I’m currently on a bit of a comedown after attending a wonderful weekend of filming at the Ffestiniog Railway*. On the weekend of 20-22nd June we were celebrating 70 years of preservation on the Ffestiniog Railway. As part of Moving Media Team I was filming most of it. So here’s some of my highlights…
(* sorry I know it’s Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways but I feel this was an FR celebration more than the WHR)
Friday 20th June – Far Too Hot and a Jolly to TYB
It was a stupid hot day on Friday and we spent it chasing trains! We saw the photoshoot of Mary Ann, Merddin Emrys and Prince at Harbour Station before heading off to Minffordd weighbridge where I filmed a few more trains.
Afterwards we were pretty starving so headed over to Boston Lodge to see the festivities there. There were numerous stalls including Celemmabrations a Benny Powell‘s paintings. Lunch came in the form of a delicious cheesburger from Nia Roberts Catering.
Later on I met up with Tim and we had a jolly up to Tan Y Bwlch on the evening train. Such good fun!
Video can be found here -> http://Day 1 of FR70 Celebrations
Saturday 21st June – Infamous Gravity Train & Over and Unders at Dduallt
Early start for me as I was on the gravity train – shout out to Lee who made a call to get Tim and me on it! I’ve been lucky enough to do the gravity train before but this one was extra special because this one went all the way up to Blaenau Ffestiniog. I got to travel past my childhood home in a slate waggon! Incredible experience and one that made me feel quite emotional.
Post gravity train I joined the rest of the Moving Media team and headed up to Dduallt for the afternoon. At Dduallt there were numerous trains (as well as loads of people!). They did some over and under movements on the spiral which is something you don’t see under normal circumstances. I ended up being in a swamp during a torrential downpour – massive Jurassic Park vibes!
Video can be found here -> Day 2 of FR70 Celebrations
Sunday 22nd June – 200 Wheels Cavalcade
Sunday the weather turned and it became windy… just in time for the 200 Wheels cavalcade on the Cob. Shame but it didn’t deter the crowds of people who came to the station.
It was such an amazing thing to see… all of our steam engines out. All of them came to Harbour Station before crossing the Cob. At Boston Lodge, Tim Dunn and Anthony Coulls were compering as the locos came over the Cob. I missed all of that as I was based in Harbour Station.
As I stood there watching all of the engines, I had a moment. I realised just how lucky I was to not only see this spectacle but to be part of it. Ok my part is only the filming, but it does make me feel unbelievably proud to a small cog in the impressive machine that is the Ffestiniog Railway.
Long may it continue! So here’s to the next 70 years!
