A trip on a Ffestiniog Railway slate train, consisting of 60 wagons. Up journey behind double Fairlie - Merddin Emrys and the down trip with the only motive power being gravity.
Such beautiful countryside views! It makes up for the less than luxurious seating arrangement in that train! Wales has some amazingly beautiful beaches in the South, too. I knew someone from Bridgend who told me that Snowdonia was dreary and depressing. Now I know how wrong he was!
Rode on the Festiniog in the early 1960s, . . .in the early days of restoration, before the loop was installed. As a youngster then, I was a bit bemused. Looks impressive now
THIS IS HOW THE WELSH QUARRY WORKERS GOT TO WORK! They would literally catch an EMPTIES UP Train in the Morning, squatting in those little trucks and comeback on a self propelled FULL SLATE TRAIN in the evening, after a 12 hour day. Imagine doing that everyday, 6 days a week, rain hail, or snow! Those quarries are about a 12 mile ride from Porthmadog.
The trucks they had were really basic probably made of wood rotted round the edges no nice modern wheels and bearings a very hairy ride. No wonder there was plenty of prayer on Sundays. Men with nerves of steel.
Unfortunately this isn’t a service available to the public. It is by invitation only and most of the ‘passengers’ are in fact qualified drivers and staff.
Who needs a fairground ride when you have this 🙂
ON ON ON FASTER FASTER!! the trucks screamed as they raced down the hill
I hope to ride this line someday. This would be ultimate way to ride it.
Faster, more reliable and comfortable than Northern Rail
and if you speed it up to 2x speed , the journey is just as comfortable as an '80s electric slam door!
Such beautiful countryside views! It makes up for the less than luxurious seating arrangement in that train! Wales has some amazingly beautiful beaches in the South, too. I knew someone from Bridgend who told me that Snowdonia was dreary and depressing. Now I know how wrong he was!
You should see the forests! Sublime country.
I bet that was awesome to be involved in, I’d of loved to of been on one of them wagons rolling down to Porthmadog.
WHAT A TRIP....I am insanely jealous!
Rode on the Festiniog in the early 1960s, . . .in the early days of restoration, before the loop was installed. As a youngster then, I was a bit bemused. Looks impressive now
THIS IS HOW THE WELSH QUARRY WORKERS GOT TO WORK! They would literally catch an EMPTIES UP Train in the Morning, squatting in those little trucks and comeback on a self propelled FULL SLATE TRAIN in the evening, after a 12 hour day. Imagine doing that everyday, 6 days a week, rain hail, or snow! Those quarries are about a 12 mile ride from Porthmadog.
Yes they did. The Welsh know how to party.
The trucks they had were really basic probably made of wood rotted round the edges no nice modern wheels and bearings a very hairy ride. No wonder there was plenty of prayer on Sundays. Men with nerves of steel.
I wanna ride
Me too!
My wife and I several years ago rode this train (in cars for tourists. But next time, tho’ we’ll “slate” this one, lol)
Beautiful countryside
Quite right. How wonderful...
Brilliant !
Fantastic
Do they still do this? I imagine with heath and safety this would be impossible now
Indeed we do still do this under strict H&S systems.
World's longest Roller Coaster!
Are there tickets available for this train? Because I would love to experience this!
Unfortunately this isn’t a service available to the public. It is by invitation only and most of the ‘passengers’ are in fact qualified drivers and staff.
Enorm leuk ! Uniek denk ik.
Fas lembrar quando eu andava na locomotiva a vapor
Prachtig ❤️
Amazing
An Earth powered train
wait, so on the way down its the truck's doing it?
Yup. The weight of the trucks, the incline of the line and gravity is enough for the train to roll down the hill by itself
the train was invented before the locomotive
Referring to min 08:50, One foot of "slack" for each coupling chain? Isn't this somewhat overestimated?
It’s about correct.
Wonderful !