The Welsh Highland Railway is celebrating its centenary with a special weekend of events on Saturday, 30th and Sunday, 31st July.

The weekend will be primarily centred on Dinas, from where the railway will operate a selection of heritage trains between Dinas and Rhyd Ddu (as South Snowdon is now known) to celebrate the reopening of this section of the line.

The only surviving original Welsh Highland Railway steam locomotive, Russell, which is normally based at the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway at Porthmadog, will be running along the Welsh Highland Railway during the event. It is planned that for the first time in preservation, Russell will work some of the trains to Rhyd Ddu, 100 years after the first Welsh Highland Railway trains ran over this section.

Tickets for the weekend are now on sale at the railway’s website here, or by calling Porthmadog Harbour Station Booking Office on 01766 516024 between 9 am and 4 pm.

Dinas Station will be open between 08:45 and 16:30, with plenty to keep visitors occupied including a catering van, real ale bar, footplate rides, model layouts, photo exhibitions and a pre-1939 vintage car display. General site entry to Dinas Station is £5 for an Adult with free entry for children and will only be sold on the day at the gate.

There will also be complementary activities at Gelert’s Farm, Porthmadog on the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway over the weekend.

Although there is disabled parking and a limited amount of public parking at Dinas station, visitors are encouraged to make use of the shuttle trains from Caernarfon where there are several car parks, or alternatively  use the limited public bus service to Dinas.

During the weekend a former ‘Whiteway’ bus will operate a free shuttle service from Dinas to three sites ahead of the trains: Plas y Nant, Rhyd Ddu and Waunfawr, allowing for photo opportunities. The bus will have a maximum capacity of 25 passengers and seats will be available on a first-come/first-served basis.

On the Saturday evening, there will be a photo charter hauled by Russell between Dinas and Waunfawr with photo opportunities at both Tryfan Junction and Waunfawr. Day Rover ticket holders for either Saturday or Sunday, may purchase an additional ticket for travel on this photo charter train for £20 per person. These tickets are limited, with only 50 available, and must be pre-booked by calling the Harbour Station Booking Office; 01766 516024. The train will depart Dinas Station at 17:30 and arrive back at 19:35.

Full details of the event are available here.