I worked on this line as a young boy with my dad and 2 brothers in the mid 60s relaying track, great fun riding the work train train up and down, will have to go back and do this. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for filming and posting this. A precious historical record. I often stop and wonder what the FR people from 1880 would make of it all.
Its a slate truck from the skarloey railway (the festiniog slate design only used in cgi because in the model era theres only the talylln railway slate truck design)
I would love to try this, but the safety problems are numerous, fall off the front of the train, you go under the wagons, fall of the side, ouch, fall off the rear, you get a face-full of rail ties and track, and if a train is stopped ahead, you need to rely on the carriage brakes! i'm sorry for nit-picking, but this is so un-bloody-safe. >.
Pro tip: Sit still and you won't fall off. The Brakemen who sit upon the loaded wagons are sat astride the wagons so there is no chace they would fall off infront or behind the train. They also hold onto the wagon side so they are even less likely to fall off in the unlikely event of hitting extremely bumpy track. The line is token worked single track, once the train of wagons sets off it's impossible for another train to be in the path of the gravity train on it's return to Porthmadog. If this practice was unsafe or was considered a risk to the health and safety of the operators and guests the ORR (Office of Road and Rail) would've put a stop to this a long time ago.
Of COURSE it's unsafe!! That's the thrill of it. Wouldn't they look good in High Viz Jackets, Safety Helmets, Seat Belts and Goggles. Snowflake is the in word I think.
No! It appears unsafe and gives a thrill, but it is very low risk like going on a ride at an amusement park. The wagons are not going that fast so derailment is unlikely in the extreme. It will not come across a stopped train. It will have a clear route and the brakemen will know the track and where to slow and where they need to stop. This is in the. UK where rail safety is highly regulated.
No stunt. All strictly controlled, regulated and with much briefing from, and largely manned by, highly experienced railwaymen. Whereas, when these trains were run for the transportation of slate from quarries to dockside a century ago, there would be very few "brakes men" and they would have leapt from one loaded wagon to the next to apply brakes as required - in all weathers too.
I worked on this line as a young boy with my dad and 2 brothers in the mid 60s relaying track, great fun riding the work train train up and down, will have to go back and do this. Thanks for sharing.
I must ride one of these trains next time I visit the Ffestiniog Railway! It’s looks ace!
Sorry, riding the gravity train is by invitation only.
@@terryscott4670 I'm invited by default... my family runs the railway.
@@ollylewin you could make the original commenters wish come true and invite them then...
Thank you so much for filming and posting this. A precious historical record. I often stop and wonder what the FR people from 1880 would make of it all.
Very nice, looks like a great ride :)
I did Dduallt to Tan y Bwlch by gravity when going home after a weekend staying in the Dduallt 'Hilton' working on the 'Deviation'.
This reminds me of the Troublesome Trucks from Thomas & Friends!
this is the only time they get to do what they want to do
Its a slate truck from the skarloey railway (the festiniog slate design only used in cgi because in the model era theres only the talylln railway slate truck design)
19:35 “‘On on on’ laughed the trucks”
By zooming in so often the actual speed of the train was lost!
Thank you for the constructive criticism. I am but an amateur, learning all the time and always ready to take advice.
Hmmmm.. And who is the nice looking blond riding the slate train, chewing gum?
A committed and hard working Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway volunteer I think.
Cool
The constant zoom ins and outs are really killing the footage. Technology gave us deshakers, but can we please have automatic dezoomers?
World's Longest Rollercoaster? :D
Tanybwlch is the spelling.
No cargo, not one smile, and three passengers. Well!
I would love to try this, but the safety problems are numerous, fall off the front of the train, you go under the wagons, fall of the side, ouch, fall off the rear, you get a face-full of rail ties and track, and if a train is stopped ahead, you need to rely on the carriage brakes!
i'm sorry for nit-picking, but this is so un-bloody-safe. >.
Pro tip: Sit still and you won't fall off. The Brakemen who sit upon the loaded wagons are sat astride the wagons so there is no chace they would fall off infront or behind the train. They also hold onto the wagon side so they are even less likely to fall off in the unlikely event of hitting extremely bumpy track. The line is token worked single track, once the train of wagons sets off it's impossible for another train to be in the path of the gravity train on it's return to Porthmadog. If this practice was unsafe or was considered a risk to the health and safety of the operators and guests the ORR (Office of Road and Rail) would've put a stop to this a long time ago.
Be brave! Stiff upper lip, as is said!!!
Of COURSE it's unsafe!! That's the thrill of it. Wouldn't they look good in High Viz Jackets, Safety Helmets, Seat Belts and Goggles. Snowflake is the in word I think.
Of course, the Darwin Award isn't for snowflakes. Go figure.
No! It appears unsafe and gives a thrill, but it is very low risk like going on a ride at an amusement park. The wagons are not going that fast so derailment is unlikely in the extreme. It will not come across a stopped train. It will have a clear route and the brakemen will know the track and where to slow and where they need to stop. This is in the. UK where rail safety is highly regulated.
Foolish stunt
No stunt. All strictly controlled, regulated and with much briefing from, and largely manned by, highly experienced railwaymen. Whereas, when these trains were run for the transportation of slate from quarries to dockside a century ago, there would be very few "brakes men" and they would have leapt from one loaded wagon to the next to apply brakes as required - in all weathers too.