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MERDDIN EMRYS GOES GREEN… 🟢 The new year si

MERDDIN EMRYS GOES GREEN… 🟢

The new year signals the start of our 70th anniversary (since the recommencement of passenger trains on the Ffestiniog Railway, under the new regime) celebrations and we have a special announcement about locomotive liveries… Merddin Emrys goes green..!

Back in 1955 when services first ran under the new administration it was the initiative of our volunteers that made things possible and now in 2025, we can continue to say the same again.

Over the Christmas and New Year holidays a team of devoted FfWHR volunteers have painted our flagship double Fairlie, Merddin Emrys, in a green similar to that carried in the 1950’s and 60’s by Talliesin.

The first opportunity to see Merddin Emrys and Prince in their new liveries is likely to be as part of the annual Snowdonian service in April 2025.

Thanks to this effort we will be able to celebrate both the ‘Railway 200’ and our 70th anniversary celebrations in style.

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MERDDIN EMRYS YN TROI’N WYRDD… 🟢

Mae’r flwyddyn newydd yn nodi dechrau ein dathliadau pen-blwydd 70 oed (ers ailddechrau trenau teithwyr ar Reilffordd Ffestiniog, o dan y drefn newydd) ac mae gennym gyhoeddiad arbennig am lifrai locomotifau… mae Merddin Emrys wedi throi’n wyrdd..!

Yn ôl yn 1955 pan redodd gwasanaethau gyntaf o dan y weinyddiaeth newydd menter ein gwirfoddolwyr a wnaeth pethau’n bosibl ac nawr yn 2025, gallwn barhau i ddweud yr un peth eto.

Dros wyliau’r Nadolig a’r Flwyddyn Newydd mae tîm o wirfoddolwyr ymroddgar RhFfE wedi peintio ein Fairlie dwbl arbennig, Merddin Emrys, mewn gwyrdd tebyg i’r un a gariwyd yn y 1950au a’r 60au gan Talliesin.

Mae’r cyfle cyntaf i weld Merddin Emrys a’r Tywysog yn eu lifrai newydd yn debygol o fod fel rhan o wasanaeth blynyddol ‘Snowdonian’ ym mis Ebrill 2025.

Diolch i’r ymdrech hon byddwn yn gallu dathlu ‘Railway 200’ a’n dathliadau pen-blwydd 70 mewn steil.

Whistle Up for Railway 200 on the WHR on New Year’s Day.

Chwibannu ar gyfer Rheilffordd200 ar RhE ar diwrnod Flwyddyn Newydd

#Railway200 #WhistleUp #Dinas #Eryri #Snowdonia #HeritageRailways #SteamTrainLife #Rheilffordd200

Posted @withregram • @cjp1959 Nice to have train

Posted @withregram • @cjp1959 Nice to have trains going past the house again for a few days. Here’s Linda and Blanche heading for Blaenau Ffestiniog 🚂#wonderfulplaces #uk #holiday #gwynedd #cymru #ffestiniograilway #bestrailwayintheworld #northwales #discovercymru #thisismywales #thisiswales #thewalescollective #visit_uk #gosnowdonia #visitwales #earthgallery #exploretocreate #postitfortheaesthetic #skyline #tourtheplanet #wanderlustwales #landscapephotography #snowdoniagram #snowdonia #snowdoniapics #walesonline #explorewales #walesadventures #eryri360 #snowdonia360

Need a Calendar for 2025..? Why not treat yourse

Need a Calendar for 2025..?

Why not treat yourself to one of the fantastic ones from the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways...

Now only £5.99 online & instore..!
https://festrail.mybigcommerce.com/f-whr-calendar-2025/

STARTING OFF THE NEW YEAR WITH A BLAST..! Across

STARTING OFF THE NEW YEAR WITH A BLAST..!

Across the globe, New Year's Day will resound to the sound of locomotive whistles as heritage railways near and far mark the start of rail’s 200th anniversary.

We'll be going full-out and 'Whistling for Wales' at midday on New Year's Day as our contribution to the steamy salute... and you can join us, in person or online.

1️⃣ Passengers on the morning 'Christmas Mountain Spirit' will hear the train locomotives 'LINDA' and 'BLANCHE' sound their whistles as the train passes round the iconic spiral at Dduallt...

