The Ffestiniog Railway is today celebrating the seventieth anniversary of its takeover by a partnership of Alan Pegler (Chair), a new Company Board and volunteers in the Ffestiniog Railway Society.

It describes the takeover, which took place on Thursday 24 June 1954, as a “milestone in our railway’s long history”.

The Ffestiniog Railway Society’s pioneer members and been looking forward to the takeover, and immediately began to mobilise their work in partnership with the company, which has continued ever since.

Later in 1954, a group of young people opened the doors of the old engine shed at Boston Lodge, having made their way through brambles to reach it. Restoration work began, and the rest, says the Railway, is history!

The Railway, which launched a new visitor app in April, has made a film showcasing its activities to mark this special occasion, and hopes that this will convey how much it means to all those involved.

Over the coming weeks, the Railway will share further videos, in which its volunteers, members and staff will share their stories and explain what the railway means to them.

Next month, Boston Lodge will open its doors to the public as the Railway launches its new Boston Lodge Guided Tours, with financial support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund project.

More information on these tours is available here.

The Ffestiniog is the oldest narrow-gauge railway in the world, with a history spanning nearly two centuries. It runs for thirteen and a half miles from the harbour in Porthmadog to the slate-quarrying town of Blaenau Ffestiniog.

We remain forever grateful to the early society members and those volunteers who opened the doors to the old engine shed at Boston Lodge and set out on the monumental challenge of restoring the Ffestiniog Railway.

The railway we all know and love exists today thanks to their outstanding efforts.

Ffestiniog Railway spokesperson