Ffestiniog Railway

Heritage narrow gauge railway in Wales, United Kingdom

The Ffestiniog Railway (Welsh: Rheilffordd Ffestiniog) is a heritage narrow-gauge railway in Gwynedd, Wales. It runs between Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Ffestiniog Railway
locomotive David Lloyd George at Blaenau Ffestiniog.
LocaleGwynedd, Wales
TerminusPorthmadog
Commercial operations
NameFestiniog Railway Company
Built byFestiniog Railway Company
Original gauge1 ft 11.5in
Preserved operations
Operated byFestiniog Railway Company
Stations10
Length13.5 miles (21.7 km)
Preserved gauge1 ft 11.5in
Commercial history
Opened20 April 1836
Closed1 August 1946
Preservation history
1954Restoration started at Boston Lodge works 20 September 1954
1955Reopened from Portmadoc Harbour to Boston Lodge – 23 July
1956Reopened to Minffordd
1957Reopened to Penrhyn
1958Reopened to Tan-y-Bwlch
1965Start of the Deviation construction work
1968Reopened to Dduallt
1974Restoration of Rhiw Goch passing loop
1977Reopened to Llyn Ystradau
1978Reopened to Tanygrisiau
1982Reopened to Blaenau Ffestiniog

It is a big tourist attraction as it runs through the Snowdonia National Park.

The track used on the railway is 1 ft 11 1⁄2 in (597 mm) wide. It is about 13 1⁄2 miles (21.7 km) long and runs from the harbour at Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog, a town famous for slate mining. It is very picturesque as it runs through very forested and mountainous scenery.

The company that owns the railway, the Ffestiniog Railway Company, is the world's oldest railway company that still exists. It also owns the Welsh Highland Railway that runs from Caernarfon to Porthmadog.

Stations

change

There is 11 stations that are still open on the route: