The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways has announced that it is offering workshops where staff and volunteers teach members of the public how to drive a quarry Hunslet locomotive.

They will take place at the 160-year-old Boston Lodge Works in Porthmadog and are particularly recommended for anyone who is passionate about railways or driving different types of vehicles.

The workshops are designed to equip participants with useful heritage railway skills.

Some of the participants may well find that by driving a quarry steam locomotive they are sampling a job done by their grandfather.

The railway will also be holding taster driving sessions for local residents later in the year, thanks to funding from the National Lottery’s heritage grants.

To enhance the visitor experience, the railway has also launched an app that includes games and information about sights along the line.

The line is located in Gwynedd, North Wales, and stretches for a total of 13 miles from the port of Porthmadog to the slate mountains at Blaenau Ffestiniog.

It is home to several Hunslet steam locomotives, some of which are available as Bachmann models, such as ‘Linda’.

For more information about the workshops that are on offer, please head over to the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways website.

For some people this is a chance to try first-hand what their Taid did as a job.

The workshops are a good opportunity to learn and have an enjoyable time. You will get to help prepare a steam loco, see it in action behind the scenes, find out more about ‘how it works’ and then have a go at firing and driving in the yard! It’s all very friendly and relaxed. You may even find the railway is in your blood and join us as a volunteer.

Organiser, Iain Wilkinson

It was really good fun taking part. A real treat for Dad too, to be able to fulfil a childhood dream of getting behind the controls on the footplate.

Participant, Philip Mercer

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