2️⃣ In Porthmadog, 'HUGH NAPIER' and 'PALMERSTON' will be in steam - and at least one of them will be in Harbour Station for you to come and witness and photograph the occasion...

3️⃣ At the same time, at Rhyd Ddu, we will be live-streaming to Facebook with GM Paul Lewin and NG/G16 No.143, which will be the loco working the 'Christmas Cwellyn' train from Caernarfon that day...

So help us get the year of celebrations off to a great start - join the passengers on one of our New Year's Day trains, visit Harbour Station if you're in the area or log on to Facebook and enjoy the livestream from wherever you happen to be at the time..!

-----------------------------

ℹ️ Details of F&WHR train services and online tickets are available at festrail.co.uk/trains

2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ For more information about 'Railway 200', visit the official website @ https://railway200.co.uk/

⭐️ CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR OPENING SPOONER'S CAF

⭐️ CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR OPENING

SPOONER'S CAFÉ/BAR have just let us know they made an error in their previous opening hours details - specifically, the kitchen WILL be open for evening meals 28th-30th December.

So here's an updated list of their hours over the festive period...

🔸 CHRISTMAS EVE
Café/Kitchen - 09:00-16:00
Bar - 12:00-20:00

🔸 CHRISTMAS DAY
▫️▫️ CLOSED

🔸 26th and 27th December
▫️▫️ CLOSED

🔸 28th to 30th December
Café/Kitchen - 09:00-20:00
Bar - 12:00-23:00 (22:00 Sunday)

🔸 NEW YEAR'S EVE
Café/Kitchen - 09:00-16:00
Bar - 12:00-Midnight

🔸 NEW YEAR'S DAY
Café/Kitchen 09:00-16:00
▪️ Carvery Lunch 12:00-15:00
Bar - 12:00-22:00

🔸 2nd-5th January
Café/Kitchen 09:00-20:00
Bar - 12:00-22:00 or 23:00*
* Friday and Saturday

🔸 6th January - 3rd February inclusive
▫️▫️ CLOSED

https://www.spoonersporthmadog.co.uk/

'CHILL OUT' THIS CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR - on the Ffest

'CHILL OUT' THIS CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR - on the Ffestiniog Railway..!

We're another day closer to Christmas Day - and pressure's building to get everything ready for the festive celebrations... so why not take a little 'time-out' and book a nice relaxing scenic train ride that you can enjoy after the big-day is over.

We can't guarantee snow, of course, but we can guarantee comfortable, warm carriages with an 'at-your-seat' buffet service and an ever-changing view of the stunning scenery of Eryri / Snowdonia passing by as your train climbs from the coast into the mountains.

🚂 On the Ffestiniog Railway our ‘Christmas Mountain Spirit’ services run between Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog - and passengers can start their journey from either station. Sit back and relax as you enjoy a festive journey through the beautiful landscapes of Snowdonia National Park, with popular sights including the towering slate tips in Blaenau Ffestiniog, the spiral at Dduallt and the Moelwyn tunnel near Llyn Ystradau.

▪️ Trains run twice a day from Porthmadog (once a day from Blaenau Ffestiniog) between 28th December and New Year's Day inclusive. Seats available in Standard and First Class - so you can treat yourselves to a journey in one of our luxurious Pullman carriage to make the day even more special..!

ℹ️ For more information and to book your tickets, visit festrail.co.uk/christmas

'CHILL OUT' THIS CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR - on the Welsh

'CHILL OUT' THIS CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR - on the Welsh Highland Railway...

We're less than a week away from Christmas Day - and many of us are still running around doing last-minute shopping, present-wrapping etc... so why not take a little 'time-out' and book a nice relaxing scenic train ride that you can enjoy after the big-day is over.

We can't guarantee snow, of course, but we can guarantee comfortable, warm carriages with an 'at-your-seat' buffet service and an ever-changing view of the stunning scenery of Eryri / Snowdonia passing by as your train climbs from the coast into the mountains.

🚂 On the Welsh Highland Railway our ‘Christmas Cwellyn’ services begin at our award-winning Caernarfon station. Once on board, sit back and enjoy as the train sets off through the majestic landscapes of the Snowdonia National Park, on its way to the interval stop at Rhyd Ddu station. Here, there will be a short break, allowing passengers an opportunity to enjoy the views and take some photos, before setting off on the return journey to Caernarfon.

