Journey through the Slate Country

 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 the pioneers who strove to preserve it, and the volunteers who help to keep it running. 





We took the train from Blaenau Ffestiniog for a return journey to and from Porthmadog and were able to experience the incredible natural beauty and meeting some wonderful people on the way including a two and half year old little girl named "Millie." Millie was on the train with her parents and the newborn baby brother Maxie. Millie and her family were from Manchester.


















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