Hello everyone. Following a lovely trip on the historic Talyllyn Railway, I jumped back into my yellow Saxo and drove the scenic route to Fairbourne. In this tiny seaside village, there is a hidden gem; the 12.25" gauge Fairbourne Steam Railway. From its humble beginnings in 1895, the line was 2ft gauge, before a down-size to 15" gauge in 1916. The line was one of the pioneer 15" gauge lines, flying the flag in the UK during these early days of rail enthusiasm. When constructed, the line was laid as a tramway, in order to aid the construction of Fairbourne village itself. However, when made into a railway, the line was not popular straight away. Therefore, in 1940, it closed. In 1946, the line was saved and reopened in 1947 with new locomotives, including the famous "Count Louis" atlantic, now at Evesham. The line's heyday came during the 1960s & 70s, before a steady decline in the 80s forced another sale. In 1984, the line was taken over by the Ellerton family and was regauged to the current gauge in 1986. All four of the steam locomotives currently based at the line were acquired at this time. The 15" gauge stock slowly dissapeared from then on. In 1990, the line was put up for sale again, being purchased years later after, deteriorating somewhat in the meantime. Finally, in 2009, the line was given to a charitable body to help preserve it for the future. Back to me, I arrived at the railway at just before 2pm, allowing me to catch that particular departure...just. The loco was "Sherpa"; a lovely Indian loco model. With a toot on the whistle, away we went... The train runs for 2 miles from Fairbourne to Barmouth Ferry, as the terminus is known. The scenary is very varied. Beginning in the village, the train crosses two roads before curving onto a straight towards the local Golf course. The line continues at the roadside, passing four halts on route. Weaving its way along the beach now, the train passes through a lengthy tunnel of strong construction, before appearing again in this sandy landscape. The journey is varied, yet rather slow in pace. "Sherpa" seemed to cope easily with the lengthy train, descending onto the edge of the Estuary at the terminus. There used to be a Baloon Loop here but, as half of it kept getting engulfed in sand, its use was discontinued a year or two ago. The locomotives now run round before returning to Fairbourne via the same route, yet in reverse of course. Below, we have a look in the cab of "Sherpa". She is an 0-4-0 tendered locomotive, modelled in 6" scale on the Darjeeling 'B' loco's of that famous Indian line... I must admit, apart from the tender, it wasn't a bad model at all. Even though a 'long way from home', "Sherpa" did look at peace in these very Welsh surroundings. She was built in 1978 in Chester, arriving at Fairbourne some years later. I'm told, she is the best engine for the line; reliable, powerful and easy to work on and repair. I left the train at Barmouth Ferry, to watch the run round. Some passengers were catching the rather tiny Foot-Ferry across the Mawddach Estuary to the seaside town of Barmouth, once a popular holiday resort. "Sherpa" simmers quietly at Barmouth Ferry... Nice colour; I like it...with the famous Barmouth Bridge in the background... There it is again, hiding behind the dunes... It was a nice little terminus location. The views all round are quite breathtaking. However, I must admit, in the middle of the winter you can imagine this place being completely depressing. It must be like the end of the world. Anyway, the loco ran round, before the Driver came back to check the tickets. Soon enough, with another whistle, off we went again. The tide was obviously out as I took this view from the carriage window... The metal section of the Barmouth Bridge, giving more strength following a severe infection from a Wood-Worm... Working a little harder on the return run, "Sherpa" is driven by another female driver... A bustling Barmouth Ferry with at least 12 passengers in sight. Saying that, the train did seem pretty full on departure... The train returned at its sombre pace across the beach and back down the road to Fairbourne. "Sherpa" sounded in fine form, though she wasn't working hard for most of the trip; the little uphill section out of the terminus was all us steam enthusiasts got really! As I say, though the line is pretty flat, it is relatively scenic; well worth a look. The staff are very friendly too, and the engine was well-turned out in her shining blue livery. The coaches were also well-looked after, a nice change compared to some of my more local railways. Back at Fairbourne, I left the train and had another look at "Sherpa". One of the Driver's then took me into the workshop where the other engines were hiding. Below, the model of WHR Hunslet "Russell" stands cold and under repair, following an altercation with a car last week... The third regularly operational engine is "Yeo", a model of the Lynton & Barnstaple engines. I love that Southern livery! Nice machine indeed. Very nice workshops too; they look pretty secure and well equipped. The fourth and final steamer, the 0-6-4ST "Beddgelert" was also in the shed: in bits! Below, "Yeo"... After a look in the sheds and the extensive souvenir shop, I left the railway for Bala Lake as the rain began to fall. Finally, I have a video for you; spotting "Sherpa" at Ferry with some on-train footage thrown in...Well, thats it folks; two down, one to go, after Bala of course! Off we go. Destination?: Bala! 30 minutes from here so I'm going to get gone and get there on this wet Welsh day. Fairbourne was very nice, lovely place to visit. Another I would recommend. I'd say 'charming' is probably the best word; if a little slow! Cheers everyone. Sam.
