In Part, 2 we leave the ancient woodland behind as our train meanders along the hillsides between dry stone walls with clear views to the stunning Llyn Mair (Mary’s Lake) far below. The unspoiled scenery and mountains stretch as far as the eye can see, this is Wales at its best. After a short tunnel, we are once again treated to kind of vista that would normally adorn a chocolate box lid, before passing under our line at Ddaultt where we leave the original alignment now flooded by the creation of Tanygrisiau Reaevoir to join a new alignment. We complete a spiral to cross over the line we have just traversed gaining enough height to take us along the banks of the man-made reservoir with glimpses of the abandoned track bed below. Over time the new lake has blended in to harmonise and even enhance the already stunning views from the train window. Regaining the original route at Tanygrisiau we run along a ledge hewn out of the rock face just wide enough for our narrow gauge train to pass. The pretty cottages either side of the line at this point are so close you could almost reach out and touch them. Journeys end is near as we approach Blaenau Ffestiniog surrounded by evidence of the once flourishing slate industry for which the line was built. Today the narrow gauge railway finishes in a new station it shares with the standard gauge Conwy Valley line. Blaenau Ffestiniog is a fascinating place brimming with railway history as the once independent companies all competed to transport the lucrative roofing slates to all parts of Britain and even other countries via the harbour at Porthmadog.
In this video we take a now and then look at the old GWR line to Bala as far as Trawsfynydd, mothballed today, but there are determined people striving to breathe new life into this highly scenic and desolate line. We wish them luck as it would be a wonderful experience to step off of a narrow gauge steam train to join a full size one destined for Trawsfynydd.
Finally I have included a few minutes of old cine film taken by my parents showing the Ffestiniog railway in 1963.
Music - ES_Easy in the City - Johan Hynynen - epidemicsound.com 31.37 & 37.40 - ES_Easy in the Neighbourhood 3 - Johan Hynynen - epidemicsound.co