Ffestiniog Railway
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. | |
| Locale | Gwynedd, Wales |
| Terminus | Porthmadog |
| Commercial operations | |
| Name | Festiniog Railway Company |
| Built by | Festiniog Railway Company |
| Original gauge | 1 ft 11.5in |
| Preserved operations | |
| Operated by | Festiniog Railway Company |
| Stations | 10 |
| Length | 13.5 miles (21.7 km) |
| Preserved gauge | 1 ft 11.5in |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 20 April 1836 |
| Closed | 1 August 1946 |
| Preservation history | |
| 1954 | Restoration started at Boston Lodge works 20 September 1954 |
| 1955 | Reopened from Portmadoc Harbour to Boston Lodge – 23 July |
| 1956 | Reopened to Minffordd |
| 1957 | Reopened to Penrhyn |
| 1958 | Reopened to Tan-y-Bwlch |
| 1965 | Start of the Deviation construction work |
| 1968 | Reopened to Dduallt |
| 1974 | Restoration of Rhiw Goch passing loop |
| 1977 | Reopened to Llyn Ystradau |
| 1978 | Reopened to Tanygrisiau |
| 1982 | Reopened 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: