Back in 1865, the first passenger services were introduced with quarrymen travelling to work in tiny four wheeled carriages.
Victorian holidaymakers soon followed and the company responded with some beautiful carriages to convey them.
Many of these carriages have been lovingly restored and the early years of the railway will be celebrated on Friday and Saturday.
After a period of closure, the line reopened to passengers in 1955.
The timetable reflected the evolution of the passenger services on the Ffestiniog. Some of the highlights tracking the history were:
Friday May 1st
The early days of F.R. passenger services…
• Double-Fairlie working the FR ‘Pink’ timetable service
• ‘England’-hauled Victorian ‘Sentry-Box’ train to Tan-y-Bwlch
• Three ‘England’-hauled Quarrymen’s trains to Minffordd
• Single-Fairlie with Victorian bogie carriages from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog and return
Saturday May 2nd
The heyday of F.R. passenger services…
• FR ‘Blue’ timetable with a Double-Fairlie on one corridor-set and Double-headed ‘Ladies’ working the other
• Two ‘England’-hauled Victorian ‘Sentry-Box’ trains to Blaenau Ffestiniog and return – one morning and one afternoon
• ‘England’-hauled Victorian ‘Sentry-Box’ train to Tan-y-Bwlch
• Double-Fairlie with Victorian bogie carriages – Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog and return
• Single-Fairlie with Victorian bogie carriages from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog and return
• ‘England’-hauled 1920s train to Tan-y-Bwlch and return
• Single-Fairlie with 1920s Col. Stephens train from Porthmadog to Rhyd Ddu and return
• ‘England’-hauled 1920s train to Blaenau Ffestiniog and return
• Double-Fairlie with 1920s Col. Stephens train – Porthmadog to Rhyd Ddu and return
• ‘England’-hauled 1920s train to Minffordd and return
Sunday May 3rd
The early preservation era…
• FR ‘Blue’ timetable service worked by Double-Fairlies
• Early-morning ‘Tan-y-Bwlch or Bust’ train with the Simplex
• Two ‘Prince’-hauled 1955 trains across the Cob – complete with a chain-shunt re-enactment at Pen Cob
• Allan Garraway Celebration train hauled by ‘Prince’ and ‘Linda’ – this train is Private from Porthmadog to Tan-y-Bwlch, but is available to Rover Ticket holders between TYB and Blaenau Ffestiniog, as well as back to Porthmadog
• Two ‘England’-hauled ‘Flying Flea’ trains – Minffordd and return
• ‘England’-hauled ‘Flying Flea’ train to Tan-y-Bwlch and return
• ‘England’-hauled ‘Y Cymro’ train non-stop to Tan-y-Bwlch
• Ex-PQR Hunslet-hauled 1960s train to Tan-y-Bwlch and return
Monday May 4th
Preservation Era – through InCa to the Modern Day…
• ‘Early Bird’ heritage diesel-hauled service from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog and return
• FR ‘Blue’ timetable service with Earl of Merioneth on one corridor-set and Linda and Blanche working the other
• Two ‘Britomart’-hauled 1960s trains – Tan-y-Bwlch and return
The 1865 train
The 1865 train is represented by the newly constructed Sentry Box brake van, three bugboxes and the Ashbury four wheeler. Seen here with Palmerston with the returning 0715 from Porthmadog, heading towards Tan y Bwlch
The 1865 train
Vintage Tan y Bwlch
Nearly a recreation of scenes of old, Palmerston sits in the down line at Tan y Bwlch, whilst Taliesin takes water at the head of the Victorian train in the up line
Vintage Tan y Bwlch
Tan y Bwlch vintage scene
Another view of the Friday afternoon scene at Tan y Bwlch. The original station building and replica signal add to the ambience
Tan y Bwlch vintage scene
Single Fairlie arrival
At Tan y Bwlch, Taliesin arrives with the Victorian train as the 1865 set awaits to head back to Porthmadog
Single Fairlie arrival
Double Fairlie at Boston Lodge
Newly painted David Lloyd George complete with Victorian carriages presents a vintage scene at Boston Lodge whilst on a private charter on Friday morning
Double Fairlie at Boston Lodge
Double Fairlie heads for Blaenau
