The Welsh Tour Part II: The Conwy Valley Line and the Bus...

Right guys, and so, on to the next! Having ridden up to the main line station of Blaenau Ffestiniog on the wonderful Ffestiniog Railway it was time for the next part of the epic Welsh adventure. We joined the 11:45am service to Llandudno Junction aboard Class 150 Unit No278, in two-car form. The train departed on time and soon 150 278 was roaring through the beautiful countryside on this sunny day. This section of single track main line is known as the Conwy Valley Line, and takes in some spectacular scenery on its 27-mile route. The journey takes a little over an hour, winding through the rolling hills, though many of the smaller stations are request stops. I must admit, still suffering from the very rich 3-courses from last night I dozed through most of the journey plus, of course, its only a diesel!...

"Norman Bates Takes A Break"

At Betws-y-Coed station we passed the Conwy Valley Railway Museum. This small but thriving affair has a sizeable 7.25" gauge railway and I spotted three trains in action out of the unit's window: two Tinkerbell's in steam and a diesel contraption. There is also a 15" gauge electric tramway, which has the claim to fame of being the only electrically powered railway in Wales! Here is the diesel thingy preparing to leave the miniature station within the museum site...

"The Conwy Valley Railway Museum"

After an enjoyable journey we arrived at a busy Llandudno Junction. It was here that we changed trains onto a North Wales Coast Line service for Bangor. We joined the much more modern air conditioned diesel unit having crossed platforms and were soon flying along the coast towards Bangor. At Bangor we alighted from the train before walking out onto the station concourse and later the road. We then caught an Arriva Bus to Caernarfon where we arrived about 20 minutes later. It was very warm & sunny in Caernarfon as we enjoyed the view over the water...

Caernarfon is a thriving Welsh town and includes the picturesque Caernarfon Castle which was completed around 1330. It is today a busy tourist attraction within the town...

"Caernarfon Castle"

Having hung around in Caernarfon for a while and took in some cultural delights such as the Castle and a very busy KFC, we walked over to the Welsh Highland Railway station. The WHR has a lengthy single platform here with a small booking office and run-round loop. Here we awaited the arrival of one of the huge Garrett locomotive's from Porthmadog. And on to the next...