I was lucky to travel on the Ffestiniog Railway again at the weekend, sampling the ‘Mountain Prince’ service, hauled by the recreation Manning Wardle ‘Lyd’…Travelling in the 3rd class bug box (we had the dog) was another experience ticked off the list, and whilst more comfortable than the workman’s carriage we sampled last time, was certainly noisy! Lovely views from the windows again despite the weather being less than perfect, the line is such a wonderful way to enjoy this part of Wales…
This completes the triple of services I’ve travelled on the railway this summer…
Back to Blaenau,
Woodland Wanderer and now Mountain Prince, more on that below…
The basic format is a trip from Porthmadog up to Dduallt, pausing briefly at Tan-y-bwlch for water and to attach a pilot engine at the rear, before returning to T-y-b for an hours stop, then back to Porthmadog.
The extra length of the ride is great for the enthusiast, the scenery above T-y-b is stunning and more open than the wooded climb below the station, but it’s length tested my daughter’s patience.
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| Climbing the spiral at Dduallt |
The pilot in our case was the WW1 Baldwin diesel ‘Moelwyn’, which puts on a surprisingly stable turn of speed! Seem here on the rear of our train. We drove up to cross the line at Dduallt, before reversing back to T-y-b.
It strikes me that the perfect tourist length of run is still to Tan-y-bwlch and an hour layover there allows families time for a stroll or picnic. I believe Allan Garraway said as much in the early preservation era, so for that Woodland Wandered provides a perfect service. The enthusiast who wants to travel beyond will find Mountain Prince lacking… it’s a mix of a tourist train with an hours layover, with the extension to Dduallt which makes it a bit long for less train enthusiastic members of the public, however the enthusiast would enjoy the stop over to be perhaps 15 mins at Dduallt to wander around before returning…
I wonder if a dual service, like on the WHR would work, where ‘tourist’ train frequency run up from Port to T-y-b, met there by a shorter train from Blaenau. This then departs for B-F but is timed so people can jump on the tourist train later to return to Port… or just do the northern half of the line from B-f return.
Whatever they decide for 2022, I’ll be riding as it’s an experience I will never tire of enjoying… the views, the sounds and smells, the wonderful collection of locomotives and rolling stock…
…I’m lucky to live close enough to consider visiting even more frequently. Narrow gauge gets under your skin, I rode the line as a youngster over 30 years ago amd have enjoyed visits ever since… it isn’t until this summer that I’ve begun to foster a desire to recreate it in miniature as my relationship with the line has matured and I’ve appreciated its availability in these post Covid loco down times. Enjoy the heritage you have on your doorstep, photograph it and write about it, enthuse so others may follow. Our favourites need our support (that’s why I always buy a cake, coffee and book at Porthmadog) I’m whatever way we can manage. Until next time, I’ll leave you with Lyd across the harbour. Classic. More soon…
Travelling in the 3rd class bug box (we had the dog) was another experience ticked off the list, and whilst more comfortable than the workman’s carriage we sampled last time, was certainly noisy! Lovely views from the windows again despite the weather being less than perfect, the line is such a wonderful way to enjoy this part of Wales…
This completes the triple of services I’ve travelled on the railway this summer… Back to Blaenau, Woodland Wanderer and now Mountain Prince, more on that below…
The basic format is a trip from Porthmadog up to Dduallt, pausing briefly at Tan-y-bwlch for water and to attach a pilot engine at the rear, before returning to T-y-b for an hours stop, then back to Porthmadog.
The extra length of the ride is great for the enthusiast, the scenery above T-y-b is stunning and more open than the wooded climb below the station, but it’s length tested my daughter’s patience. 
It strikes me that the perfect tourist length of run is still to Tan-y-bwlch and an hour layover there allows families time for a stroll or picnic. I believe Allan Garraway said as much in the early preservation era, so for that Woodland Wandered provides a perfect service. The enthusiast who wants to travel beyond will find Mountain Prince lacking… it’s a mix of a tourist train with an hours layover, with the extension to Dduallt which makes it a bit long for less train enthusiastic members of the public, however the enthusiast would enjoy the stop over to be perhaps 15 mins at Dduallt to wander around before returning…
I wonder if a dual service, like on the WHR would work, where ‘tourist’ train frequency run up from Port to T-y-b, met there by a shorter train from Blaenau. This then departs for B-F but is timed so people can jump on the tourist train later to return to Port… or just do the northern half of the line from B-f return.
Whatever they decide for 2022, I’ll be riding as it’s an experience I will never tire of enjoying… the views, the sounds and smells, the wonderful collection of locomotives and rolling stock…
…I’m lucky to live close enough to consider visiting even more frequently. Narrow gauge gets under your skin, I rode the line as a youngster over 30 years ago amd have enjoyed visits ever since… it isn’t until this summer that I’ve begun to foster a desire to recreate it in miniature as my relationship with the line has matured and I’ve appreciated its availability in these post Covid loco down times. Enjoy the heritage you have on your doorstep, photograph it and write about it, enthuse so others may follow. Our favourites need our support (that’s why I always buy a cake, coffee and book at Porthmadog) I’m whatever way we can manage. Until next time, I’ll leave you with Lyd across the harbour. Classic. More soon…
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James.