It was the Monaco Grand Prix last weekend so this week’s F1 Wednesday post it seems appropriate to dedicate it to Monaco!
Our Life In Eryri / Snowdonia
Old Caernarfon - Llanberis branchline. Not far from the site of the temporary Caernarvon Morfa station and the Caernarvon Pant station. At one point there were 3 stations - Morfa and Pant as already mentioned and the main station (where Morrisons is now).
In 1852 the tunnel under the Maes was built and connected all 3 lines. Morfa station was closed to passengers in 1871. The line through to Llanberis was used for regular passengers services up to November 1930 with special excursions up to October 1963. Last goods train ran September 1964 and track lifted in February 1965. Sad times.
#abandonedRailways #Caernarfon
1 wythnos ago
🎶 Take me home, take me home, to the place I belong. Cos I miss ya, and I wish ya, would take me home, take me home
🏴 Dim angen dweud mwy…
🇬🇧 Enough said…
#Tanygrisiau #Adra #Moelwynion #MoelwynMawr #MoelwynBach #LlynYstradau #Eryri #Snowdonia #MountainsGandalf #NorthWales #BlaenauFfestiniog #LlechiCymru #WelshSlate #YnaTrWyfIIfod #ThisIsWhereIBelong
2 wythnos ago
🏴 Eira yn Llechwedd heddiw. Plantos wedi bod ar yn netiau a finna yn bysnesu ar y lle. Adeiladau Newydd wedi ac wrthi’n cael eu creu. Dwi jest gobeithio wnaiff yr olygfa yma byth newid. Hwn yn olygfa eiconig yn fy meddwl i.
🇬🇧 Snow in Llechwedd today. Kids went on the bouncy nets and I went to nosey. New buildings being constructed. I really hope this view never changes. It’s an iconic view in my mind.
#Llechwedd #CeudyllauLlechi #LlechiCymru #BlaenauFfestiniog #Eryri #Snowdonia #Zipworld #ZipworldLlechwedd #HoganStiniog
3 wythnos ago
🏴 Fuon ni allan i chwilio am eira ac wrth gwrs es i syth i Tanygrisiau. Cinio yn Caffi Llyn cyn cerdded i fyny i Rheadr Cwmorthin. Wedyn ddaru ni sleidio lawr allt Dolrhedyn - llithrig iawn allan yna! Er oedden ni yn oer a gwlyb ond duw oedd o’n hwyl!
🇬🇧 We went out in search of snow and of course I went straight to Tanygrisiau. Lunch at Lakeside Cafe before walking up to see Cwmorthin waterfall. Then we slid down Dolrhedyn hill - it was rather icy out there! Despite the fact we were cold and wet it was fun!
#Eira #Cwmorthin #Dolrhedyn #BlaenauFfestiniog #Tanygrisiau #Eryri #Snowdonia
4 wythnos ago
🏴 Atgofion RhFf yn cychwyn yn barod! Oeddwn i draw yn Minffordd yn ffilmio pwt bach ar gyfer Heno (gwyliwch nos lun !) ac ar ffordd nol es i fewn i Boston Lodge i fysnesu. Ac edrychwch be ges i weld! Merddin Emrys mewn gwyrdd!! Wedi mynd yn wyrdd ar gyfer dathliadau 70 eleni.
🇬🇧 FR memories are starting already! I was over in Minffordd filming a little tidbit for Heno (watch on Monday night !) and on the way back I went into Boston Lodge to have a nosey. And look what I got to see! Merddin Emrys in green!! Gone green for this year’s 70 celebrations.
#MerddinEmrys #BostonLodge #FfestiniogRailway #RheilfforddFfestiniog #DoubleFairlie #SteamTrainLife #HeritageRailways #HeritageRailwayPeople #Eryri #snowdonia
1 mis ago
Finally post 3 of 3 of 2024 highlights and this time it’s my highlights of volunteering with the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways.
1 - filming first day of trains
2 - James Spooner with the first Mountain Spirit service at Blaenau Ffestiniog
3 - a Penrhyn Lady at Blaenau Ffestiniog station with snow on the background
4 - Britomart at Y Stesion to launch the FWHR Top Trumps cards
5 - a visit from Lily and Chuquitanta from the Richmond Light Railway
6 - at Tan y Bwlch
7 - Penrhyn Ladies at Penrhyndeudraeth during the first Snowdonian run of the year
8 - Lilla and Velinheli bask in the sunshine at Minffordd
9 - exchanging tokens for the gravity train run
10 - selfie at Rhiw Goch - somewhere I don’t get to visit normally
11 - first glance of No 134 at Dinas shed
12 - refurbished Pullman carriage launch at Y Stesion
13 - Palmerston at the Vale of Rheidol
14 - another Penrhyn Lady passing under footbridge 2 on Tanygrisiau
15 - two Ladies and our newest Double Fairlie leaving Nantmor with the second Snowdonian run of the year
16 - Lyd passing through Tanygrisiau
17 - Megs and I ready for our epic Snowdonia Circular tour
18 - Lilla on Santa Grotto duties at Harbour Station
19 - Penrhyn Ladies rwady to depart Harbour Station during Twixmas
20 - final train picture of 2024 - the Penrhyn Ladies arriving at Tanygrisiau
And here’s me thinking I didn’t do as much filming this year but still managed to fit a lot in.
