Jordan OL School 2 The Welsh Highland Railway

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At Waunfawr there's an excellent pub, the Snowdonia Park, and if you're hungry and thirsty and have plenty of time this is a good place to break your journey. However if you stay with the train you'll really start to appreciate the mountain scenery, which just gets more impressive with the yard. After Plas-y-nant Halt you'll start to see Llyn Cwellyn, a beautiful lake that the the line curves around. Don't surprise if your feet itch to get off the train at Snowden Ranger station so that you can walk along its banks!
Read on
Welsh Highland Heritage Railway, Porthmadog
Scenic Welsh Steam Railway is Reborn
Passenger Comforts on the Historic Welsh Railway
The Welsh Highland Railway (Rheilffordd Eryri) is a narrow-gauge railway that runs from Caernarfon to Porthmadog in Wales. It has a complex history – suffice it to say that the original version was closed to passengers in 1936 and to all traffic the following year, following which it was completely dismantled. It was partially reopened in 1997 and has gradually been extended. All track is now in place but regular trains run between Caernarfon and Pont Croesor, just a couple of miles out of Porthmadog.
The first couple of miles are pleasant but unexceptional. This part of the railway used to be standard gauge, the old WHR starting at the first main station, Dinas. From here is a lovely view over to Llanddwyn Island [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], and then the train turns sharply to the left (you will notice that the bridges are to narrow-gauge dimensions now!) and starts to climb through very pleasant countryside, rough pasture with quite a few sheep and cattle. Looking back there are some delightful views of Anglesey. After the disused station at Tryfan Junction the train runs into the valley of the Afon Gwryfai and the scenery becomes more rugged and wooded. There are wild flowers by the tracks and you may also see some wildlife - perhaps a heron, for example.
Your journey will probably start at Caernarfon [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], where there's a small and fairly unimpressive station close to the famous castle. (The castle is itself well worth a visit if you've got time.) Don't let the station put you off, as the train itself is a bit special. For one thing it will probably be hauled by one of the famous Beyer-Garratt locomotives, strange looking things if you're unfamiliar with them. They're articulated, the single boiler slung between two sets of wheels, not an average steam engine at all.
As for the train itself, you'll find the carriages are remarkably comfortable for their size. There's normally a first-class Pullman, one of which, called Glaslyn has a fully glazed end portion so you can really appreciate the scenery. The third class coaches have quite acceptable seats as well, unless you're the adventurous type and prefer the semi-open coaches at the front. A corridor connection allows food and drink to be served, to say nothing of access to the on-train toilet, which can be useful [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], given that this is a long journey.
On clear days you have a good view of the tops of the mountains. At Rhyd Ddu station you will even be able to see the top of Snowdon itself, and if you've got sharp eyes you may even be able to spot the Snowdon Mountain Railway train as it approaches the summit. You can walk from here to the top, but it's not a stroll for the unprepared or ill-equipped and it will take you several hours.
Just after Pitts Head (a stone said to resemble William Pitt) the railway reaches its summit, and the engine no longer has to work so hard. The train descends a nominal gradient of 1 in 40, twisting and turning through the wooded mountainous country of Beddgelert Forest until you lose all sense of direction. There are some fine views to be had of Snowdon but you may have difficulty deciding which side you should look out for it!