Heritage

Many years since my last visit – and the station buildings have undergone a significant extension – vertically upwards – since then.  Sympathetically done this has provided additional office space and allowed extension of the cafe area and shop which occupy the ground floor.  This rebuilding took place in 2003/4.  Passenger numbers reached around 100k in 1973 but the last 30 years has seen many other railways open and now about 45k are carried each year.

Once on the platform we meet our train of the day headed by No 2 Dolgoch which was built in 1866 by Fletcher, Jennings & Co.  The coaches in use on the Victorian train were TR nos 2, 3, 4 and 5 – the brake van containing the ticket window from where tickets were sold in the early years of the preservation era.  All vehicles date from 1866/7 with no 4 coming from the Lancaster Wagon Co, the others from Brown, Marshalls and Co.  Also in the formation were a Corris Railway third, numbered 8 when on the CR, but is now Talyllyn number 17 and Glyn Valley Tramway no 14 of 1892.

There is a warm staff welcome at Tywyn Wharf where one can cross the line without a hi-viz jacket to take a picture on the sunny side.  All of the platforms are on the north side of the line and there are no doors on the southern side of the line; so getting a photograph with the sun shining on the locos is never easy.  Good patronage but we are encouraged to take seats anywhere in the formation and also to move around at the various stops to try the different coaches (although all are fairly spartan I would suggest).

Our first stop is Rhydyronen where Dolgoch sets back to allow a runpast – and all of the photographers again cross the line (with approval) to obtain decent photographs.  Whilst most passengers travel the entire line there is an adjacent caravan and camping park.  We continue up the line to Dolgoch Falls station and here we have two special treats.  First Dolgoch takes water from the original water source via a pretty basic route (a wooden u shaped channel) from an old water tank.  Then Dolgoch sets back twice onto the bridge over the Nant Dolgoch stream to commence a couple of run throughs enabling pictures in the green wooded area.

On my first visit to this line Abergynolwyn was the operating limit as we approach the station we can see No7 “Tom Rolt”  waiting for us to clear the line so that the service train can return to to Tywyn.  No 7 was built by the railway using parts from another locomotive.  However no longer buffer stops here and we continue through to Nant Gwernol.  A service provided on this Victorian Train is for a volunteer to join various coaches and to tell us some of the history of the line; in this case pointing out the the incline down to Nant Gwernol village; the links to the Rev Awdry stories many of the early ones being closely linked to the Railway and also stories the former Abergynolwyn catering manageress.  A pleasant and welcome variation from a simple train ride.  Go and read the Four Little Engines! Our train runs on up to Nant Gwernol, the opening of which in 1976 required an Act of Parliament to allow extension of passenger working beyond Abergynolwyn stipulated in the original legislation.  Dolgoch runs round and we then run back to Abergynolwyn where the passengers take lunch.  The Ioco and train stand in the loop, away from the platform.

Whilst we are sitting in the sunshine No 6 Douglas passes through Abergynolwyn on the other service train.  The loco has been with the Talyllyn since 1954 but dates from 1918, built by Andrew Barclay and fitted with a new boiler in 1995.

Once the service train has gone our driver consults on sequence of moves required at Abergynolwyn as it would appear he has not worked this before (I think this was the first or second run of 2014 for the Victorian Train).  Eventually Dolgoch runs round the train but it remains in the loop. The crew of 3 (there is a trainee given instructions on the crew operated ground frame) finally get a cold toasted sandwich which they had ordered on arrival!

Douglas returns from Nant Gwernol with the service train and stables in the loop at the western end of the platform to enable the Victorian train to pull into the eastern end of the platform and we rejoin the train again moving around as before.  Our special train heads for Nant Gwernol again (I said earlier this was not a simple return journey) whilst the service train returns to Tywyn.

At Nant Gwernol Dolgoch runs round and then takes the train back to Abergynolwyn.

