Corris train at Maespoeth.
Photo: R J Heron 14-Jun-03
Photo: R J Heron 14-Jun-03
The 2003 Bristol Group Annual Mini Roadmotor Group Outing - The Cambrian Coast Excess - took us to the Corris Railway, the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways and finally the Llangollen Railway.
by Martin Baker
From the Great Western Echo - Number 164 (Winter 2003)
It was on the bright sunny morning of June 14th that 12 1/2 members of the Bristol Group piled into a brand spanking-new mini-bus that was to convey us to the top left-hand corner of Wales.
Why the odd half ? Well, that was young Benjamin, not yet six years old but already an authority on engines of all types. The remainder of our party was a mixture of familiar faces and newcomers to our little outings, we hope we haven't frightened them away ! The advertised itinerary was the Ffestiniog Railway, the Welsh Highland Railway (in anticipation of their extension to Rydd Ddu) and the Llangollen Railway, just to add gauge variety. However due to circumstances beyond etc., etc., the WHR had been unable to progress beyond Waunfawr in time for our visit so a 'Mystery Lunch Stop' had been arranged for the Saturday by way of compensation.
Our first refreshment halt was the Honey Cafe at Bronllys, highly recommended if you're in the area, or even if you aren't. After that the mountain roads (through Rhayader and Llanidloes) get rather scenic, prompting Joe, our Reading-based Scottish committee member, to take the front passenger seat and record the ride for posterity on video. The downside of trekking across Wales by this route is that there was little to see of railway interest, until we reached Machynlleth, where we were able to wave to the passengers of a '37'-hauled special as we went under the station bridge.
The speculation as to where the mystery lunch stop would be was ended when I turned off the main road and into the village of Corris. The Corris Railway line to Maespoeth had been re-opened just the previous weekend, and the CR had borrowed Talyllyn Railway loco No. 3 and some suitable rolling stock for the month to recreate an authentic 'original' train. Although the trip down the valley was scheduled for diesel haulage, the return with the steam loco was eagerly awaited.
During the layover we were treated to a very informative talk on the history of the railway, and the ultimate objects of the preservation scheme. it was then that we discovered that we (all right, I) had misunderstood the CR's timetable, and that our return arrival at Corris would leave us little time to reach our next booked appointment at Boston Lodge. “No Problem,” said the CR, “we'll run a special train for you!” Which they did. With gusto. I'm not sure how fast we came back up the valley, I know it was a lot faster than the down trip. Indeed, some of our party questioned whether or not No. 3 was fitted with TPWS ... . Suffice to say that Joe's on-train video of the trip will not be going on general release!
On then to the Ffestiniog Railway and a guided tour of Boston Lodge works courtesy of a very nice man called David Lampert. We were able to inspect the progress of restoration on the original Garratt, K1, walk underneath a diesel locomotive that had been jacked up just for us. and generally admire the quality of workmanship in the carriage construction shop.
A short drive to Porthmadog saw us on the 16:00 departure, the last of the day, with 2-4-0T Linda in charge. David came with us on this trip, taken in the Lynton and Barnstaple Buffet Car, to give us a further guided tour and potted history of the line as we climbed to Blaenau Ffestiniog. It was here that one of the senior members of our party was offered mind-altering substances during a short walk into the town! The other surprise here is that it wasn't raining.
After returning to Porthmadog, saying goodbye to the FR, and thanking them for their most generous hospitality, we moved on to our overnight halt, the Marine Hotel, 'down by Criccieth yonder'. This establishment promised a view of the sea or the castle from every room, a couple of our party were billeted in a room which had neither!
The evening meal proved to be well worth the wait, once we had worked out the procedure for ordering it and got used to the fact that delivery out of sequence was the norm. After dinner some of us took a stroll along the sea front and discovered a semaphore-controlled level crossing, with the levers exposed in the crossing-keeper's garden. One wonders how much longer such things may last on the grown-up railway.
The following day (still bright and sunny!) saw us at the Caernarfon terminus of the Welsh Highland Railway in time to note the arrival of the first train of the day from Dinas. The vast majority of us had never seen a Beyer-Garratt in steam and moving before; they are truly impressive machines. I asked Benjamin what the wheel arrangement was. “That's difficult!” he said, but had no problem with the concept that it was like two 'Prairies' joined together. But not much.
There had been some speculation in the booking office at Porthmadog (the FR and the WHR being administered jointly) that the Garratts wouldn't have a fitting for our famous and much-travelled headboard. However these fears were dispelled when we noticed that they are fitted with a completely conventional lamp bracket, so we were abel to run our third 'Great Western Society Special' of the weekend. Needles to say, a locomotive of this size made very short work of the run to Waunfawr, where there was plenty of time to admire its dimensions again before the return trip. A quick glance into the shed and yard at Dinas revealed the line's other Garratt, and a 2-8-0 awaiting overhaul. Who said that narrow gauge railways are small?
After lunch we took the scenic route up the Pass of Llanberis to the Llangollen Railway's current western terminus of Carrog. A clanking noise alerted us to the fact that the motive power for our run to Llangollen and back was 'Black 5' No. 44806. The station staff suggested that we should have booked on the other train, which was being hauled by an ex-GW 'Large Prairie'. Our suggestion was, as they knew we were coming, they should have rostered the locos the other way round! No matter, we had a most enjoyable ride, and it was refreshing to be travelling on standard gauge metals for the only time that weekend.
After the obligatory pause for tea, and a group photograph taken against the backdrop of a North-Eastern brake van (and why not?) we headed homewards, via the customary holdups in Llangollen town centre and the M54/M6 junction. The feeling was that all had enjoyed their weekend, especially as the weather had stayed fine the whole time - no meant feat, given the destination.
The biggest disappointment of the weekend? Going all the way to north Wales and not encountering Mrs. Trellis. The luckiest member of our party? That would be Benjamin, who, during the course of Sunday, lost and found a) his kit-bag in a cafe in Caernarfon, b) his camera on the train at Llangollen, and c) his Froggy, accidentally ejected from the bus window whilst being thrown at various committee members - which is not, in itself, and unreasonable activity. This latter item was retrieved, grubby and missing an eye, from the hard shoulder at Almondsbury the following day ... I hope the CCTV wasn't working.
So, where will our travels take us in 2004? Well. there is a small but vociferous minority within the group that likes to play 'Challenge the Organiser', and they would like to see an itinerary which includes the North York Moors line, among others. Watch this space, as they say.