Herb Riddle's photos with the keyword: Dolgellau

The Fairbourne Railway has been running from Fairbourne village to the mouth of the Mawddach Estuary, connecting with the ferry to Barmouth for over 100 years. It started as a two foot gauge horse-drawn tramway which was then converted to a 15 inch gauge railway in 1916. The line in 1986 was completely re built to a 12.25 inch gauge. Here we see the engine called Russell returning from the terminus with its popular cafe, back to the main station at Fairnbourne itself. In the background the the foothills of Snowdonia National Park with the Barmouth viaduct. There are five engines in total running on this line. RUSSELL unlike the loco on which it was based is a 2-6-4T built in 1979 by Milner Engineering originally as a scaled down copy of a Leek and manifold locomotive and named Elaine but was re-built in its present form based on a Welsh Highland Railway Hunslet in 1985 at Fairbourne. www.fairbournerailway.com Enjoy full screen

Well what a difference a week makes. This time last week I was traveling the 125miles + from my home to here where we took a short stroll and photo stop as a prelude to our short holiday about 12 miles south of here. A short time after taking this the clouds blackened and we had heavy rain for 24 hours which coincided with the realisation that my wife and I had both contracted Covid after years of avoidance. Alongside with the news that a close relative was in hospital seriously ill and then my car breaking down, the photos taken here were to be my only ones of this aborted five day holiday. We are back home now, and apart from the car, all is proceeding better, albeit slowly and still C positive, with our relative on her way to recovery. We are looking up the Afon Mawddach towards Dolgellau all within the Snowdonia National Park. Just behind me is the end terminal of the ever popular Fairbourne narrow gauge railway. Barmouth Bridge, or Barmouth Viaduct is a Grade II* listed single-track wooden railway viaduct across the estuary of the Afon Mawddach near Barmouth, Wales. It is 820 metres long and carries the Cambrian Line. It is the longest timber viaduct in Wales and one of the oldest in regular use in Britain. It was opened in 1867 and still allows tolled pedestrian access across its whole length. A wonderful walk that I have taken several times in the past. Barmouth itself is on the left side here. Last December it underwent a 30 million pounds restoration program. Enjoy full size and enjoy your week in safety.