanybwlch
17:59 The Woodland Wanderer Part 2: Tanybwlch to Porthmadog
23:24 The day's end at Porthmadog
25:40 End Credits