THE FFESTINIOG RAILWAY ====================== A potted history of the famous Ffestiniog Railway in Wales, compiled by John Luxton (70374,30). This railway is now the only railway in the world which continues to operate (and build) Fairlie type articulated steam locomotives. It has a track gauge of just 1 foot 11.5 inches (60 cms). At the end of the 18th Century William Alexander Madocks bought some land at the mouth of the Afon Glaslyn. He set about reclaiming this land much of which was tidal by constructing a great embankment - the Cob - across Treath Mawr - the Glaslyn Estuary. At the north west end of the Cob a port was established where a channel created by the diverted Afon Glaslyn had formed a natural harbour. This was became Portmadoc, later changes to Porthmadog. At around the same time slate deposits were being exploited up in the mountains at aplace known as Blaenau Ffestiniog. At that time the slates had to be carried by pack horse to quays on the Afon (River) Dwyryd. In 1830 a short time after Madock died Samuel Holland and an Irish businessman Henry Archer promoted the Ffestiniog Railway which was incorporated by act of parliament on 23rd May 1832. James Spooner being appointed engineer. The route, whose final mile crossed the Cob, enabled trains carrying slate to run down from Blaenau Ffestiniog using gravity. The empty trains being hauled back to Blaenau by horse who had ridden down with the loaded trains in a dandy wagon. The gauge chosen was 57.7 cm the same as that used in the quarries and narrow enough to allow the use of fairly sharp curves. In 1863 steam locomotives were introduced by Charles Easton Spooner, son of James Spooner. The first Locomotives being built by George England Co. At the same time as steam traction was introduced the Board of Trade sanctioned the introduction of passenger services. Growth in traffic led to capacity problems. It was therefore decided that as an alternative to double track Fairlie Patent articulated locomotives should be introduced - double engines of increased haulage capacity which could haul longer trains. These characteristic engines look like two engines joined back to back but they have one long rigid boiler with central fire boxes and cab. In 1870, the first Fairlie "Little Wonder" was introduced to traffic.It was followed by several others over the years. The most recent Fairlie loco being built in 1979 - "Earl of Merioneth". The company is currently constructing another Fairlie loco.The "Earl of Merioneth" is a steam locomotive designed using modern technology, though it still bears a resemblence to the pioneer engine. Now the F.R. is the only railway in the world to operate Fairlie locomotives. All F.R. steam locomotives are oil fired. Convenience and the removal of lineside fire risks (the line passes through a number of wooded areas) are the reason for this. The line also has a fleet of diesel locos. "Upnor Castle" and "Conwy Castle" are regular passenger locos. "Conwy Castle" has been specially adapted to work with a new set of coaches - the leading observation car of which houses a motorman's cab. This means the loco can propell the train without the need to runround. This set of coaches intended for winter use is fully central heated. The F.R. also has the honour of being the first British railway to be the first British Railway to introduce bogie passenger carraiges in 1876. Unfortunately towards the end of the 19th Century there was a decline in the output of the slate quarries which were the railways main customer. This combined with increasing competion for the remaining slate traffic led to a decline in traffic. This, combined with an unfortunate leasing of the moribund Welsh Highland Railway was to cause the F.R. to sink into a financial quagmire. The tourist industry during the 1930s was beginning to devolop and provide much passenger traffic, but much ofthe reciepts were swallowed up by operation of the Welsh Highland Rly under a lease from the recievers of the latter undertaking. The F.R. ceased operating the WHR in 1937 but the damage was done. FR passenger service was withdrawn in September 1939 and goods facilites terminated in 1946. The railway then was left to nature, except for the section in Blaenau which was leased to the quarry companies. The company tried to abandon the line but this was not possible as an act of parliament prevented it. So the railway became more and more overgrown and derelict. Then came a saviour in the form of Alan Peglar and a group of enthusaists who bought the stock holdings of the orignal shareholders and placed them in a trust. Train services were reintroduced between Porthmadog and Boston Lodge in 1955 and restoration of services continued progressively up the line until Blaenau Ffestiniog was reached in 1982. During the years of closure a section of line was aquired by compulsory purchase by the CEGB to build a pumped storage scheme as they considered the railway closed. This was to result in the need to build a deviation around Llyn Ystradau between Dduallt (pronouced Theeacht) and Tan -y-Grisiau, the lower reservoir of the pumped storage scheme. Construction started in the mid 1960s and was completed by the mid 1970s being the largest civil engineering works undertaken mainly by volunteer labour. By 1982 trains once again ran into Blaenau Ffestiniog,into a new joint station which enables passengers to connect with Bristish Railways service to the North Wales coast. The FR is not a preserved railway as such. It is very much a modern transport concern meeting demands for leisure travel in an area of great scenic beauty. Its locomotives comprise both steam and diesel, coaches are mostly modern designs which include buffets and observation cars. All modern stock is gangwayed allowing movement thru the train rare on a railway of such a narrow gauge. Ticketing systems are computerised, most signals and level crossings are controlled by colour lights etc. The railway is, however, aware of its heritage. And during the summer a vintage train is run using the early preserved rolling stock and either "Merddyn Emrys" or "Prince", the latter being the line's oldest working passenger loco dating back to 1865. "Prince" has been rebuilt so many times that there are no longer any of the original components left ! The next time you vist Wales don't miss a visit to the Ffestiniog Rly. A detailed potted history of the line and detailed route maps with information on what to look for from the carraige window is available. The "Ffestiniog Railway Travellers Guide" it costs 2 pounds plus P&P and can be obtained from the Ffestiniog Railway Company, Porthmadog Harbour Station, Porthmadog, Gwynedd. Currently out of print though scheduled for reprinting in the near future is the definitive Oakwood Press two volume history of the line.