Street Biologist's Diary

 In most provinces of Canada, the third Monday of February is observed as the Family Day to provide hard-working individuals to have some time with their loved ones and to emphasize the importance of family. Happy Family Day everybody.

  August 5, 2010 .  During our visit to North Wales, we had the opportunity to ride the train operated by the oldest independent railway company of the world as we travelled from Blaenau Ffestiniog tp the port city of Porthmadog.  The Ffestiniog Railway (in Welsh: Rheifford Ffestiniog) is a narrow gauge heritage railway line located in Gwynedd, Wales. The railway is about 22km long and runs from the slate mining town Blaenau Ffestiniog to the harbour of Porthmadog travelling through forested and mountainous scenery of Snowdonia National Park. The line single track throughout with four intermediate passing sections. The railway originally carried down slates from Blaenau Ffestiniog area to Irish Sea for the most part of the 19th Century. From there, slate was delivered all over the world. The line is still run by the "Ffestiniog Railway Company" - the oldest surviving independent railway company of the world. The railway is still here largely because of the huge efforts of...