Gallery - Colin Whitfield

Lancs and Cheshire group stand
A key part of the area group activities in the first few decades was raising the profile of the railway, and raising funds, at local events, such as traction engine rallies

Carnival time
Merddin Emrys arrives into Porthmadog all dressed up for Porthmadog carnival

Ready to leave
With the Britannia Foundry behind, Merddin Emrys presents an interesting sight with all the flowers. Behind the loco is van 59

Merddin at Boston Lodge
With the Long Shed on the left, Merddin Emrys heads down the yard. The works presented quite a contained view with the solid wall on the curve and the significant gate posts

Boiler for Prince
Having been the first loco in traffic in 1955, with a new boiler, Prince was withdrawn in 1969 as being too small. A volunteer-led overhaul returned the old gent to traffic in 1980

Britomart Shed
Britomart normally lived in a shed in the top yard, but is here seen poking out of 5 road

Lancs and Cheshire special Minffordd
One of the many special trains run during the 1970s, Merddin Emrys stands at Minffordd waiting to head back down to Port. Note the passengers transferring to the BR line

Special at Minffordd
Another view at Minffordd in the evening, with a clear view of the lively headboard

Mountaineer pan
A panned shot of Mountaineer heading up Gwyndy Bank. The loco is largely in unaltered state, apart from the profiled cab

Taking water
Fireman Russell Burridge takes water on Mountaineer at Tan y Bwlch

Merddin watering Tan y Bwlch
With the new boiler fitted in 1971, Merddin Emrys stands at Tan y Bwlch water tank in the up line

Ladies Crossing Tan y Bwlch
With Linda stood at the water tank (the original plinth with extensions, with a lorry tank on top), sister Blanche enters the station on the down line

Mountaineer departing Tan y Bwlch
Complete with original bell on the front, Mountaineer departs Tan y Bwlch. At this time, the loco featured a fine array of three whistles

Old No 1 van Dduallt
Up to Dduallt, the terminus of operations between 1968 and 1978. The body of double-balconied No 1 van was in use here as a shelter

Running round Dduallt
Merddin Emrys stands just above the cutting at Rhoslyn Bridge as it runs round the train. The fireman stands at the point levers

The old line 1
Looking up from the top end of Dduallt station, the original line is still in place as it curves around to the right. Immediately above is the new embankment at Dragon Curve, under construction as part of the deviation

Old line 2
Further up, looking at the trackbed and the characteristic FR cliff edge running and tight dry stone walling

Old line 3
The view up the line towards old Moelwyn Tunnel, with the footbridge prominent

Old line 4
At the beginning of the embankment leading to the old tunnel, this view shows the tunnel mess at the South entrance to Moelwyn Tunnel. On the left, the original incline leads over the hill, whilst the new Moelwyn tunnel runs through to the left of that

New Moelwyn Tunnel South
A view of the tunnel workings at the South entrance to the new Moelwyn Tunnel. The tunnel was largely blasted through the mountain

Old line 5
Looking from the workings of the new line, down towards both the original incline and the embankment leading to the old Moelwyn Tunnel

Old line 6
Looking down the line from the bottom end of the old embankment at the southern entrance to the old Moelwyn Tunnel

Fort Lewis
The workings for the new Moelwyn Tunnel involved extracting a lot of rock, which was sorted before being used elsewhere

Fort Lewis 2
A view of the cutting and workings for the new Moelwyn Tunnel at the south end of the tunnel

Llyn Ystradau
Looking from the hill above Moelwyn Tunnel, the trackbed route is evident around the lake

Llyn Ystradau 2
Looking down from above the old tunnel towards the new lake at Llyn Ystradau.

Glan y Pwll crossing
The original crossing gates are still in place, along with a lot of grass around the track, at Glan y Pwll level crossing

Glan y Pwll Crossing 2
Looking from the footbridge, a clear view of the level crossing showing both gates in place. Also, the sleepers from the second track may be seen

Princess on display
As part of the demonstration of intent to reopen to Blaenau Ffestiniog, original England loco Princess was displayed next to the trackbed in Blaenau for some years

Duffws Station Building
The old station building in Duffws was already in use as public toilets and the station yard converted to a public car park