... featuring '200 Wheels On the Cob'
Join us as we celebrate two momentous landmarks – 2025 marks both the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway (part of the national ‘Railway 200’ celebrations) and also the 70th anniversary of the recommencement of passenger trains on the Ffestiniog Railway, under the new regime.
To mark these special anniversaries, between the 20th and 22nd of June 2025, we will host a weekend of celebrations.
The main highlight of the weekend will undoubtedly be the ‘200 Wheels on the Cob’ spectacle, which will take place on Sunday, 22nd of June. This will be a cavalcade of Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway engines throughout the years, lining up in formation across the iconic Cob embankment. This will be a historic occasion, highlighting all the work that has been undertaken over the decades to make this spectacle possible.
Tickets for the event weekend are now available to buy with 3-Day and 1-Day rovers available:
3-Day Rover: £170.00
1-Day Rover: £70.00
Discounts – FRS Members (all other members) pay 70% of the price.
Railway 200 / FR Platinum Jubilee Weekend Auction – Sunday May 4th 2025
FRIDAY: Early evening train, hauled by Merddin Emrys and Prince, running non-stop from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog, in both directions.
THURSDAY: Mary Ann hauling a passenger train across the Cob.
SATURDAY: Linda will be running one trip up to Minffordd and one trip to Tan y Bwlch with a 1950s style flying flea, made up of 4 wheel carriages and bogies just like the relief trains of days gone by!
Thursday June 19th
A normal busy day on both railways but if you can, make sure you arrive early as things kick off this evening. To help you to get here, there are extra services from Blaenau at 17:35 and 20:50 that connect with the Conwy Valley TfW service.
The event commences this evening with Simplex, ‘Mary Ann’ crossing the Cob, recreating that exciting day back in 1955 and there is a chance to go for a ride to Boston Lodge and savour this historic moment.
Friday June 20th
The early bird trains for the late seventies/early eighties make a return so why not join the 07:00 service hauled by diesel ‘Upnor Castle’
Lots of memories from the sixties with trains to Minffordd and Tan y Bwlch.
Whilst the Ffestiniog is back in the sixties, Hunslets ‘Linda’ & ‘Blanche’ will take a ‘Ladies Day Out to Caernarfon.
Some special event opportunities will also take place so that visitors can experience a trip on an infrastructure train or take a ‘Moelwyn’ hauled inspection train to Dduallt.
There will also be an early evening train, hauled by Merddin Emrys and Prince, running non-stop from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog, in both directions.
Saturday June 21st
If you missed the ‘Early Bird’ on Friday, you have another chance today, this time steam hauled..! This service should give a good view of a spectacular ‘200 wheel’ goods train which you cross at Tanygrisiau.
More trains from the sixties and then in the afternoon, on to the seventies with some careful recreations of crossing trains at Dduallt – recreating those ‘over and under’ photographs snapped on Kodak Instamatics back in the day!
Linda will be running one trip up to Minffordd and one trip to Tan y Bwlch with a 1950s style flying flea, made up of 4 wheel carriages and bogies just like the relief trains of days gone by!
If you are still hungry for trains, there are two evening services to Blaenau to make the most of the longest day. However, if you would rather have a pint and a chat, Spooners will be open along with ‘The Top Yard Arms’ bar at Boston Lodge.
Sunday June 22nd
The last day of the event promises to be extra special as we join the country to celebrate 200 years of railways, as we bring you the ‘200 Steam Wheels on the Cob’ spectacle, a Grand Cavalcade from Boston Lodge to Porthmadog! The locos will be in order of preservation-era milestone; and there are a few opportunities to have a once in a lifetime part in this epic spectacular.
Take part in our special event auction on Sunday, 4th of May 2025, where a selection of Cavalcade footplate passes will be going under the hammer, allowing you an opportunity to bid on a once in a lifetime experience! (more details to follow).
Aside from the cavalcade there is a wide variety of services to entertain, including a special ‘Snowdonia Star’ coming from Caernarfon to join and watch the cavalcade.
Special optional Extras
In addition to our main timetable and activities for the weekend, there is also a limited number of special optional extras for the event weekend which are being sold on a first come, first served basis.
These special optional extras can only be booked by those with a valid Day Rover or 3 Day Rover ticket.
These extras are as follows;
Thursday 19:55 – Mary Ann recreation train to Boston Lodge Holt and return (£3.50 supplement)
Thursday 20:50 – Mary Ann recreation train to Boston Lodge Halt and return (£3.50 supplement)
Friday 13:20 – Harlech Castle Infrastructure train, Minfford Yard to Dduallt and return (£25 supplement)
Friday 16:55 – Moelwyn Inspection Train, Minffordd to Dduallt and return (£3.50 supplement)
Saturday 09:10 – Deviation Walking Tour, Porthmadog to Tanygrisiau, walk to Dduallt and return train (£25 supplement)
Please note: spaces are very limited for these extras. The Deviation Walking Tour and the Harlech Castle Infrastructure train are restricted to over 16s only.
Please call our Booking Office (01766 516024) if you wish to purchase a Day Rover / 3 Day Rover along with any of these special optional extras or if you wish to add them to your existing Rover ticket booking.
There will be tickets for a special viewing area at Boston Lodge on Sunday of the event weekend for the Cavalcade. These tickets will be released for sale as optional extras, nearer the time.
Additional Information
Boston Lodge is open throughout the weekend to ticket holders with exhibits and stalls, locos under restoration, footplate rides and a chance to look at some of the changes that have taken place with thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Refreshments and the ‘Top Yard Bar’ will be on-hand to provide food and drink!
Spooner’s Café and Bar and Tan y Bwlch tearooms will also be open to keep you fed and watered.