Ffestiniog Interactive 2002

During the Bank Holiday weekend of 4th to 6th May 2002 the Ffestiniog Railway held a unique event entitled Ffestiniog Interactive. The idea was that participants, for a fee, could have an active part in the operation of the event by taking footplate rides, working with the guard or other operating staff, guest driving on some freight trains or even riding on the gravity slate train. The variety of trains and workings made this the most entertaining event that I have ever attended on the Ffestiniog Railway and the excellent weather throughout the weekend was an added bonus.
From a lineside sound recording point of view it seemed impossible to go wrong. Almost every single recording that I tried worked out well. And, as it was a Bank Holiday Weekend there were no interruptions from the RAF whose training flights in the area can be a real nuisance.
No recording on this page but you will find a selection of tracks by following the links below to pages one to three.
If you missed this event this year and it happens again next year - don't make the same mistake!

The first train from Porthmadog each morning was a 'Photographers Breakfast Special' and departed at 7.50 am. On Sunday 5th May 2002 perhaps all the photographers were having a Sunday morning lie in as it looked as though the crew were outnumbering the passengers although, the ‘passengers’ may have been crew too! 'Taliesin' was booked to work this train which was formed of the Vintage set made up to 10 vehicles with 4 bogie coaches, 5 bug boxes and a van. The departure bell rings, the Guard gives the right away and 'Taliesin' slips a little in getting its train under way but once onto the Cob accelerates on the almost level track towards Boston Lodge.

On the Saturday morning things didn't at first go to plan when signalling problems intervened. This lead to the alteration or cancellation of a few trains until the problem was resolved. The rest of the weekend, aside from difficulties with the water supply at Harbour station, being trouble free. One train that was affected was the freight which was to have run from Glanypwll behind 'Mountaineer' which didn't even start its journey. With those problems out of the way on Sunday 5th May 2002 'Mountaineer' was able to work it’s booked turn. Returning from Rhiw Goch to Dduallt the Alco, with it’s fine whistle echoing around the hills, makes an excellent sound leaving Tan-y-Bwlch with it’s heavy train of ballast wagons.

The station at Minffordd is not the easiest place to try for a sound recording, especially during a Bank Holiday weekend with an event happening. On this occasion my attempt to get a recording of trains crossing here was largely unsuccessful mainly due to the quantity of road traffic passing by outside and some interesting manoeuvres going on in the small car park! Still, this short track of 'Earl of Merioneth' departing for Blaenau Ffestiniog isn't too bad (dare I say Fairlie good?) so the attempt wasn't entirely a waste of time.

Ffestiniog Interactive gave spectators the rare opportunity of seeing two steam hauled freight trains crossing at Minffordd. Recorded not far from the station after 'Mountaineer' had arrived from Rhiw Goch 'Prince' is approaching from Porthmadog heading for Rhiw Goch with a train of slate wagons. The England loco’s approach is well timed as, with 'Mountaineer' safely inside ‘Prince’ gets a non-stop run through the station and passes on it's way uphill.

At Tan-y-Bwlch on 5th May 2002 an up train has arrived from Porthmadog and is standing at the water column. This should have been a solo turn for 'Mountaineer' as it had been the previous day but 'Prince' had been attached as pilot. With water taken and the right away 'Prince' and 'Mountaineer' depart for Blaenau Ffestiniog. As the sound of the two locos fades away into the woods 'Blanche' and 'Linda' depart with a down train heading for Porthmadog.

On the morning of Saturday 4th May I had gone to Tan-y-Bwlch to record the freight train hauled by 'Mountaineer' returning to Dduallt. However, due to the previously mentioned signalling problems this train had been unable to run so the first train I was able to record was the 10.25 train from Porthmadog behind 'Prince' and 'Linda' on 10 coaches. This service crossed the return Vintage train here, now running rather late. This train should have been hauled by ‘Taliesin’ on it’s own but, due to the aforementioned signalling problems, had the addition of ‘Mountaineer’ which had to get down to Porthmadog from Glanypwll and 'Earl of Merioneth', which had joined at Dduallt having taken the slate wagons which formed the gravity train up there earlier in the day. With the down train on it's way 'Prince' and 'Linda' get the right away and pass through the trees heading for Blaenau Ffestiniog.

On the morning of 6th May 2002 'Mountaineer', which had run down from Glanypwll with it's train of ballast wagons is standing in the loop at Rhiw Goch awaiting departure time for a run back to Dduallt. The train gets the right away and starts out of the loop and, once clear of the points the driver opens the loco up producing some excellent sound effects blasting away through the woods and out onto the Cei Mawr embankment.

Back to a now rather breezy Tan-y-Bwlch for this recording of 'Linda' and 'Blanche' departing for Blaenau Ffestiniog. With 'Blanche' to come out of service for overhaul in the not too distant future there may not be many more opportunities to see and hear the two Ladies working together.

Trains returning from Blaenau Ffestinog have only one short uphill gradient to surmount, this is at Tanygrisiau where the line leaves it's original course to deviate around the lake and eventually reach Dduallt via the spiral. The two ladies, 'Blanche' and 'Linda' are heard departing from Tanygrisiau station where they had paused briefly to pick up before tackling the remaining rising gradient to the summit close to the power station. The pair make a fine sound, almost sufficient in volume to drown out the sounders on the two ungated level crossings.