#ffestiniogandwelshhighlandrailways #heritagerailways #steamtrainlife #heritagerailwaypeople #eryri #snowdonia #ffestiniograilway #tanygrisiau #minffordd #blaenauffestiniog #porthmadog
1 mis ago
2024 look back… post 2 of 3… the non train highlights!
1 - started the year with a lovely walk along Dinas Dinlle beach with the dogs
2 - eeek I turned 40!
3 - met a friendly cow at Llanfair
4 - started off as a lovely day in Blaenau but ended up@being horrible as we lost our Beaglebum Gemma
5 - nice day in Caernarfon
6 - trip to Mynydd Parys
7 - visited the Llandudno Extravaganza and Transport Festival
8 - where Megs acquired this rather wonderful harness
9 - fab weather for Gwyl Fwyd Caernarfon
10 - met a T Rex at Universal Studios Orlando (as well as a mouse in T’other park)
11 - managed a dip at Dolrhedyn
12 - as well as at least one dip in the sea at Dinas Dinlle
13 - went over to the IoM for a few days and saw the Great Laxey Wheel
14 - and visited the Anderton Boat Lift in Cheshire
15 - took everyone for a walk to Beddgelert Forest for the first time
16 - took some pictures of the Northern Lights
17 - went walking to Moel Tryfan and Alexandria quarry
18 - did my Snowdonia Circular tour and took the best photo ever of Megs
19 - said goodbye to the National Slate Museum (until 2026!)
20 - Christmas Eve visit to a very foggy Tanygrisiau
And that’s not even half of the adventures took in 2024 but I can only share 20 photos at a time. Looking back I realise that I do get up to a lot… no wonder I’m always tired!
1 mis ago
Well since it’s the last day of 2024 let’s take a look back at the year… post 1 of 3… my non FR railway highlights.
1 - TO THE TRAINS!!!
2 - a visit to the Severn Valley Railway
3 - special trip to the Talyllyn Railway for the launch of the 75 Appeal
4 - went on the Rhyl Miniature Railway
5 - finally attended an open day at the Joys of Life Railway
6 - found the time travelling steam train at Universal Studios
7 - visited the Bala Lake Railway
8 - first train of the IoM trip was the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway
9 - followed by the Isle of Man Steam Railway
10 - then the Manx Electric Railway and Snaefell Mountain Railway
11 - Lacey Station
12 - another IoM railway the Groudle Glen Railway
13 - and the IoM Steam Railway again
14 - not forgetting the Great Laxey Mine Railway
15 - back in the UK we met Thomas at Drayton Manor
16 - Megs and I at the Vale of Rheidol Gala
17 - the VoR’s Drakensberg approaching Capel Bangor
18 - special guest on the North Wales Coast - Sir Nigel Gresley
19 - did a rail tour from Crewe to Blackpool with Vintage Trains. Our noble steed was Bahamas
20 - found a new to me cafe in Pwllheli
A lot of trains and that’s not all of it! Separate post about the FWHR coming but wow I’ve been busy trainspotting this year!
#steamTrainLife #HeritageRailways #MainLineSteam #GreatLittleTrainsofWales #Trainspotting #heritagerailwaypeople
1 mis ago
Taid a fi ar lan y môr Porth Dinllaen - yr unig adeg dwi wedi bod yno!
Me and Taid on Porth Dinllaen beach - the only time I’ve ever been there!
#TaidAFi #FiATaid #PorthDinllaen #12mlynedd
2 mis ago
I had an emotional moment on the way in to work this morning. The song The Black Hills of Dakota came on and it started me off crying. It was played at Nain’s funeral 3 years ago and it still makes me sob.
But after that Gwena by Gwibdaith Hen Fran came on and I saw this view. Maybe I’m daft but I felt like Nain sent me a sign to brighten my day. And so by the time I got to work I was fine and enjoying the crisp morning that it is here.
Funny things emotions.
2 mis ago
🏴 Es am ginio i Buffers yng Ngorsaf Pwllheli heddiw. All rhywun ddweud wrtha i sut ar y ddaear tydw i erioed wedi bod yma cyn heddiw?! Bwyd blasus a lleoliad gwych!
