MEN OF HARLECH (AND ELSEWHERE)

 As promised, we start at the Ffestiniog Railway's Boston Lodge Works.

Linda gets up steam, then leaves for Porthmadog.

Prince outside the works and passing by..

Mountaineer leaves to take up service.

The ex Harrogate Gasworks loco waits for restoration at Boston Lodge in 1977.

We take a slight detour (see the map) to see the famous tourist attraction of Portmeirion (Keith H - Creative Commons License).

Back to the Ffestiniog Railway and Minffordd station in the 1930s.

Here's Minffordd station in 1984, looking spick and span.

A diesel hauled service arrives in 1984.

In May 1993, a collection of Quarry Hunslets was in operation in Minffordd yard.

The next station up the line is Penrhyndeudraeth.

One of the Double Fairlie locos on the level crossing at Penrhyndeudraeth, 1984.

Between Penrhyndeudraeth and Tan-y-Bwlch is the magnificent stone-built embankment at Cae Mawr.

Time for an "about turn" and we head back towards Harlech, calling in at the Ship Aground at Talsarnau for a pint.

So, we arrive at Harlech. We're looking down from the castle grounds in the 1960s.

The railway station is down there (Creative Commons License).

Here's the castle in 1975.

The Lion Hotel in Harlech has recently reopened.

To the south, the Tŷ Mawr hotel at Llanbedr, set in its own grounds.

As we approach Barmouth, we find the village of Llanaber.

Barmouth is our next stop. A GWR 0-6-0 is seen on a local train.

Barmouth station goods yard, circa 1927.

Barmouth station in 1962 (Ben Brooksbank - Creative Commons License).

Barmouth South signal box was still operational in 1990.

A postcard view of King Edward Street.

Another postcard, showing some of Barmouth's delights.

A Cambrian Railway train approaches Barmouth having just crossed the Mawddach estuary, sometime around 1890. 

The north end of Barmouth Bridge, about 100 years later.

A class 37 takes its southbound Cambrian Coast Express over the Mawddach estuary in 1990.

Here's the alternative means of crossing the estuary (Anthony Abbott - Creative Commons License).

Many moons ago, a horse tram met the ferry, ready to take passengers down to Fairbourne.

The line was later changed to a 15" gauge miniature railway. We're looking across to Barmouth here in 1971.

The Fairbourne Railway's Ernest W Twinning at Barmouth Ferry.

The year 1986 saw the line regauged to 12¼". In 1990, diesel loco no. 6 is seen on a foul day in 1990.

Back in 15" gauge days, another diesel is operating the service to and from Fairbourne village.

A 1950s view of another diesel, departing from Fairbourne terminus.

2-4-2 loco Sian departs Fairbourne in 1977.

Two of the diesel locos in 1977.

The regauged line has a selection of locos, all photographed in 1990.

There's a standard gauge station at Fairbourne too (Tom Bastin - Creative Commons License).

Just to the south, the hamlet of Friog.

We now head inland, taking the bus through Bontddu.

And that's where I'll leave you for now. Next time, Dolgellau and beyond.

MADOC WAS 'ERE

Leaving Pwllheli behind, we're soon in Aberech, where there are fine views of Snowdonia.

 Next stop, the small town of Criccieth and the weather's a bit milder in these postcard views.

Here's a great view of the castle (Nicolas Pike).

The Late Les Flint once found this old United Bristol in Criccieth in 1967, in use with a fairground operator.

We turn inland now (see the map here), to Tremadog for our first pint of this post at the Golden Fleece.

Onwards now to Porthmadog (Madoc's Port). First stop is the main line railway station, seen here as a DMU arrives in 1984.

A better view of the station, with rusting tracks during a temporary closure in 2014.

158 823 calls in 2007.

Part of the station building has been converted into the Station Pub, now owned by Purple Moose Brewery.

To the east, the Welsh Highland Railway crossed the main line on the level. One of the Baldwin locos heads for the harbour.

As an economy measure, the WHR built a second Portmadog (that's the English name, no longer used) station north of the crossing.

The Welsh Highland Railway has since been rebuilt throughout - more of that later. There's also the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway in Porthmadog. No. 7 is ready to depart on its short journey in 1984.

Seen from the train, a pair of diesels beside the shed.

In 2014, a diesel was operating the service.

At the end of the line (then), another little diesel loco.

There's also a 7.25 inch gauge miniature line to ride on.

A couple of steam locos in the shed/exhibition hall in 2014.

Not far away is the Purple Moose Brewery,

Time for a look into the town, Here's a postcard view of the High Street in the 1960s.

The Royal Sportsman is a place to get accommodation and has a local real ale.

The Ship Inn has more cask beer.

One of today's main bus operators is Express Mortors, with a variety of vehicles.

Caelloi Coaches could be found here in 2014.

This Siver Star AEC Regal "heritage" vehcle was found in the town in 2010 (Jim Sambrooks).

This old Bedford OB of Howards Coaches was photographed in Porthmadog in 1977.

To the harbour now, seen around 1880.

Here's the harbour in 2014.

Beside the harbour was (and still is) the terminus of the Ffestiniog Railway.

Some more modern views of Porthmadog Harbour station, 

The old Welsh Highland Railway came into Porthmadog Harbour from the north, traversing the High Street via an acute-angled level crossing.

The "new" Welsh Highland Railway does the same thing in 2014.

Here's a view of the extended Porthmadog Harbour station in 2014 with a WHR service.

An embankment called The Cob carries the road and the Ffestiniog Railway across the estuary. A Shearing's coach comes off The Cob in 2014.

There are fine views inland from The Cob.

The FR's David LLoyd George crosses The Cob with a service to Blaenau Ffestiniog.

A pair of diesels head for Boston Lodge Works, which are at the other end of The Cob.

We'll start off at Boston Lodge in the next post. See you soon.