Description

Sit back and re-live the last decade at the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway, covering over 40 miles of railway, this 4-disc DVD features over 4 hours of action from between 2010 and 2020. A mixture of locomotives are featured, including the England locomotives, double Fairlies, Garratt locomotives and the famous Ffestiniog gravity train.

Running from Porthmadog Harbour Station, the Ffestiniog Railway, the world’s oldest narrow gauge railway runs for 13½ miles to the slate mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. Climbing from sea level, the railway climbs 710 feet to the terminus at Blaenau Ffestiniog, passing through the beautiful scenery Snowdonia has to offer. The railway is renowned for clinging alongside the mountainous terrain, tight curves and passing landmarks such as Dduallt spiral.

The Welsh Highland Railway, the UK’s longest heritage railway, travels from Porthmadog Harbour Station to the coastal town of Caernarfon. Travelling over 25 miles whilst passing the foot of Snowdon, the picturesque village of Beddgelert and the stunning Aberglaslyn Pass.

Across this four disc product, enjoy locomotives travelling across both railways, including the Ffestiniog locomotives hauling services on the Welsh Highland Railway. A selection of special events are featured from across the last 10 years including:

• – Superpower Weekend – multiple years
• – Victorian Weekend – multiple years
• – ‘Our Railway Adventure’ gala – May 2014
• – ‘150 Years of Passenger Services’ gala – May 2015
• – ‘Great & Small II’ gala – September 2015
• – ‘Great & Small III’ gala – September 2016
• – ‘Quirks & Curiosities II’ gala – May 2017
• – ‘Past, Present & Future’ gala – June 2019, including the first appearance of ‘Russell’ hauling passenger services through the Aberglaslyn Pass.

Throughout this four disc DVD, sit back and enjoy the sights and sounds of many different steam engines, at various events and at locations along the railway from Caernarfon to Blaenau Ffestiniog, throughout the last 10 years.

Yearly highlights

2020:

2020 saw the long awaited return of ‘Large England’ locomotive ‘Welsh Pony’, having not steamed for over 80 years ‘Welsh Pony’ was launched into service during the summer and used to haul the Ffestiniog Railway’s ‘Heritage Train’ services. Throughout the summer, due to the limitations of working alongside Covid regulations, heritage train services once again became the mainstay of services. Vintage coaching stock and locomotives were used on a daily basis, transporting passengers between Porthmadog and Tan-y-Bwlch. Footage is included from the Heritage Train Services, ‘England’ locomotive day and the autumn ‘Bygones Weekend’.

2019:

For the first time since passenger services returned to the Welsh Highland Railway, June 2019 saw Hunslet locomotive ‘Russell’ travelling through the Aberglaslyn Pass. The summer gala titled ‘Past, Present and Future’ gala celebrated everything the Welsh Highland Railway had achieved. The weekend featured a collection of heritage train services travelling between Porthmadog and Beddgelert, hauled by the smaller Ffestiniog locomotives. Footage is also included from the annual Victorian Weekend on the Ffestiniog Railway, including the famous gravity train operating between Dduallt and Porthmadog.

2018:

The 2018 Superpower Weekend at the Welsh Highland Railway, featured newly built locomotive 2-4-2T No.762 ‘Lyn’ hauling passenger services between Caernarfon and Waunfawr. The weekend saw a variety of locomotives and stock travel between Caernarfon and Porthmadog including double headed Fairlies, double headed Garratt’s, vintage services and more. The annual Victorian Weekend at the Ffestiniog Railway, which ran in glorious autumn sunshine is featured, including freight services, heritage stock and gravity trains.

2017:

May 2017 saw the second ‘Quirks & Curiosities’ gala featuring a collection of unusual visiting locomotives, primarily based around Minffordd, the railway ran an intense timetable including a triple headed service featuring visiting locomotive ‘Diana’, ‘Lilla’ and ‘Britomart’. The weekend saw passenger, vintage and gravity trains. The Welsh Highland Railway held their annual ‘Superpower’ weekend in September, including Double Fairlie ‘Earl Of Merioneth’ travelling to Caernarfon, one of the final times prior to been withdrawn from service.

