Wednesday 8th May 2019. Why is that every trip the group has completed, the weather is either wet, cold or snowy – or a combination of all 3! Can someone answer me this one simple question? No. Neither can I.

Thus it was on this particular day. Chilly to say the least.

The intrepid travellers met up at 8am at the Metropole Hotel car park to journey far and wide – well to Porthmadog at any rate. I have to say that the route chosen proved every bit as scenic and worth the trip alone.

We arrived in plenty of time, collected our tickets and had time to have refreshments and browse the station shop before boarding our train – the C235 “David lloyd George” – a Double Fairley engine. An odd looking engine with a funnel on each end.

Travelling 3rd class the journey too us through some of the best rail side scenery and the weather was clear enough for us to see everything. We stopped at Minffordd, Penrhyn, Tanybwlch, dduallt where the track looped round through 360 degrees to navigate a hill, Tanygrisiau and arriving in Bleinau Ffestiniog approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes later.

Ffestiniog is a small community which is best enjoyed in good weather. While it would have been nice to explore the town the weather dictated otherwise with most of us seeking shelter from the cold in charity shops or the visitor centre or finding somewhere to eat. We originally agreed to meet up for the return train at 3.50pm but 6 of the group decided to return to porthmadog earlier and spend time looking round there and to meet the later train with the rest other from the group.

Unfortunately 3 of the 5 missed the train at 3.50 and caught a bus instead, arriving back in porthmadog before the train. The first 6 arrived in time to meet the trin only to find the gang of 3 already there. The other 2 arrived by train. So we ended up with not just a railway ride but for some a bus ride also. Good value for money I would say.

After some more refreshments we decided to hit the raod and return to llandrindod, stopping off on the way at The Blue Bell Inn, llangurig for a spot of supper. Very nice it was too.

I can honestly say it was a brilliant day and a pleasure to organise. The weather was not the best but unlike previous trips we could actually see where we were going and enjoyed the scenery whilst the train made it’s way.