🇬🇧 Went for lunch to Buffers at Pwllheli Station today. Can someone explain to me how on earth have I not been in here before?! Good food and a great location!
#Buffers #Pwllheli #AmserCinio #Lunchtime #PlatformLunches
2 mis ago
Oedd yr 80au yn wahanol oes! Oedd Nain o hyd yn cadw fyny hefo ffasiwn. Oedd Nain yn awesome! Dal i fethu hi.
The 80s were a different era! Look at that fashion! Reckon it was very late 80s. Nain always kept up with fashion. Nain was freaking awesome! Still miss her.
2 mis ago
Almost a week since our trip to Blackpool behind the beauty that is 45596 Bahamas - an LMS Jubilee Class loco.
Designed by William Stanier, built in 1935 by North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow, Bahamas operated under British Rail until it was withdrawn from traffic in 1966 when BR banned steam.
A preservation society was formed and saved her from scrap. She returned to mainline operation in 1972 when the ban of steam engines was lifted. She has been used for mainline excursions or as static displays (when out of ticket) ever since.
The full video of our trip to Blackpool with Vintage Trains will be on YouTube tomorrow!
#VintageTrains #BahamasLocomotiveSociety #MainlineSteam #HeritageRailways #HeritageRailwayPeople #SteamEngine #SteamTrainLife #BigTrain #45596 #45596Bahamas #Blackpool #Crewe #WestCoastMainline #HoganStiniog #BecsterTravels
2 mis ago
Yesterday I joined the Blackpool Illuminations Express rail tour! Joined the train at Crewe and headed up the West Coast mainline. At Preston we branched off towards Blackpool taking the Preston and Blackpool line.
Our noble steed was 45596 LMS Jubilee Class “Bahamas”. I think she’s owned by the Bahamas Locomotive Society but being operated by Vintage Trains. Either way she’s a beauty!
Got speaking to some lovely people involved with the loco and it’s clear how much she’s loved by them. Thanks to all involved!
#45596bahamas #Bahamas #MainlineSteam #Railtour #VintageTrains #SteamTrainLife #heritagerailwaypeople #Blackpool #Crewe #WeetCoastMainline
3 mis ago
🏴 Hwyl am y tro Amgueddfa Lechi! Wedi cau am 2 flynedd 😭 Fydd dim Nadolig yno eleni - Nadolig ydi fy hoff dymor yn yr Amgueddfa. Rhywbeth digon hudolus am y lle adeg Nadolig. Ond dyma rhai o fy hoff luniau dros y blynyddoedd diweddar. Diolch o galon i pob un o’r staff am wneud y lle mor arbennig! Welwn ni chi yn 2026!
🇬🇧Bye for now Slate Museum! Closed for 2 years 😭 There will be no Christmas there this year - Christmas is my favorite season at the Museum. Something quite magical about the place at Christmas time. But here are some of my favorite photos from recent years. Thank you so much to the staff who’ve made the place so special. We’ll see you in 2026!
#AmgueddfaLechiCymru #NationalSlateMuseum #LlechiCymru #WelshSlate #UNESCOWorldHeritageSite #Llanberis #GoodbyeForNow #Cymru #GogleddCymru #NorthWales
3 mis ago
🏴Moelwynion o’r trên ger Pont Croesor. Oedd hi’n braf fel oedden ni’n dod am Porthmadog. Yn anffodus ddaru hi fynd yn reit ddwl erbyn i ni gyrraedd Blaenau yn y prynhawn. Dim ots! Dal fy off le yn y byd!
🇬🇧 The Moelwyns from the train near Pont Croesor. It was sunny as we were approaching Porthmadog. Unfortunately it had turned rather dull by the time we got to Blaenau in the afternoon. Never mind! It’s still my favourite place in the whole world!
#ymayrwyfiifod #blaenauffestiniog #moelwynion #moelwyns #adra #hoganstiniog
3 mis ago
Megsy’s Grand Day Out!
Megs joined us on our Snowdonia Circular tour on the trains. Started off on a train from Caernarfon to Porthmadog. She loved it - look at that face!!
After a pitstop at Spooners and a walk around Porthmadog, we headed on an FR train to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Seeing as we had 2 hours to spare we walked around Blaenau (pics will be posted soon) before heading back to the station to catch a TFW train to Llandudno Junction.
At Junction we transferred to an Avanti West Coast Service to Bangor. From there we caught an Arriva Bus back to Caernarfon.
Megs is tired now… as are we!! Started out at 10am and getting back approx 8.30pm! 😴
#Megsypoo #JackRussellTerrier #jrtsofinstagram #ffestiniogandwelshhighlandrailways #Porthmadog #BlaenauFfestiniog #Eryri #Snowdonia360 #LlechiCymru #WelshSlate #grandDaysOut #DaysOutByRail
3 mis ago