'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: After much uncertainty over the years, the Ffestiniog Railway has been given the job of resurrecting the 40 kms. long Welsh Highland Railway, which was a short-lived railway of the 1920/30's, but which actually involved the linking-together of two earlier railways - the Croesor Tramway (from Porthmadog) and the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways (from Dinas Junction to Rhyd Ddu).
Once upon a time, a standard gauge railway linked the port of Pwllheli to the beautiful medieval town of Caernarfon. It ran through the Snowdon range via Rhyd-ddu, the narrow Aberglaslyn pass and the wild Beddgelert forest to Porthmadog. The engineers had done wonders to limit the number of tunnels and bridges in order to reduce building costs. Then came the days of cars and trucks and the track was removed. The Caernarfon station which was located at the foot of the castle was turned into a car park. Then members of the Festiniog Railway said that the whole line could be converted to narrow gauge like in Bala. Dreams sometimes come true in Wales! The car park was turned back into a railway station while a track was built to Dinas. The line is now slowly being rebuilt, mostly by volunteers towards Rhyd-ddu, where trains can now be taken (correct as of Nov 2002) and will ultimately be linked to Festiniog railway in Porthmadog.
Soon the splendours of Snowondia can once again be seen by narrow gauge railway and provide transport to lesser known routes of Snowdon. There has been opposition as it will cut through the Aberglasslyn pass - a popular hike trail - but there is no doubt it will benefit the tourist economy for Snowdonia.
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on Dec 30, 2002
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