Merddin Emrys

Today's the day ..................... for a birthday treat

Now that's what I call a very special birthday treat! To travel the 22 kms from Porthmadog harbour to Blaenau Ffestiniog on the Ffestiniog Railway - the oldest independent railway company in the world.

It was built in 1832 to transport slate from the quarries in the Welsh mountains around Blaenau Ffestiniog. In the beginning it used gravity to take the wagons down to the coast and horses to pull them back up again. Steam locomotives were intoduced in 1864. This is the Merddin Emrys, built in 1879, having a few minor adjustment made before it gets up steam to leave Minffordd station.

And before you say it - I know it was Will's birthday and not mine?! Just think of how much pleasure he got, seeing me so happy .........................