2 minute read
The Welsh Mountaineer
Tuesday 18th July 2023
This day trip provides a rare opportunity for passengers from Lancashire and Cheshire to travel by steam train to Blaenau Ffestiniog, in the heart of the spectacular Snowdonia National Park. The route is via Chester, providing connections from other parts of the country, and along the scenic North Wales Coast Line. From Llandudno Junction, our steam train heads up the beautiful Conwy Valley to the mountains at Blaenau Ffestiniog.
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Our train is steam hauled by a locomotive from the Carnforth pool and leaves Preston at around 07:15 and heads up the West Coast Main Line to Warrington Bank Quay, where we stop to pick up more passengers. We continue to Frodsham, where further passengers may join the train and our steam locomotive takes on water. Chester is our final pick up point for passengers and, as we leave, we pass through the ancient city walls and cross the river Dee into Wales.
We continue westwards beside the Dee Estuary and then travel along the delightful Irish Sea coastline, which is well known for its beaches. We pass through the coastal resorts of Prestatyn and Rhyl. Approaching Colwyn Bay, we enjoy wonderful views of the Little Great Orme. At Llandudno Junction station, we change direction of travel as our steam locomotive needs to ‘run round’ our train for the run up the Conwy Valley. We set off for Blaenau Ffestiniog behind our steam locomotive, following the pretty Conwy Valley through to Llanrwst. We enter the Snowdonia National Park before Betws-y-Coed. The next part of our journey is extra special; we enter the very heart of the Welsh mountains as our train climbs up the very steep gradients to Blaenau Ffestiniog Tunnel. At over two miles long, this impressive piece of engineering is the longest single-track tunnel in the country. We pass through the substantial waste heaps of an old slate quarry before arriving at Blaenau Ffestiniog. Blaenau Ffestiniog Railway station is the terminus of the Conwy Valley Line and also the adjacent narrow gauge Ffestiniog Railway. We stay for almost three hours in Blaenau Ffestiniog, a town known as the Victorian slate capital of the world. The industry declined so that only the Llechwedd Slate Caverns, a former slate mine, remain today as a popular tourist attraction open to visitors. Our train leaves Blaenau Ffestiniog, steam hauled, at around 16:00 and returns to Llandudno Junction. After changing direction of travel we continue eastwards, still steam hauled, stopping at Chester, Frodsham, and Warrington Bank Quay to set down passengers. Our final calling point is Preston and so ends a memorable day out to Snowdonia. Approximate Timings Outward Return Preston 07:14 21:09 Warrington 07:52 20:31 Frodsham 08:24 20:12 Chester 09:20 19:44 Llandudno Junction 10:50 18:05 Blaenau Ffestiniog 13:04 15:55
There are two classes available:
First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam. Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four. Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.
