File:1955-04-14 The Model Engineer Vol112 no2812.jpg

Summary[edit]

Festiniog Railway

Steady progress is being made in the preparations for running a service of trains between Portmadoc and Minffordd during the coming summer. Two fitters are employed full-time on the locomotive Prince in the company’s works at Boston Lodge, where electricity has been installed and certain essential items of plant restored to working order, and there is every prospect that this locomotive will be ready for the road in the near future. In addition, a number of coaches are in course of preparation. The livery decided upon is dark green for locomotives and dark green with ivory upper panels for coaches.

Repairs to the permanent way between Portmadoc and Minffordd include an extensive programme of re-sleepering, which has already been begun.

In the meantime, track clearance on the upper stretches of the line is well in hand, and a number of journeys between Portmadoc and Blaenau Festiniog have been made by the Simplex petrol tractor, hauling a 4-wheeled brake van.

The Festiniog Railway Society is inviting applications for membership from all who are interested in seeing the line running once more, and the response to the issue of their initial brochures on the subject has been most encouraging. Full particulars of membership, etc., may be obtained from Mr. L. A. Heath Humphrys, 13, Penywern Road, Earls Court, S.W.5, the hon. secretary of the society.

In addition, many enthusiasts may be interested to know that a considerable number of obsolete Festiniog Railway tickets are available for sale, and full details and particulars may be obtained from Mr. A. M. Davies, “ Larkfield,” Ash Lane, Hale, Cheshire, to whom applications should be forwarded, together with stamped addressed envelopes.

A great deal of work of all kinds on the railway has been carried out by voluntary labour, but there is still a great deal to be done, and any volunteers can rely on being found a job.