"The Festiniog Railway Company is the world's oldest independent railway company, established in 1832 by Act of Parliament.
In the late 1790s W A Madocks reclaimed land and built an embankment, the Cob, across the estuary of the River Glaslyn at Porthmadog producing a natural harbour. This would transform the slate industry around Blaenau Ffestiniog enabling the construction of a railway to replace the pack animals and farm carts which had carried the slate over rough roads to the River Dwyryd, taken by shallow-bottomed boats to Porthmadog and transferred to sea-going vessels.
Henry Archer, a businessman from Dublin, joined Sam Holland, a quarry owner at Rhiw, to promote the Festiniog Railway, and James Spooner surveyed and constructed the route. The gauge 23 inches or 597 mm was that used in the quarries.
The line was first worked by horses hauling empty wagons from Porthmadog back up to the quarries, then walking round to ride in dandy carts going down the steep gradient by gravity to the harbour.
James Spooner's son Charles Easton Spooner took control of the railway in 1856 and looked into the use of steam locomotives on a narrow gauge line. In 1863 the first steam locomotives, The Princess and Mountaineer, were built in London and delivered to Porthmadog by rail and horse and cart, entering into service in October. Also in 1863 permission was given to run passenger trains - a first for British narrow gauge. Some of the low four wheeled carriages are still used today on vintage trains.
Soon afterwards a service was provided for the quarrymen. Some lodged at the quarries during the week, returning home on Saturday and travelling back early on Monday morning.
Locomotive development continued. There was a need for a more powerful engine than the single bogie originally used, and Robert Fairlie designed a double-bogie engine. These are used on the line today and look like two back-to-back locomotives. Their design incorporates a swivelling powered bogie which can work the sharp curves and steep gradient. This engineering feat was noticed in other parts of the world where other railway engineers faced similar problems and in 1870 they came to see the first Fairlie double engine Little Wonder demonstrated.
For many years the slate industry flourished and Porthmadog harbour was a hive of activity. There was boat building and repair, traffic in and out of the port, and slate wharves for each quarry company with tracks from the railway to load at the harbour. The local communities worked in a range of jobs, both operating the line and in the Boston Lodge Works.
Until the 1870s the railway flourished, but then competition came from other lines. The Great Western and London & North-Western Railways could take slate out via Blaenau Ffestiniog.
The new lines produced some benefit for tourists, who came by train, and by the 1920s tourists were as important as the slate traffic.
The Second World War produced more problems and on 1 August 1946 the line closed. The manager, Robert Evans, worked hard to stop the looters and vandals.
Railway enthusiasts had a dream - to re-open the Ffestiniog railway and in 1951 a group of people met in Bath to explore the possibility. It wasn't an easy task as the shareholders had to be traced and their stock acquired. But in June 1954 a controlling interest was acquired by Alan Pegler who put the shares into a charitable trust. Volunteers came forward to cutback and relay the overgrown track, repair locomotives and carriages, and attend to buildings.
In July 1955 a passenger service was reinstated between Porthmadog and Boston Lodge. The challenges continued as a pumped storage scheme, built near Tanygrisiau submerged part of the line. A long legal battle for compensation took place and volunteers built a deviation in the form of a spiral around Dduallt. In 1983 there was great celebrations as the service was finally restored to Blaenau Ffestiniog.
Today the Rheilffordd Ffestiniog is very popular with tourists - and the many volunteers who ensure its survival. The Festiniog Railway Company also operates the Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarfon) which currently operates from Caernarfon and Rhyd Ddu but which one day will re-open all the way to Porthmadog."
your comments
Mike Brady, Dyfnant
I cannot believe what I read in the message by Mr Vivian Parry Williams. He ignores the following facts: 1. The railway works and sheds have from the beginning been at Boston Lodge, near Portmadoc. It was an obvious and only possible choice to start the reopening from that end. 2. Consequently shops and ticket sales needed for funds were obviously going to be developed at the Portmadoc end. 3. hundreds of thousands of pounds in hard cash and countless man-years of volunteer labour have been poured into the line at every point, including the Blaenau end. 4. In the early years of restoration you heard nothing but criticism of the voluntary element: potential jobs being taken from the locals etc. 5. Whilst the line in its heyday throve on the slate trade which was responsible for its original development, subsequently the business people of Blaenau did everything they could to divert trade to other means, particularly the LNWR line to Llandudno Junction and the GWR line to Bala and subsequently to road. 6. It is not the responsibility of the railway to provide money-making schemes for the people of Blaenau, any more than than for the people of any other community. 6. Why can't the people of Blaenau do something for themselves? They had full employment during the times of Trawsfynydd, Tanygrisiau & Llynstwlan; they have also had money pumped into the town infrastructure. Surely there's someone there who could have used some initiative. They can't bear the indignity of earning money from what they call the "Coolie Culture". I am sorry Mr Parry Williams. Slate comes from China now. In Britain we are no longer manufacturers, but the providers of services. In Portmadoc, Blaenau Ffestiniog is known as the chamberpot of Wales, and until things change globally, its inhabitants who aren't prepared to do something for themselves had better look forward to going hungry (and wet). Tyrd ona Parry Williams: Chwarae Teg. [Come on... fair play!]
Wed Mar 18 15:35:52 2009
Vivian Parry Williams, Blaenau Ffestiniog
The annoying thing for Blaenau Ffestiniog residents is that although the line is called the Ffestinog Railway, it is Porthmadog that benefits from its tourist money, where the main rail centre, cafe, shop etc. are situated. May I remind all concerned that the line would not be in existence had it not been for Ffestiniog slate, and indeed, it was constructed to carry that product from the Ffestiniog mines to Porthmadog. It is about time that the railway people appreciated this and invested in the town that gave birth and its name to this world-famous tourist attraction.
Mon Jan 12 12:32:56 2009
Hugh Eaves from London
I was greatly disappointed by the line. I felt it was over priced for what is and the stuff unwelcoming and hurried. It felt more like the Hong Kong metro than a tourist visit I certainly won't be spending any of mine or anyone else’s money there.
Mon Jun 16 10:43:51 2008
Malmadog
The railway is just an expensive big boy's toy, what about the traffic in the summer, have you tried crossing the bridge at Porthmadog?
Wed Feb 20 08:55:10 2008
Chris Thomas, Stockport
The Ffestiniog is a proper railway. It serves a route between towns and so does a proper job. The locomotives bark as they vigorously exert themselves and the people who run the railway are professionals to their fingertips. I have visited the railway on many occasions since 1956 when I was seven. It is a living tribute to the commitment, determination and skill of all those who dedicate their time to this magnificent enterprise.
Mon Feb 11 09:37:59 2008
Tony Smedley Spalding UK
Our American friends may find it useful to know that apart from the Ffestiniog railway, there are two other narrow gauge lines in the area which are very much worth a visit. The Welsh Highland Railway (portmadog) runs from the other side of Portmadog towards Beddgelert. It is very much a volunteer run railway and concentrates on the historical and vintage aspects.
Starting in the square by the castle in Caernarvon the Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarvon)is steadily being extended by way of Beddgelert to Portmadog where it will connect with the Ffestiniog railway. It will also connect with the other Welsh Highland 9portmadog) line.
All three lines have their own individual characteristics and are well worth the visit.
It is true that the fares seem expensive for a family, but show me any other attraction which offers so much for the same price!
Mon Oct 16 16:58:20 2006