A major development since my last visit was opened in May 2013 by Timothy West and Prunella Scales.  This is “The Guest House” a carriage storage facility at Quarry Siding made possible by a bequest by a former driver, Phil Guest who has served on the line from 1969 until his passing in 2008.  Like many other railways storing all stock in a dry location had not been possible and this additional facility will mean looking after the Victorian and other stock will be much easier in the future.

Our journey back to Tywyn is interrupted by a stop at Brynglas for a final photo opportunity before we pass down the rest of the line.  Unlike at least one of my earlier visits to the line our progress is not delayed by a trespassing sheep.  I can remember one trip being at a very slow pace as the sheep progressed and could not be encouraged off of the line and no gap could be found for the sheep to return to the adjacent field.

The attraction at Tywyn Wharf is no longer the train but a scone plus jam and cream, a cup of tea and some cake.

Heartily recommended.

The Welsh Highland Railway is running a more intensive service towards the end of the week but at the point we travelled the line there were two round trips, one from each end.  Later in the week this extended to 2 1/2 round trips with the locos starting at the other end each day.

In many respects this is a “new” railway, travelling from Porthmadog it follows the alignment of the old line through to Dinas it is fair to say that the line was rebuilt from nothing.

The line runs out of Porthmadog in the opposite direction to the Ffestiniog generally heading north.  There is a flat crossing with the National Rail line (currently non-operational due to the closure of Pont Brivet) and we pass the other Welsh Highland – the WH Heritage Railway which lies on the left hand side passing their terminus at Pen-y-mount.  On this section we bowl along at a respectable speed as the line is either level or only a very slight gradient, stopping at Pont Croesor.  This continues until we take a sharp left turn at what was Croesor Junction, the old Croesor Tramway continuing ahead.  Afon Glaslyn is alongside to the left and shortly before Nantmor Halt we commence a more serious climbing passing through the Aberglaslyn tunnels.

This is the most scenically attractive section of the route as we are in the Pass of Aberglaslyn with rails, road and river close together.  Between the railway and river is a restored pathway with many walkers and photographers observing our progress.  Through Goat Tunnel and into Beddgelert station for a welcome breather.  We are now at the bottom of a continuous climb at around 1 in 50.  This section of the route is not easy as twice we turn back on ourselves as we climb – with sharp curves as well, once before Meillionen and once after.  Just before the summit at 648ft above sea level there is a good view of Snowdon – as usual the top is lost in the clouds.

We pause at Rhy Ddu which was the terminus from Caernarfon for some time until the line was opened.  It is a lot easier for the locomotive and crew now.  Today we are behind No 138 which has performed well on the climb.  We pass 143 which is operating the other service.  Rather than the heavily wooded countryside we passed through earlier this is rather more bleak as we look at the lower slopes of Snowdon but as descend the landscape softens. Dinas houses the locomotive and carriage works for the West Highland Railway and there are clearly significant facilities here as we pass the Locomotive shed as we run into the station and then pass the carriage shed as we leave, the loco having taken on coal loaded by a mechanical digger.

The original Welsh Highland ended at Dinas with a connection into the Caernarfon to Afon Wen branch.  The new railway however has adopted the old track bed and we continue onwards into Caernarfon coming to a rest at the temporary station almost in the shadow of the walls of the Castle.  Indeed it has now been announced that a more permanent station is to be built to replace the temporary structure.  Dinas to Caernarfon had been converted to a cycle path after closure of the rail line and some re-alignment of the latter has allowed the rail route to be re-instated.

There is one drawback to this one train each way timetable – we only just about have time to consume lunch in a pub before returning and no time to explore Caernarfon.  Oddly I have been to the castle before – and there is not a lot to it.  A return to be arranged once that new station is built.  Even better if the line is extended through the tunnel under the town and there is continuing talk that for £40m a narrow gauge line could run to Bangor along the route of the standard gauge line closed in 1970.
The return working is even better.  The clouds have lifted and the sun is shining and it is now possible to see the summit of Snowdon from the train.  Pity we did not plan a day out visiting it!