Boxing Day

Boxing Day Traditions

As well as eating turkey sandwiches and more Christmas cake this is the day to start thinking about your 2015 holidays. How about a trip to Snowdonia and Llanberis and a ride to the top of the highest mountain in England and Wales. The scenery is stunning and our trains have been carrying people to the summit since 1896. Our website -  www.snowdonrailway.co.uk – has lots of information and online booking facilities are available 24 hours a day. Take a look and think about broadening your horizons in 2015.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from all of us at Snowdon Mountain Railway .

Have a wonderful day.

Christmas Eve

It’s here – it’s Christmas Eve.

We hope you get all that you wish for this Christmas.

Keep watching out for Father Christmas and don’t forget to leave him and his reindeer a snack to keep him going on his journey.

Days Gone By

Days Gone By

To the right of this photo you can see the coaling stage that is now under reconstruction. We don’t move the coal around in wheelbarrows anymore though. Some of the staff in this photo are still around – let us know if you recognize anyone.

Canopy Repairs

Platform Canopy Repairs

As the winter repainting of the station got underway some scraping of the platform canopy finials revealed rotten areas where ventilation was inhibited and the wet weather had got in. This is proving another good project for two of our apprentices and they will be able to use their joinery skills to fabricate new sections before making the surfaces all good, refitting the services and applying the new paint finishes.

Coal Stage Alterations

Replacement of the Coaling Stage.

One of the many on-going jobs throughout November and December is the demolition of the old coaling stage and the rebuilding of a new one. This is going to involve moving some of the points so there is better access for the locomotives to sit in the sidings whilst either waiting for the next trip up the mountain or while they are resting there in steam on standby duty.

During the 2014 season we used approximately 200 tons of coal so there is a lot of wear and tear in this area. In the 2015 season it will be almost double that as our second heritage steam service becomes available.

Snow Blower

Snow Blower and New Frame

This is our snow blower being worked on earlier in the year and, with the weather we’re having today, it’s beginning to look like we might be needing it soon.

Posting Dates for Christmas Gifts

Posting Dates For Christmas Gifts

If you are planning to buy our gift vouchers for a Christmas present we will be doing the last postings on Wednesday 17^th December so make sure you call us before then.

The site here at Llanberis will be closed from Friday 19^th December and we’ll all be back on Monday 5^th January ready for a brand new year and another season to look forward to. How many of you will be booking a trip with us over the holiday break? It takes quite a while to go through the new bookings when we get back and plot them onto the seating plans, and then file them all ready for collection on the day, but we love it that so many of you are already planning to come and travel with us. 

2015 Will Soon Be Here

2015 Will Soon Be Here

Our online booking facilities for 2015 are now fully open and we are getting bookings every day. It is really interesting to see how many people are already planning what they will be doing next year and how they are so organised in working out their itineraries. If you need that personal touch when booking or want to ask for more details just give us a call and speak to someone here at Llanberis.

A New Picnic Area For 2015

A New Picnic Area For 2015

This site under the trees is being transformed into a new picnic area for our visitors. It is behind the railway and  offers a shady spot among the ancient oak trees and holly bushes. The space was originally cleared and made level as far back as 1832 when the then Princess Victoria visited Llanberis. Ninety seven holes were made in the rock forming three ‘cannons’ -  something resembling a large gun salute – to be fired in her honour as she arrived. We still have plans for the layout of this in our archives collection.

On The Way Back Down the Mountain

On The Way Back Down the Mountain

As well as working with The Snowdon Lily and our passengers the original steam locomotives still carry on the everyday tasks of moving supplies and the workforce around on the mountain as they have always done since 1895. Number 6 is seen here with an empty scuttle and has been delivering coal to the blockhouse at Clogwyn where the stove is the only form of heating and the winds can be bitingly cold. 

Cute

Bigger Than the Average Dragon – and slightly more blue.

Just look who is waiting patiently in the shop for a new home to go to for Christmas. These two cuties are so adorable and would make a perfect present for anyone, at any time of the year, but imagine finding one in your Christmas stocking or under the tree. Give us a call for more details about these or any other retail items.

Llanberis - Other Places of Interest

This is the signpost outside the front of the Snowdon Mountain Railway shop that shows you just some of the many things that Llanberis has to offer while you are in the area.

When we are busy you may have to wait a while for your train but all these things are within walking distance of the average person and many of them are free.

Dolbadarn Castle, just across the road from us, was built in the early 12^th century and has commanding views across Llyn Padarn and up to Llanberis Pass. It played an important part in the conflicts between Welsh princes and English kings and is also the subject of a painting by J M W Turner.

Winter works

With the trains all tucked up in the background the job of building retaining walls and landscaping continues from where it ended in the spring. It has been really rewarding to see areas of the railway brought back from being somewhat overgrown. Now these areas are being planted with shrubs and spring bulbs and should continue to mature bringing another splash of colour to the railway in the coming months.