North Wales Steam Train and Sightseeing Tour

  Tour Group at Vale of Rheidol Steam Railway

This evening, I am reprising a segment of a custyom tour of North Wales which was focused on steam trains and sightseeing.

In the morning we departed Porthmadog and embarked on a trip encompassing two attractions as follows:

First to the unique, architect designed village of Portmeirion which was built by architect Clough Williams-Ellis commencing in 1925 when he purchased the 70 acre site overlooking the Traeth Bach tidal estuary. Italianate architecture is augmented with an environment of lakes, temples and gazebos. We spent about three hours here with experience enhanced by the sunny weather.

Portmeirion, Portmeirion, Wales

Next to the Vale of Rheidol Steam Railway. This Railway is a 1 ft 11+3⁄4 in narrow gauge heritage railway in Ceredigion, Wales, between Aberystwyth and Devil's Bridge; a journey of 11+3⁄4 miles. It opened in 1902, and from 1968 until 1989, it was the sole steam-operated line on the 1948 nationalised British Rail network.

Traeth Bach Tidal Estuary Impromptu sketch of Cambrian Locomotive by tour participant, Jim Burke Steam Engine, Vale of Rheidol Railway

Video clip of steam locomotive


North Wales scenery from the rail journey Vale of Rheidol Steam Railway

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