In classic Ffestiniog territory of the line clinging to the hillside, David Lloyd George heads away from Garnedd Tunnel on Saturday morning in wet conditions
Double Fairlie heads for Blaenau
Merddin Emrys Victorian
Again, in the inclement conditions of Saturday morning, Merddin Emrys heads the Victorian train to Blaenau. This was the second of the nine departures for Blaenau on Saturday
Merddin Emrys Victorian
1920s Colonel Stephens train
Moving through the years, Prince heads the 1920s Colonel Stephens set through Plas Halt
1920s Colonel Stephens train
Prince Flying Flea
On Monday morning, Prince heads the Flying Flea, the relief train typically run in the 1950/60s, seen here heading across Penrhyn Crossing
Prince Flying Flea
Linda on the Flying Flea
After the purchase of Linda and Blanche in 1963 they could be seen joining the original FR locomotives in traffic. Linda is seen here on the Flying Flea on Sunday afternoon on the Cob
Linda on the Flying Flea
Vintage trains Port
Now in colour, Palmerston sits at the head of the 1865 train at Harbour Station. The Victorian set sits to the left
Vintage trains Port
Tan y Bwlch or Bust
Recreating the early clearance trains from 1954 onwards, Simplex Mary Ann stands in the siding at Tan y Bwlch with Van 10, a classic combination from the early days
Tan y Bwlch or Bust
Allan Garraway memorial
On Sunday morning, a special train was run to take guests to a service of memorial at Tan y Bwlch station for the Ffestiniog's first preservation era General Manager, Allan Garraway, who passed away in December
Allan Garraway memorial
Ladies leaving Tan y Bwlch
The late 1960s saw Linda and Blanche as the mainstay of services as the railway extended from Tan y Bwlch to Dduallt. Here the ladies recreate their heyday on Monday morning
Ladies leaving Tan y Bwlch
Britomart 1960s special
Privately owned Britomart arrived at the Ffestiniog in 1966. After overhaul it was most often seen out with carriages 11 and 12. With both returned to green and ivory livery they present an attractive site heading towards Rhiw Goch on Monday morning
Britomart 1960s special
Linda and Blanche
Another view of the ladies in matching green livery heading across Tan y Bwlch road bridge towards Tan y Bwlch station
Linda and Blanche
Early Bird diesel
A mainstay of busy timetables in the 1970s and 1980s, Upnor Castle recreates the Early Bird service, heading the 0815 to Blaenau on Monday morning
Early Bird diesel
Mountain Prince
The carriages were gradually repainted from all over cherry to the current red and cream through the late 1980s. One of the first services to employ these was the Mountain Prince named train, here recreated with Earl of Merioneth
Mountain Prince
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George was constructed in 1992 with grant assistance. Along with an overhaul and conversion to oil firing, DLG returned to service in 2014 on new bogies funded by £200,000 from the Ffestiniog Railway Society. The loco was repainted and made its first reappearance in lined livery over the weekend, seen here at Boston Lodge
David Lloyd George
Porthmadog
Porthmadog station has changed significantly over the years, particularly in 2013/14 with the remodelling of the station to accomodate both Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland services, both seen here on Saturday afternoon
Porthmadog
Palmerston and David Lloyd George
Palmerston leads David Lloyd George across the Cob with an empty stock working back to Boston Lodge
Palmerston and David Lloyd George
Misty conditions
The weather on Sunday morning was damp and misty. In these conditions, David Lloyd George's new paint job is not as shiny as it could be, seen here entering Tan y Bwlch station
Misty conditions
England locos
Palmerston and Prince sit together at Boston Lodge whilst being prepared for duty
England locos
David Lloyd George
The weather on Saturday and Sunday was a little wet - DLG heads for Blaenau on Saturday morning
David Lloyd George
