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.

TO CESAREA AND BEYOND

We've left Caernarfon behind and not far to the south was Bontnewydd station, long closed.  It is seen here in 1962 (Ben Brooksbank - Creative Commons License).

Silver Star Motors had their bus depot and yards at Bontnewydd. Both bus and coach liveries are seen here.

Express Motors also based their vehicles in Bontnewydd.

Just to the south, Dinas Junction, northern terminus of the old Welsh Highland Railway.

The "new" Welsh Highland Railway has been extended to Caernarfon, while Dinas is where the locomotives are maintained.

To the east, the village of Waenfawr, where another independent, Whiteways, housed their buses.

Waenfawr was, and still is, a stop on the Welsh Highland Railway.

Beside the station, the Snowdonia Parc brewpub.

Cesaria (actually the village is correctly called Y Fron, Cesarea being the name of the chapel) was the terminus of one of Silver Star's bus route. Two of their buses are seen amongst the slate quarry remains, 1975 and 1982 respectively.

By the way, if this area isn't familiar to you, you can see the route here. Our next stop is the village of Trefor on the Llŷn Peninsula, home to Clynnog & Trefor Coaches, who are still in business today.

Further along the coast we find Williams Coaches at Llithfaen.

Across the Llŷn Peninsula, Porth Caeirad, Abersoch.

Next stop, Llanbedrog.

There's a nice beach here (Creative Commons License).

Here is St Pedrog's church (Creative Commons License).

We can have a nice pint at the Ship Inn, Llanbedrog.

Many moons ago, we could have travelled on the horse powered tram towards the town of Pwllheli.

Here is Pwllheli, with the Llanbedog tramway still operational.

One of the old tram bodies remained as a convenient shelter in Pwllheli.

Pwllheli "new" station, terminus of the line from Dovey Junction.

Outside the station, an old Leyland advertising the delights of the Isle of Man.

Crosville was the major bus operator in Pwllheli.

Clynnog & Trefor ran a busy route to Caernarfon.

Other operators have included Berwyn Motors, Caelloi Coaches, Nefyn Coaches and Williams of Llithfaen.

Let's finish this post in a pub - the Penlan Fawr. Be aware that real ale is only sold here in summer.

Next time...... More of the Welsh coast.