Fairbourne Railway

Over het museum

The Fairbourne Railway began as a horse-drawn tramway used to build the village of Fairbourne, which was laid out for tourism after the Cambrian Coast Railway arrived. The line carried passengers from 1895 and was converted from 2 foot gauge to a 15 inch gauge steam railway in 1916, playing an important part in the development of 15 inch gauge railways in Britain.

It had mixed fortunes between the wars and closed in 1940. A group of businessmen rescued it in 1946 and it reopened in 1947. Its heyday was in the 1960s and early 1970s, followed by a decline as foreign holidays and competition from other narrow gauge lines drew visitors away. After a change of ownership in 1984 the line was rebuilt to 12 and a quarter inch gauge in 1986 and four new half-size steam locomotives, Yeo, Sherpa, Beddgelert and Russell, replaced the old 15 inch engines.

New private owners invested in the line and the Rowen Centre from 1995, and in 2009 ownership passed to a charity to secure its long-term future. Today the railway is run by paid staff and many volunteers, is one of the Great Little Trains of Wales, and connects with a passenger ferry across Barmouth Harbour. The locomotives are models of famous narrow gauge engines, and Beddgelert is currently being restored with the help of donations. A small museum stands on the platform at Fairbourne station.

Hoogtepunten

• Half-size steam locomotives modelled on famous narrow gauge engines
• Ride of about two miles to the Mawddach estuary and Penrhyn Point
• Passenger ferry link to Barmouth
• Station café, shop and platform museum
• Annual steam gala and special trains

Beheerder

Fairbourne Steam Railway Limited

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Prices are for travel on the railway; there is no separate museum admission. The single fare is 9.80 pounds for an adult. Dogs are welcome at the Day Rover fare of 1 pound. Members of the Fairbourne Railway Preservation Society travel free on timetabled trains, excluding evening events and special trains.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

A wheelchair-accessible carriage that holds up to two wheelchairs is available on request and should be booked in advance; staff help wheelchair users to board. The platform at Fairbourne is tarmac and the shop, café, museum and Rowen Centre have step-free or ramped entrances with narrow double doors. The intermediate halts have no wheelchair access, and the Barmouth ferry is not accessible for independent wheelchair users. An accessible toilet is at the Harbour Café at the Barmouth Ferry station. A detailed disability access statement is available from the railway.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops

Accompanied children travel for 1 pound (up to two children per adult). Special trains such as the Firework Train and other seasonal events are run during the year.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The railway is on the south side of the Mawddach estuary, halfway between Tywyn and Dolgellau, and is signed off the A493. The railway publishes the What3Words address disputes.chuck.twirls.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Museumwinkel

The Station Café at Fairbourne opens onto the platform, and the Harbour Café at the Barmouth Ferry station is staffed only on peak days. The shop and booking office are at Fairbourne station. Some operating days have no shop or café facilities.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

Je bezoek plannen