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.