Description

The rebuilt Welsh Highland Railway is without doubt one of the wonders of the modern age.

Rebuilt against all the odds, it brings to Snowdonia a great new way to view this most beautiful part of the British Isles. The railway was thought lost amidst the dusty record books of time but today survives to carry passengers from sea level up to 650ft and under the gaze of the magnificent mountains between Caernarfon in the north and Porthmadog to the south.

At Porthmadog the railway shares its base with its neighbour, the famous Ffestiniog Railway. After a brief exploration of the railway’s rebuild, this programme introduces the viewer to some of the motive power that has not just helped reconstruct the line but also now works on its timetabled services.

The opportunity is taken to see photographers’ special trains using Ffestiniog Railway motive power on the twists and curves of what for all of us is in effect a new railway. To the photographers it’s about new locations and challenges whatever the weather. Their best photographs will help celebrate the achievement of the railway and provide worldwide publicity encouraging fresh visitors to call and take the Welsh Highland experience.

The Snowdonian With the new railway built there is the option for some 40 miles of continuous narrow gauge steam railway haulage using both the Welsh Highland and Ffestiniog railways. On 2nd April 2011 a special train ran from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog, to Porthmadog to Caernarvon and back to Porthmadog. One of the very first through double Fairlie hauled services between the WHR and FR. Lineside cameras captured the action!