2016:

September 2016 saw the third edition of the ‘Great and Small’ gala weekends at the Welsh Highland Railway. Featuring a collection of the smaller Ffestiniog locomotives, vintage services, mixed passenger and freight services hauled by Garratt locomotives and much more. A collection of running days are also featured from both railways during the summer season.

2015:

2015 saw the Ffestiniog Railway celebrate 150 years of hauling passenger services, to celebrate the occasion a special event was held over the May Bank Holiday. A host of special services ran along the Ffestiniog Railway showcasing the story of passenger trains, highlights from the weekend included passenger services hauled by 0-4-0ST ‘Britomart’, double headed Penrhyn locomotives and much more. September 2015 saw the second edition of the ‘Great and Small’ gala weekends featuring ‘Lyd’, ‘Prince’ and ‘Blanche’ operating on the Welsh Highland Railway.

2014:

May Bank Holiday 2014 saw the annual Ffestiniog gala weekend, titled ‘Our Railway Adventure’ it featured the launch of Double Fairlie ‘David Lloyd George’ which had just undergone overhaul at Boston Lodge. ‘David Lloyd George’ returned running in light grey primer and double headed services with other locomotives throughout the weekend. Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 No.11 ‘Fiji’ visited from the Statfold Barn Railway. Normal passenger services are included from spring 2014.

2013:

2013 marked 150 years of steam hauled services on the Ffestiniog Railway, the annual May Bank Holiday gala weekend focused upon this achievement. Over the long weekend, services travelled across both railways, highlights included ‘Linda’ and ‘Blanche’ hauling a passenger service to Rhyd-Ddu, all four remaining ‘England’ locomotives hauled a rake of slate wagons across The Cob, gravity services, a slate service to Pont Croesor and much more. Normal passenger services are included from the summer and autumn.

2012:

Spring 2012 saw a dusting of snow at locations on both railways, footage is featured of passenger services operating including NG/G16 No.143, ‘Lyd’ and ‘Taliesin’ double heading on the Ffestiniog and Double Fairlie ‘Earl Of Merioneth’.

2011:

Services are included from the summer of 2011, which included the return of Penrhyn 2-4-0ST ‘Linda’ after a lengthy overhaul at Boston Lodge. Locomotives ‘Earl Of Merioneth’, NG/G16 No.87, ‘Merddin Emrys’ and ‘Linda’ are featured.

2010:

Services are included from the 2010 summer season including ‘Palmerston’ and ‘Taliesin’ double heading services, ‘Blanche’, ‘Earl Of Merioneth’ and ‘Merddin Emrys’.

Locomotives featured on this product

Over 20 steam locomotives are included across the 4-discs, these include:

• Small England No.2 ‘Prince’
• Small England No.4 ‘Palmerston’
• Large England No.5 ‘Welsh Pony’
• Single Fairlie No.9 ‘Taliesin’
• Double Fairlie No.10 ‘Merddin Emrys’
• Double Fairlie No.11 ‘Earl of Merioneth’
• Double Fairlie No.12 ‘David Lloyd George’
• Penrhyn Mainline Hunslet ‘Blanche’
• Penrhyn Mainline Hunslet ‘Linda’
• Quarry Hunslet ‘Britomart’
• Quarry Hunslet ‘Hugh Napier’
• Quarry Hunslet ‘Velinheli’
• Large Hunslet ‘Lilla’
• Lynton and Barnstaple Manning Wardle No.14 ‘Lyd’
• Lynton and Barnstaple No.762 ‘Lyn’
• Hudswell Clarke No.11 ‘Fiji’
• Hunslet No.12 ‘Russell’
• Kerr Stuart No.1158 ‘Diana’
• NG/G16 No.87
• NG/G16 No.138
• NG/G16 No.143

Product Overview:

This product features no commentary, allowing you to fully appreciate the sound of the steam locomotives working hard. Short titles are included throughout informing you of the locomotive and location. This DVD & Blu-Ray runs for approx. 279 minutes and is split across four discs for maximum quality. Copies are available in UK 16:9 widescreen format only.

Product Trailer: