25th - 26th April 1964

Festiniog Railway Society / Ian Allan
(Ffestiniog Railway A.G.M. Special)

Locos Used 4079 'Pendennis Castle', 6959, 7032, 75009 & 75023
Stock Used mainline train: booked for 11 coaches
FR special 'first train' booked on outward leg to be formed : bogie coaches 17+18+19+20+14+11
FR special 'second train' booked on outward leg to be formed :  4-wheelers plus bogie coaches 15+26+23+22+12
(stock for the three return trains is unknown)

Route :

Date Loco(s) Route
25/04 4079

London Paddington - Old Oak Common West - Greenford - Northolt Jn East - High Wycombe - Princes Risborough - Aynho Jn - Banbury - Leamington Spa - Hatton - Knowle & Dorrisge - Tyseley - Birmingham Snow Hill - Handsworth - Wolverhampton - Wellington - Shrewsbury - Gobowen - Ruabon
25/04 75009 + 75023 Ruabon - Llangollen - Corwen - Bala Junction - Dolgelley - Morfa Wawddath - Barmouth - Minffordd
25/04 ???? special trains on FR - see below
25/04 - 26/04 75009 + 75023 Portmadoc - Minffordd - (reverse of outward route) - Ruabon
26/04 7032 Ruabon - (reverse of outward route) - Birmingham Snow Hill
26/04 6959 Birmingham Snow Hill - (reverse of outward route) - London Paddington

Route : Outward on FR

Date Reference Loco(s) Route
25/04 First Train ????

Minffordd - Tan-y-bwlch
25/04 Second Train ????

Minffordd - Tan-y-bwlch

Route : Return on FR

Date Reference Loco(s) Route
25/04 First Train ????

Tan-y-bwlch - Minffordd - Portmadoc
25/04 Second Train ????

Tan-y-bwlch - Minffordd - Portmadoc
25/04 Third Train ????

Tan-y-bwlch - Minffordd - Portmadoc

Notes :
(1) Ian Allan organised and managed bookings for this trip on behalf of the Festiniog Railway Society. Fares were also available by connecting service train from Manchester and Liverpool. Sleeper berths were available on the return journey.
(2) Route confirmation required, above is from booked timings. Originally advertised as returning via Machynlleth.

Sources : Gordon Jakes, Chris Magner, Ron Walker, John Debens & Chris Parker

Photo Review
(all photos: Gordon Jakes)


75009 & 75023 during a watering stop at Corwen.


A shot of the locos used on the Ffestiniog Railway on specials during the
visit, at Minffordd (identities confirmed by Chris Parker as 'Linda' on the
left and 'Merddin Emrys' on the right).


From The John Debens Ticket Collection.


Timings (Booked Only)
(from Ron Walker)

Miles Location Booked (out) Booked (rtn)
0.0 Paddington 07.55d 06.55a
3.3 Old Oak Common West 08/02 ?
7.8 Greenford 08/08 ?
10.1 Northolt Jn East 08/11 ?
26.5
0.0		 High Wycombe 08w31 ~ 08w36 06.15a ~ ??.??d
8.2 Princes Risborough 08/50 ?
30.7 Ardley 09/14 ?
35.9 Aynho Jn 09/22 ?
41.0 Banbury 09/27 05.12a ~ ??.??d
60.8 Leamington Spa 09/48 04.41a ~ ??.??d
67.0 Hatton 09/56 ?
73.7 Knowle & Dorridge 10/04 [RL] ?
80.9 Tyseley 10/20 ??
84.1
0.0		 Birmingham Snow Hill 10.25a ~ 10.28d 04.07a ~ ??.??d
3.2 Handsworth 10/34 ?
12.4
0.0		 Wolverhampton 10.48a ~ 10.51d 03.34a ~ ??.??d
19.6 Wellington 11/12 ?
29.8
0.0		 Shrewsbury 11.35a ~ 11.43d 02.42a ~ ??.??d
18.0 Gobowen 12/09 ?
25.5
0.0		 Ruabon 12.21a ~ 12.29d 02.05a ~ ??.??d
6.2 Llangollen 12/43 ?
16.3 Corwen 13w05 ~ 13w14 ?
27.2 Bala Junction 13/34 ?
45.4 Dolgelley 14/07 ?
52.9 Morfa Mawddach 14/26 ?
54.5
0.0		 Barmouth 14w31 ~ 14w40 ?
17.6 Minffordd 15.16a ??.??a ~ 23.15d
- Portmadoc - 22.15d

Connections were available from Shrewsbury on the return as follows;

Booked Destination Booked
03.28d Liverpool 06.41a
03.49d Manchester 06.05a

FR Special Trains :

Location 'First Train' 'Second Train' 'Third Train'
Booked (out) Booked (rtn) Booked (out) Booked (rtn) Booked (rtn)
Portmadoc - 16.55a - 17.45a 17.55a
Pen Cob - 16.45a ~ 16.50d - 17.30a ~ 17.40d ??/??
Boston Lodge - ??.??a ~ ??.??d - 17.00a ~ ??.??d ??/??
Minffordd 15.25d ? 15.37d ? ??/??
Tan-y-bwlch 15.53a 16.10d 16.05a 16.25d 17.15d

Passengers were free to decide which trains they wanted to travel in each way.

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