May 28th 2010 - Newly-restored NGG16 No.138 pilots 87 towards Pont Croesor.
The Welsh Highland Railway - Journey behind the most powerful 2' gauge steam locomotives in the world on a 23½ 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 panoramic Pullman Observation carriage "Glaslyn" - 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.

May 2009 - 143 snakes through Aberglaslyn pass bound for Hafod y Llyn.

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, eventually reaching the current terminus at Pont Croesor - 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!


Super Power 2010 Powerful Engines – Long Trains – Steep Gradients – BIG Spectacle! After a break of several years, the Super Power weekend returns to the Welsh Highland Railway. The WHR is home ...

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The Festiniog Railway Company operates narrow-gauge trains on its two railways - some of our carriages have extra-wide doors for standard-width wheelchairs. Our stations at Caernarfon and Rhyd Ddu have ramped access routes and specially adapted toilets. Please phone our Caernarfon Booking Office (01286 677018) in advance of your visit, so we can give you more detailed advice relating to your individual requirements.

A more detailed Access Statement is available here.

PLEASE NOTE: No charge is made for Guide / Assistance Dogs travelling on our trains.


The Ffestiniog Railway now has its own re-designed website where you can find news and information specific to that railway. For ease of use, certain pages on this site are linked directly to the corresponding pages on the Ffestiniog Railway site. You can switch websites by clicking on this graphic wherever it is displayed.
 
 
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12/07/2010
'Lyd' update...

As of early July 2010 the locomotive is largely complete. The valve gear, the last major part to go together, has been successfully assembled and the locomotive moved with it in place. Having estab...

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22/06/2010
Brownies celebrate Centenary in style...

As part of the Centenary celebrations for the Girl Guides organisation, Brownies across the UK were given the task of riding on a steam train. But North Wales Brownies went one better a...

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08/06/2010
Video Update - Spring sunshine on the WHR...

Ken Baker, aka Pennysteam, took his video cameras to the Welsh Highland Railway in May with stunning results. Check out the first instalment of his latest video, following NGG16 Number 87 as ...

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28/05/2010
138 returns to traffic...

The Welsh Highland Railway’s NG/G16 Garratt number 138 – the first to run on the railway when it opened between Caernarfon and Dinas in 1997 returned to traffic on Friday May 28th – two years after...

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