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May 2009, and NGG16 No.143 heads south through the
Aberglaslyn Pass. |
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The Welsh Highland
Railway - Journey behind the most powerful 2'
gauge steam locomotives in the world on a 19½ mile
journey through the fabulous scenery of the
Snowdonia National Park. We offer high-quality
saloon carriages with on-train refreshments and
toilets, the superior comfort of First Class in our
Pullman Saloon "Bodysgallen" - and our brand-new
panoramic Pullman Observation carriage - or you
could even experience the scenery with the wind
ruffling your hair in our open coaches!
The railway starts
beside the awe-inspiring Caernarfon Castle, snaking
around seemingly impossible bends, up hard gradients
and around the foothills of Snowdon to arrive at
Rhyd Ddu, about 12 miles from Caernarfon and high up
in the Snowdonian mountains. Leaving Rhyd Ddu,
trains pass glistening Llyn y Gader and climb to the
summit of the line at Pitts Head. The descent to
Beddgelert follows rapidly, as the line ‘zig-zags’
down the steep hillside revealing new and unexpected
vistas of the surrounding mountains at every turn.
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May 2009
- 143 in the pass again, this time from a more
elevated viewpoint! |
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Beddgelert station
is just a short walk from the centre of the village,
which - with its cafés, shops and riverside walks -
provides the perfect reason to stay and explore
awhile.
After Beddgelert,
the railway heads toward the Aberglaslyn Pass.
Trains run beside, then high above, the fast flowing
Afon Glaslyn before plunging dramatically into a
tunnel through the hillside. Emerging on the far
side, the line descends past Nantmor village to
reach a temporary loop at Hafod y Llyn - from where
the trains currently return to Beddgelert and
Caernarfon.
However, there is
more to come, as we are working to complete the
railway through to Porthmadog - where WHR trains
will connect with the world-famous Ffestiniog
Railway, offering onwards travel as far as Blaenau
Ffestiniog. In total, a trip from Caernarfon to
Blaenau will be a staggering 40 miles – truly a new
'Great Railway Journey'.
The Welsh Highland
Railway is, probably… the most exciting railway
project in the country - providing ‘access for all’
to some of the best scenery in the UK – it’s quite
simply a must-see! |
