Ffestiniog in the Easter Sun

Proof that it was, in fact, sunny, on at least one day of our Easter Holiday... After four days of miserable rain the sun briefly popped out, at the point we happened to be in Porthmadog.

Even better, there were actually trains in Porthmadog Harbour Station, which seems to be something of a rarity with the present timetable. Whereas in the past it felt like there was always something moving here, the current timetable seems to leave big gaps. But no, Welsh Highland Railway train with no.130 departing.

"Lyd" manoeuvring out of the sidings.

"James Spooner" buffering up.

It was only a quick visit, but allowed us to get a few snaps in the sunshine for a Garden Rail piece. 

 

Talyllyn Railway visit, April 2025

Honestly, drought-stricken nations could pay us to come on holiday. After weeks of dry, warm, windy weather, and railways having to ban steam haulage because of the fire risk, our arrival in Wales heralded rainfall to levels which prompted Yellow Met-Office Alerts.

Anyway, a positive for us meant some steam haulage on the Talyllyn Railway, which we were visiting to get a load of reference pics for upcoming Garden Rail Magazine articles.

No.1 "Tal Y Llyn" doing the honours on our train, pictured running-round at Nant Gwernol Station.

We did a round-trip of the line...

...photographing quite a lot from the windows, that we want to replicate on our garden line.

"Tom Rolt" passing.

More photographs from the train, things we might want to model.

The main target for the visit, "Edward Thomas". We have our eye on a model of this rather wonderful ex-Corris Railway locomotive which we're planning to pick up at the Llangollen show.

The Talyllyn is one of those railways which has an important place in the history of rail travel in the UK, and it was great to pay a visit. Plenty of inspiration for upcoming articles, and lots of photographs taken...

 

Ffestiniog Railway Diesels

A Spring of very dry weather meant there was a ban on steam locomotives on many railways in the UK, and especially around North Wales, when we arrived. From a photography point of view, it meant a bit of variety on the Ffestiniog.

We were visiting Tanybwlch partly for cake and a brew from the excellent tearoom, but mainly to get some reference pics for a couple of articles we're writing.

Detail pics of Tanybwlch station.

Normally we'd do a walk up over the hills, but we weren't really feeling it today.

"Criccieth Castle" arriving with a Mountain Spirit service.

Wanting to bulk the shots out a bit to send a selection off to the mags, we headed down to Minfford later in the afternoon, but were put off a bit by a group of local Youthery messing about.

So we moved a bit nearer to Boston Lodge Halt, for the arrival of the return Woodland Wanderer with "Upnor Castle" noisily hauling.

 

Llangollen Railway Branch Line Gala

Easter saw us taking a trip to Wales; en-route to Porthmadog, we made a lunch stop at Llangollen, where the railway was holding their Branch Line Gala. Whilst the plan wasn't to specifically visit for railway photography, when you've got nice weather and such magnificent machines as the visiting "Betton Grange", above, we couldn't resist getting a few pics

Class 14 Teddybear.

Llangollen as a town was heaving; good news for the place as well as the railway.

GWR heavy goods loco running-round.

Teddybear running-round.

After a few hours, it was off and away to continue the journey to West Wales.

 

Haworth Farmhouse; pale blues and York stone

Whilst out and about in Haworth, for the KWVR Gala, me (Ben) and Elder Child ended up spending a few minutes distracted by this old farmhouse. More specifically, the outbuildings, recently sold for redevelopement.

What can I say, the tatty, faded paint appealed to me.

All this is pretty well guaranteed to be at least refurbishment, or at least outright demolished, so we thought it was worth recording.

Horse brasses?  Wonder how long these have been there, and who put them up?

Look at that arch!  Gorgeous.

 

KWVR Spring Steam Gala, Day 4; Goods trains in the gloom

The weather was looking to be the worst of all four days of the gala, but there were a few trains I really wanted. Needing to go fuel the car anyway, I thought a couple of hours in Keighley would cover it nicely.

8F preparing the stock of the goods train.

And shunting the goods.

Being out so early, on a manky day, I was able to get unobstructed access to a lineside spot that's usually full of photographers.

And back to one of my favourite locations, for the light-engine move of the 2MT.

I hung around Keighley for the return of the 8F.

A few shots of the goods train and loco were snapped in the station...

...before it propelled the train out.

And that, was that. It had been an amazing Gala- the KWVR always puts on a good show, and the variety of visiting and home fleet engines was up to the usual standard. I managed all 4 days this time, including three days actually riding the trains.  All in all, a great few days to get back into the swing of things with railway photography for 2025.

 

KWVR Spring Steam Gala; Day 3. Vintage Trains.

Day 3 of the Worth Valley Gala was all about the vintage trains (barring a full-line run and stop off at Oakworth for the excellent pizza on sale in the yard). 

Mass family outing this time too, as Younger Child wanted some reference pics for a story she's doing set in London back in the day, and the London Transport coaches were in use.

Honestly, that Jinty is just amazing looking. Shame the weather was so poor.

Aboard the train, down into Keighley for a trip to the shops, with a plan to nip back on for the return when it left.

We'd forgotten the train wasn't stopping at Ingrow, but heading straight up to Damems then stopping on the way back. Caused a little alarm when we raced through Ingrow...

And back to the start. There were a few trains left to try for in the morning for some photographs, though the weather wasn't looking too promising for Day 4.