▪️ Trains run twice a day from Caernarfon (at 10:45 and 13:45) between 28th December and New Year's Day inclusive. Seats are available in Standard and First Class - so you can treat yourselves to a journey in one of our luxurious Pullman carriage to make the day even more special..!

ℹ️ For more information and to book your tickets, visit festrail.co.uk/christmas

🎁 CHRISTMAS PRESENT / CHRISTMAS TREAT... The

🎁 CHRISTMAS PRESENT / CHRISTMAS TREAT...

The big day is rapidly approaching - if you're still looking for a present for that 'difficult to buy for' person (or fancy a post-Christmas treat for yourself) there are still spaces available on our 'How A Steam Locomotive Works' experiences taking place in the Christmas break, but they're filling well.

🚂 This is a great way to enjoy a 'hands-on' look at the footplate and controls of a steam locomotive, finding out 'what does what - and how'...

If you're interested, don't miss this opportunity, as we have just four spaces on the afternoon of Saturday, 28th December and three spaces on the afternoon of Monday, 30th December remaining...

ℹ️ For more information and to book a place on one of these activities, head to
https://www.festrail.co.uk/workshop-how-steam-locomotives-work/
.
.

Happy Top Trumps #ffestiniogandwelshhighlandrailw

Happy Top Trumps

#ffestiniogandwelshhighlandrailways #bestrailwayintheworld #ffestiniograilway #festiniograilway #welshhighlandrailway #nlhf #heritage #volunteers #engineering #steam #scenery #snowdonia #whhr #gonorthwales #visitwales #wales #cymru #eryri #locomotives #santatrain #grotto #toptrumps

🔵 THE STEAM RAILWAY AWARD: Your chance to vote.

🔵 THE STEAM RAILWAY AWARD: Your chance to vote...

We are delighted to find that the 'Ffestiniog Railway' has been shortlisted for the 'Reader's Award' in the upcoming Heritage Railway Association Awards, which is decided by votes from readers of Steam Railway magazine...

The list of ten nominees covers a wide range of activities from loco restoration and new-builds, through rolling stock adaptations to railway extensions in the form of track or buildings. In the case of the Ffestiniog Railway, we have been nominated for the overhaul and re-boilering of ‘Quarry Hunslet’ VELINHELI / FELINHELI.

This loco has always been a popular sight on the F&WHR, appearing at special events and on footplate ride duties, with its scarlet livery brightening up the scene - and it has been great to see the little Quarry Hunslet back in steam again this year.

It would be a great show of appreciation for the efforts of the team of dedicated volunteers and staff who have been involved in the work on VELINHELI, if all our supporters reflected this and voted for them in these awards.

ℹ️ To cast your vote, use the link below to visit the Steam Railway magazine's website. We are No.5 in the alphabetical list - just click the button beneath the photo of VELINHELI to register your vote.

https://www.steamrailway.co.uk/blog/news/hra_awards/

✅ Thanks in advance for your support - why not tell your friends about this as well, the more the merrier..!
.
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🎅 LYRA'S FIRST TIME VISITING SANTA... "We rec

🎅 LYRA'S FIRST TIME VISITING SANTA...

"We recently visited Santa at the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways’ station in Porthmadog - for the price we paid we were not expecting much, but… WOW!!!!!!

Even for us adults it was the most magical experience, with every detail considered. We took a trip on the beautiful ‘Elf Express’ train to Minffordd, watched Santa’s elves busy in his workshops, enjoyed mulled wine, hot chocolate and the gorgeous Christmas village scene. However, the best was yet to come as we stepped into the train carriage for our time with Santa.

Hands down the best Christmas Grotto I have ever seen; no rush, Santa was amazing with the children, the elves were hilarious and the whole carriage was decorated most beautifully. Plus - the toys that Santa gave the kids were excellent!

For the price of this experience, I would recommend it to anyone. We travelled down from Anglesey, and it was beyond worth it.

Thank you, F&WHR, for a real taste of Christmas magic for us all..!"

Abi Vance

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🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃
Book your visit to Santa in Harbour Station and a ride on the 'Elf Express' @ festrail.co.uk/christmas

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See Lyra's visit on TikTok @
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdMSnsb5/

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Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways updated their cover photo.

