The Other Tal

As a child, our family holidays in Wales would usually include a trip north and take a ride on the Ffestiniog Railway.

The other Tal- Taliesin stands ready to depart Porthmadog Harbour station.

These were the early eighties just after the railway had reached Blaenau Ffestiniog again. My memories are of red carriages hauled by noisy oil fired green locos, either The Square or a square-ish Merddin. Slatted windows, rainy Blaenau and a sense of being hurried about like a London commuter. Whilst we enjoyed a brief bout of hustle and bustle, we were quite happy returning to the more easy going Talyllyn for a relaxing rest of the holiday.

Six year old me adjusts the window to my liking in prime gricer position on the FR in 1983.

It is interesting what stuck in my youthful mind. The Ffestiniog has continued to evolve in many ways. The newer stock is most impressive, but I find it a little cramped for my 6’ 3” frame. I much prefer the heritage side of the Ffestiniog and the completion of a variety of heritage restorations and recreations in the last thirty plus years is what interests me. The post-pandemic mix of services the FR now offers gives them a very useful existence on the Tan y Bwlch services that are also ideal for taking small children on.

On one of our days this holiday, we headed north from Tywyn for Porthmadog. First stop was the Purple Moose brewery to top up my beer supplies. Second was meeting up with a fellow Talyllyn volunteer family for a run on Ffestiniog to Tan y Bwlch.

We had booked on the lunchtime ‘Wanderer’ as it was booked to be Taliesin, a favourite light sporting loco of mine, plus being the extra high summer only working, had a high chance of producing something interesting to ride in.

As we approached Harbour station, Taliesin arrived from Boston Lodge with the full Spooner set for our train, a most pleasant surprise. The fact that this ‘proper’ FR train formed a high season service train validates the efforts of the Heritage Group over many years.

Taliesin and Mr Spooner’s finest Victorian carriages await departure time for the lunchtime run to Tan y Bwlch.

We took our seats in Bowsider carriage 18. A pair of compartments with a waist height partition giving ample window space for the children (and adults) to look out of. Whilst my mate Andrew and I were in full gricer mode at our chariot, our wives were equally impressed by the fine condition and exquisite lining on display in the carriages proving that heritage does sell.

Once some passengers had transferred over from the Welsh Highland train, we were on our way a few minutes late. Crossing the Cob in glorious sunshine, a view that never fails to impress, Taliesin was soon scampering away round Boston Lodge curve and into the climb beyond.

At Minffordd we passed Linda on the service that had started in Blaenau and at Rhiw Goch, we arrived first before crossing DLG on its return from Tan y Bwlch.

Rhiw Goch is somewhere I’d like to spend a day. Having escaped the automation of other passing places, it isn’t too far removed from the Talyllyn Blockposts I volunteer in.

Crossing completed, we were soon on our way out over Cei Mawr and Taliesin quickly gained speed as it scampered towards our destination.

On arrival at Tan y Bwlch, we were soon off and on our way to the playground, pausing to admire James Spooner 2 on its return from Blaenau on our way. Driven by my mate Paul, my daughter was most impressed with the bell that Paul happily demonstrated!

Another mate Phil, one of the initial protagonists of the Trent Valley Group of the 7mm NGA who has taken up Station Hosting duties at Tan y Bwlch since his retirement move to Porthmadog was on duty and it was great to have a catch up and a chat with him whilst we ate our lunch and the children enjoyed the playground.

Soon it was time to head back over to the platform, admiring the impressive curly roofed van, a favourite of mine on the way. Equally impressive is the restoration of the station house into holiday accommodation.

Off again, we scampered back down the valley. There were a few lurches around corners that show just how closer to the limit the Ffestiniog runs compared to other railways, the the extend that one of the younger members of our group now refers to the FR as the ‘Wobbly Train’! 

We passed DLG heading for Blaenau at Minffordd and arrived into Porthmadog to find Linda shunting on to the set for its return to Blaenau and James Spooner 2 awaiting departure time for the afternoon trip to Tan y Bwlch.

A mooch in the shop and chance to see Taliesin return with its train to Boston Lodge and we were on our way back south to the other side of Snowdonia.

A fun day out, the Ffestiong was busy with plenty going on, yet has developed a way of operating that is calmer yet no less efficient than the one I remember as a child and we all went away having enjoyed ourselves. Whilst I can’t make the Bygones Weekend this year, I have at least been able to enjoy some Ffestiniog heritage this year.