Internet Links

This list is not intended to be comprehensive-- railway resources on the Net, even for a small land like Wales, are vast and growing larger each day. Rather, I offer here a select roster of the sites I found to be most valuable while researching this project. Each is intriguing, informative, accurate and entertaining on its own; several will link you in turn to other, vast libraries of information and further reading.

The Talyllyn Railway. The invaluable official site, including news of the line, a history, equipment specifications, and a virtual tour of the route. Richard Huss, curator.

Ffestiniog Railway. The official site of the Queen of the Narrow Gauge, including timetables, events listings, a map of the line, and detailed descriptions of the engines and historic rolling stock.

Steam at Penrhyn Slate Quarry. If you enjoyed meeting the FR's Linda in these pages, you must hasten to R.G. Roscoe's fascinating pages showcasing Linda and Blanche during their final working years at the Penrhyn Slate Quarries near Bangor. His elegant black-and-white images offer a priceless glimpse of these archetypal Welsh quarry engines during their working lives.

Welsh Highland Railway Project/Project Rheilfordd Eryri. The Welsh Highland Railway was the last of the great Welsh narrow-gauge lines to be completed, the final spike being driven only in 1923. Its 25-mile route from Porthmadog to Dinas Junction near Caernarfon traversed western Snowdonia, some of the most spectacular scenery in Wales. Even so the line was a commercial failure, finally closing in 1937 after a mere fourteen years' corporate existence. Now, sixty years after the last wheel turned, the Welsh Highland is rising from the ashes. A group led by the Ffestiniog is relaying and revitalizing the entire railway. Discover this epic of preservation-- and catch a glimpse of the line's fascinating South African Garratt locomotives-- in Ben Fisher's excellent pages.

Welsh Highland Railway Ltd./Rheilffordd Ucheldi Cymru. Since 1964 the memory and equipment of the historic WHR have been kept alive by the Welsh Highland Railway Ltd. of Porthmadog. Their preservation site at Gelert's Farm in Porthmadog is home to the Hunslet 2-6-2T Russell, the last original WHR engine, as well as an impressive collection of other preserved WHR stock and memorabilia. Today the Porthmadog group is more active than ever, cooperating with the Ffestiniog-led project to relay the entire WHR. This official website offers an superlative history of the railway in text and historic photographs, as well as schedules of operations at the Porthmadog preservation site and news of the WHR Ltd. society. Richard Beton, curator.

Corris Railway Society. The Corris Railway between Corris and Machynlleth was a near-twin of the Talyllyn: the lines shared the same "broad" 2' 3" gauge, as well a common dependence on slate as their lifeblood. Now a scrappy band of preservationists is revitalizing this abandoned railway as well. Follow their achievements-- the fruit of hard labor more than money-- in these pages.

Snowdon Mountain Railway. The official site of the Snowdon Mountain route, offering timetables, directions, and a short introduction to the line's locomotives and rolling stock. See also the SMR entry in Mark Dewell's UK Heritage Railways pages.

The North Wales Coast Line. British fan Charlie Hulme's valentine to his favorite Welsh standard-gauge line, the former LNWR North Wales Coast Line. A well-written site filled with intriguing observations about standard-gauge railroading in Wales in the current era of transition.

Data-Wales. Though the railways are reason enough to go, Wales offers much, much more. For a broader look into the language, culture, heritage, and ecology of this lovely land, visit Data-Wales, an Internet resource on Welsh culture and history. The good people at Data-Wales take special interest in encouraging first-time visitors, and offer a great deal in the way of useful maps and guidance.

UK Heritage Railways. In cooperation with the Heritage Railway Association, Mark Dewell maintains this essential clearinghouse for news, information and events in and around preserved railroading throughout the United Kingdom, be it steam or diesel, standard or narrow gauge. Includes a vast library of links to further reading.

The European Railway Server. Be careful here-- you might get lost in this vast and sprawling thicket of links, images and information on European railroading today. Marco van Uden has created one of the world's premier railway sites, offering vast link libraries, comprehensive stock lists, motive power image libraries, and other goodies. An essential stop for anyone planning a railway holiday to Europe.