THE Active Retirement Club (ARC) of Westbury recently learned more about the oldest surviving railway company in the world – the Ffestiniog Railway.
The club reports, “Our speaker, Mark Temple, went on to explain that that the Ffestiniog Railway was founded by an Act of Parliament in 1832. The line was originally built to move slate from the quarries at Blaenau Ffestiniog in North Wales down to Porthmadog on the coast from where it was loaded onto ships and then exported to various countries around the world.
“The line was ingeniously designed so that gravity pulled the loaded wagons down the narrow gauge track all the way to the coast at Porthmadog. A wagon at the rear of the train carried horses which were then used to pull the empty slate wagons back up to the quarry. Up to six trains a day were operated in each direction. The fastest journey time from the quarry to the terminus at Boston Lodge was an hour and a half including three stops en-route.
“Tourist passengers began to be carried in specially designed coaches from as early as 1850. The railway employed one police officer who was based at the company’s head office. Over time, new steam locomotives were built and introduced which dramatically increased the volume of slate that could be carried and the speed of journey times. In 1949 railway enthusiasts attempted to restore the railway and eventually the Ffestiniog Railway Trust was formed which still owns and runs the railway today.”
Guests can come along and enjoy two free meetings before deciding if they wish to join. Membership costs £10 per month. If you would like to join ARC, or would like to find out more, please call Mark on 01373 823826.