Hello everyone. Following a lovely trip on the historic Talyllyn Railway, I jumped back into my yellow Saxo and drove the scenic route to Fairbourne. In this tiny seaside village, there is a hidden gem; the 12.25" gauge Fairbourne Steam Railway. From its humble beginnings in 1895, the line was 2ft gauge, before a down-size to 15" gauge in 1916. The line was one of the pioneer 15" gauge lines, flying the flag in the UK during these early days of rail enthusiasm. When constructed, the line was laid as a tramway, in order to aid the construction of Fairbourne village itself. However, when made into a railway, the line was not popular straight away. Therefore, in 1940, it closed. In 1946, the line was saved and reopened in 1947 with new locomotives, including the famous "Count Louis" atlantic, now at Evesham. The line's heyday came during the 1960s & 70s, before a steady decline in the 80s forced another sale. In 1984, the line was taken over by the Ellerton family and was regauged to the current gauge in 1986. All four of the steam locomotives currently based at the line were acquired at this time. The 15" gauge stock slowly dissapeared from then on. In 1990, the line was put up for sale again, being purchased years later after, deteriorating somewhat in the meantime. Finally, in 2009, the line was given to a charitable body to help preserve it for the future. Back to me, I arrived at the railway at just before 2pm, allowing me to catch that particular departure...just. The loco was "Sherpa"; a lovely Indian loco model. With a toot on the whistle, away we went...
The train runs for 2 miles from Fairbourne to Barmouth Ferry, as the terminus is known. The scenary is very varied. Beginning in the village, the train crosses two roads before curving onto a straight towards the local Golf course. The line continues at the roadside, passing four halts on route. Weaving its way along the beach now, the train passes through a lengthy tunnel of strong construction, before appearing again in this sandy landscape. The journey is varied, yet rather slow in pace. "Sherpa" seemed to cope easily with the lengthy train, descending onto the edge of the Estuary at the terminus. There used to be a Baloon Loop here but, as half of it kept getting engulfed in sand, its use was discontinued a year or two ago. The locomotives now run round before returning to Fairbourne via the same route, yet in reverse of course. Below, we have a look in the cab of "Sherpa". She is an 0-4-0 tendered locomotive, modelled in 6" scale on the Darjeeling 'B' loco's of that famous Indian line...
I must admit, apart from the tender, it wasn't a bad model at all. Even though a 'long way from home', "Sherpa" did look at peace in these very Welsh surroundings. She was built in 1978 in Chester, arriving at Fairbourne some years later. I'm told, she is the best engine for the line; reliable, powerful and easy to work on and repair. I left the train at Barmouth Ferry, to watch the run round. Some passengers were catching the rather tiny Foot-Ferry across the Mawddach Estuary to the seaside town of Barmouth, once a popular holiday resort. "Sherpa" simmers quietly at Barmouth Ferry...
Nice colour; I like it...with the famous Barmouth Bridge in the background...
There it is again, hiding behind the dunes...
It was a nice little terminus location. The views all round are quite breathtaking. However, I must admit, in the middle of the winter you can imagine this place being completely depressing. It must be like the end of the world. Anyway, the loco ran round, before the Driver came back to check the tickets. Soon enough, with another whistle, off we went again. The tide was obviously out as I took this view from the carriage window...
The metal section of the Barmouth Bridge, giving more strength following a severe infection from a Wood-Worm...
Working a little harder on the return run, "Sherpa" is driven by another female driver...
A bustling Barmouth Ferry with at least 12 passengers in sight. Saying that, the train did seem pretty full on departure...
The train returned at its sombre pace across the beach and back down the road to Fairbourne. "Sherpa" sounded in fine form, though she wasn't working hard for most of the trip; the little uphill section out of the terminus was all us steam enthusiasts got really! As I say, though the line is pretty flat, it is relatively scenic; well worth a look. The staff are very friendly too, and the engine was well-turned out in her shining blue livery. The coaches were also well-looked after, a nice change compared to some of my more local railways. Back at Fairbourne, I left the train and had another look at "Sherpa". One of the Driver's then took me into the workshop where the other engines were hiding. Below, the model of WHR Hunslet "Russell" stands cold and under repair, following an altercation with a car last week...
The third regularly operational engine is "Yeo", a model of the Lynton & Barnstaple engines. I love that Southern livery! Nice machine indeed. Very nice workshops too; they look pretty secure and well equipped. The fourth and final steamer, the 0-6-4ST "Beddgelert" was also in the shed: in bits! Below, "Yeo"...
After a look in the sheds and the extensive souvenir shop, I left the railway for Bala Lake as the rain began to fall. Finally, I have a video for you; spotting "Sherpa" at Ferry with some on-train footage thrown in...Well, thats it folks; two down, one to go, after Bala of course! Off we go. Destination?: Bala! 30 minutes from here so I'm going to get gone and get there on this wet Welsh day. Fairbourne was very nice, lovely place to visit. Another I would recommend. I'd say 'charming' is probably the best word; if a little slow! Cheers everyone. Sam.
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