Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it.. (Winston Churchill)
Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it.. (Winston Churchill)
Member since:07.12.2002
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With all the school children now back at school, we thought that this would be timely for a trip on the Snowdon Mountain Railway (Rheilffordd yr Wyddfa in Welsh) owned and operated by Heritage Great Britain PLC to the Snowdon summit. How wrong we were!!
We arrived at Llanberis station, the starting point for the railway trip, only to find the car park crowded. We paid our £4 which entitled us to stay there for the day and walked across the road to the station complex which was equally as crowded.
We headed straight to the ticket office planning to take the next train up. However, this was not to be - that train and the next were fully booked. So we booked for the next available meaning a wait of some 1½ hours. Apparently, you can book in advance but we were not previously aware of this. Still lesson learnt!
We resigned ourselves to the wait. In the complex was a small film theatre area showing a 13 minute virtual train journey - not very popular on the day we visited with no takers for the show which ran every hour and half hour; a café serving snacks and refreshments; a shop and toilets.
About 15 minutes before our allocated
time, we were ushered onto the train by a guide. Our tickets reserve seats in a numbered compartment. There are seven such compartments in each carriage. The compartments are small and basic with two wooden bench seats facing each other between two doors which are locked from the outside. All well and good until we found that we were to share the compartment with six other adults and two children (sitting on their parent's knees) which was to make the seating arrangements very cosy indeed. We rubbed knees with American tourists; cuddled up to a group of elderly ladies and tolerated wriggling curious children!
The train itself stands behind the carriage ready to push us upwards to the top. Enid (the name of our train after Enid Assherton Smith who a plaque on the train tells us cut the first sod for the rail track in December 1894) is a coal-fired locomotive manufactured by the Swiss Locomotive & Manufacturing Co. of Winterhur in 1895. It is one of four steam and three diesel trains currently in operation. The steam looks very romantic but the smoke from the fire is very thick and smells!
Once everyone was neatly packaged in their compartments (like sardines in a tin), the whistle blew and the train slowly jerked into motion. Slowly - the train never exceeds five miles an hour. Jecky - due to the double rail rack and rotating toothed pinion system in use (information provided by my husband who patiently tried to explain the workings to me during our long wait). To
The movement gradually smoothed out as we progressed up the 5 mile slope passing various buildings (habited and derelict) and waterfalls and travelling over two viaducts to the magnificent open mountainous landscape of the Snowdonian range. The train pauses occasionally to allow trains travelling in the opposite direction to pass and to take on additional water at the half way stop.
During the ascent, a recorded commentary tells of the geology, history and mythology of Snowdon. However after straining to hear this for about 5 minutes over the noise of the train and the combined chatter of its occupants, I gave up and just enjoyed the views. So if you want this information, the best way is to buy one of the many books available in the station shop!
The 4 mile 1188 yards journey up took around 45 minutes, disembarking us and the other passengers at the Clogwyn Station which is 1094 feet below the Summit of Snowdon. This is only a temporary arrangement until the building work of the new visitor centre and café on the summit is completed. An arrangement we were not aware of until we reached Clogwyn otherwise we might not have taken the journey. Still the views from this point are spectacular with the dramatic mountains of Glyder Fawr and Glyder Fach.
Passengers are allowed ½ hour to gaze at the scenery; take photograph or just stretch their legs and loosen up from the cramped ride before the train makes its descent. ½ hour only sadly does not provide enough time to walk the rest of the way to the summit. Notices clearly state that if you miss your train, the company cannot guarantee there will be room on another train to take you back down. Single tickets to come down the mountain by train are sold on a standby basis at Clogwyn only. So not wanting to risk a long walk back, we did not stray far from the train.
The weather on our visit was dry and sunny however it can be very different. So be prepared! Wear good footwear and take waterproof coats! There is no shelter at Clogwyn so the only options is outdoors or remain in the cramped compartment.
A return ticket to Clogwyn Station costs £15 (single £11) for adults; children £11 (£7); disabled and OAPs £12 (£8). There is also an early bird ticket available if booked in advance leaving at 9 a.m. for £7.50. Trains run everyday from late March to the first week of November subject to weather conditions and minimum passenger numbers. There are carriages which are wheelchair accessible but this need to be arranged beforehand.
Despite the cramped compartments and not quite reaching the summit, I did enjoy the experience. The views are breathtaking. A military helicopter added to the attraction during our visit as it whirled among the mountain summits and deep valleys below. The Victorian railway system works efficiently. The staff in the main are friendly, informative and helpful. I will return next year when hopefully the summit café and visitor centre will be open but will book in advance!
Contact details are Snowdon Mountain Railway Llanberis Gwynedd LL55 4TY Telephone: 0870 458 0033
Or visit their impressive website - www.snowdonrailway.co.uk.
Pictures of Snowdon Mountain Railway (Wales)
Enid
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