1 week ago

'Penrhyn Ladies' LINDA and BLANCHE head out of Harbour Station with a train to Blaenau Ffestiniog on 29th December 2024...We're looking forward to the return of train services from 29th March - and to the celebration of the Ffestiniog Railway's Platinum Jubilee, taking place over the weekend of 20th-22nd June..! ... See MoreSee Less

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Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways

1 week ago

youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1l6MUSuEIKClFyYqAw8z8y_BMGBc1EZq&si=B1pOaMp3UrOvwPObIn this quiet part of the year and after the mince pies have all gone we thought you might like something to watch. These four chapters were destined to be part of a DVD set to be released during the big Fairlie celebrations of 2020... Well they never happened for obvious reasons but most of the video for the DVDs did. Follow the link to the playlist and you will find four videos: Introduction, History, How they work and a chapter that would have been an 'extra', The Square's last stand.-Yn y rhan dawel hon o'r flwyddyn ac ar ôl i'r mins peis i gyd fynd, roeddem yn meddwl efallai y byddech yn hoffi rhywbeth i'w wylio. Roedd y pedair pennod hyn i fod i fod yn rhan o set DVD i'w rhyddhau yn ystod dathliadau mawr Fairlie yn 2020... Wel wnaethon nhw byth ddigwydd am resymau amlwg ond fe wnaeth y rhan fwyaf o'r fideo ar gyfer y DVDs. Dilynwch y ddolen i'r rhestr chwarae ac fe welwch bedwar fideo: Cyflwyniad, Hanes, Sut maen nhw'n Gweithio a phennod a fyddai wedi bod yn 'ychwanegol', sef stondin olaf The Square. ... See MoreSee Less

Fairlies of The Ffestiniog

youtube.com

A set of documentaries that were destined to form part of a DVD set the production of which was cut short by Covid-19.

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Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways

2 weeks ago

SPOONER'S WINTER CLOSURE... PLEASE REMEMBER - SPOONER'S CAFÉ and BAR will be closed from Monday 6th January to Monday 3rd February inclusive.During this period a number of maintenance tasks will be carried out so that we can welcome customers into a new and improved Spooner's once we re-open on the 4th of February!These tasks will include:- Sanding and re-varnishing the Bar- Painting the back Bar wall- Spotlights in the ceiling above central Bar area- Replacing the counter top- Extensive reset of Purchase systemsWe thank all our patrons for your custom during the past year and look forward to welcoming you back here again in February - or later in the year when on holiday..!--------------------SPOONER’S AR GAU DROS Y GAEAF... COFIWCH OS GWELWCH YN DDA - bydd CAFFI a BAR y SPOONER's ar gau o Ddydd Llun 6ed o Ionawr tan Ddydd Llun 3ydd o Chwefror yn gynwysedig.Yn ystod y cyfnod hwn bydd nifer o dasgau cynnal a chadw yn cael eu cyflawni fel y gallwn groesawu cwsmeriaid i mewn i Spooner's newydd a gwell unwaith y byddwn yn ail-agor ar y 4ydd o Chwefror!Bydd y tasgau hyn yn cynnwys:- Sandio ac ail farneisio'r Bar- Peintio wal gefn y Bar- Sbotoleuadau yn y nenfwd uwchben ardal ganolog y Bar- Amnewid top y cownter- Ailosod systemau PrynuDiolchwn i'n holl gwsmeriaid am eich cwsmeriaeth yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf ac edrychwn ymlaen at eich croesawu yn ôl yma eto ym mis Chwefror - neu'n hwyrach yn y flwyddyn pan fyddwch ar wyliau..! ... See MoreSee Less

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Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways

2 weeks ago

🟢 'MERDDIN EMRYS' GOES GREEN…The new year signals the start of our 70th anniversary (since the recommencement of passenger trains on the Ffestiniog Railway, under the new regime) celebrations and we have a special announcement about locomotive liveries… 'Merddin Emrys' goes green..!Back in 1955 when services first ran under the new administration it was the initiative of our volunteers that made things possible and now in 2025, we can continue to say the same again. Over the Christmas and New Year holidays a team of devoted FfWHR volunteers have painted our flagship double Fairlie, 'Merddin Emrys', in a green similar to that carried in the 1950s and '60s by 'Taliesin'.Thanks to this tremendous team effort, we will now be able to celebrate this important anniversary in style as both 'Merddin Emrys' and 'Prince' will carry this green livery. 'David Lloyd George' and 'Palmerston' will continue in the red liveries reflecting the 1990's while 'Welsh Pony' and 'James Spooner' will continue to sport their ornately lined purple-brown livery of recent times.The first opportunity to see 'Merddin Emrys' and 'Prince' in their new liveries is likely to be as part of the annual Snowdonian service in April 2025.Thanks to this effort we will be able to celebrate both the ‘Railway 200’ and our 70th anniversary celebrations in style.----------🟢 'MERDDIN EMRYS' YN TROI’N WYRDD… Mae'r flwyddyn newydd yn nodi dechrau ein dathliadau pen-blwydd 70 oed (ers ailddechrau trenau teithwyr ar Reilffordd Ffestiniog, o dan y drefn newydd) ac mae gennym gyhoeddiad arbennig am lifrai locomotifau… mae 'Merddin Emrys' wedi throi’n wyrdd..!Yn ôl yn 1955 pan redodd gwasanaethau gyntaf o dan y weinyddiaeth newydd menter ein gwirfoddolwyr a wnaeth pethau'n bosibl ac nawr yn 2025, gallwn barhau i ddweud yr un peth eto. Dros wyliau’r Nadolig a’r Flwyddyn Newydd mae tîm o wirfoddolwyr ymroddgar RhFfE wedi peintio ein Fairlie dwbl arbennig, 'Merddin Emrys', mewn gwyrdd tebyg i’r un a gariwyd yn y 1950au a’r 60au gan 'Taliesin'.Diolch i'r ymdrech tîm aruthrol hwn, byddwn yn awr yn gallu dathlu'r pen-blwydd pwysig hwn mewn steil gan y bydd 'Merddin Emrys' a'r 'Prince' yn cario'r lifrai gwyrdd hwn. Bydd 'Dafyddd Lloyd George' a 'Palmerston' yn parhau yn y lifrai coch sy'n adlewyrchu'r 1990au tra bydd 'Welsh Pony' a 'James Spooner' yn parhau yn eu lifrai eirin addurnedig yn y cyfnod diweddar.Mae’r cyfle cyntaf i weld 'Merddin Emrys' a’r 'Prince' yn eu lifrai newydd yn debygol o fod fel rhan o wasanaeth blynyddol ‘Snowdonian’ ym mis Ebrill 2025.Diolch i’r ymdrech hon byddwn yn gallu dathlu ‘Railway 200’ a’n dathliadau pen-blwydd 70 mewn steil. ... See MoreSee Less

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Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways

2 weeks ago

LOCOMOTIVE LIVERIES…It’s a new year and as we look forward to celebrating the 70th anniversary of the recommencement of passenger trains on the Ffestiniog Railway, under the new regime, we have been giving some thought to locomotive liveries...The image of Prince in what was to become the standard FR green is one that endures. Over the Christmas period our dedicated volunteers have been working to recreate the livery that Prince will once again carry. Here you can see the detail of the crest that will adorn the side of the tender. Look out in the coming days for our updates when we will showcase more of their work..!----------LIFRAI LOCOMOTIFAU… Mae’n flwyddyn newydd ac wrth i ni edrych ymlaen at ddathlu 70 mlynedd ers ailddechrau rhedeg drenau i deithwyr ar Rheilffordd Ffestiniog, o dan y drefn newydd, rydym wedi bod yn ystyried lifrai locomotifau...Mae'r llun isod o ‘Prince’ yn yr lifrai a ddaeth yn wyrdd RhFf safonol yn un sy'n parhau. Dros gyfnod y Nadolig mae ein gwirfoddolwyr ymroddedig wedi bod yn gweithio i ail-greu'r lifrai y bydd Tywysog yn ei gario unwaith eto. Yma gallwch weld manylion yr arfbais a fydd yn addurno ochr y tendr. Edrychwch allan yn y dyddiau nesaf am ddiweddariadau pan fyddwn yn arddangos mwy o'u gwaith..! ... See MoreSee Less

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