About

This exciting event will celebrate two momentous landmarks – 2025 marks both the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway (part of the national ‘Railway 200’ celebrations) and the 70th anniversary of the recommencement of passenger trains on the Ffestiniog Railway, under the new regime.

Spanning the summer solstice, it promises an action-packed long weekend, celebrating seventy years of running trains in the new era with a mix of nostalgia and looking forward to the future. Spread over four days, there are trains recreating different eras of the Ffestiniog, opportunities to ride on the Welsh Highland, the chance to spend some time at Boston Lodge Works, the lynch pin of the railway; and to be there for the grand cavalcade!

This ‘200 Wheels on the Cob’ cavalcade will undoubtedly be the highlight of the weekend, taking place on Sunday, 22nd of June. This will be a cavalcade of Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways’ engines throughout the years, lining up in formation across the iconic Cob embankment.

THURSDAY, 19th of June 2025 - A normal busy day on both railways but if you can, make sure you arrive early as things kick off this evening. To help you to get here, there are extra services from Blaenau at 17:35 and 20:50 that connect with the Conwy Valley TfW service.

The event commences this evening with Simplex, ‘Mary Ann’ crossing the Cob, recreating that exciting day back in 1955 and there is a chance to go for a ride to Boston Lodge and savour this historic moment.

FRIDAY, 20th of June 2025 - The early bird trains for the late seventies/early eighties make a return so why not join the 07:00 service hauled by diesel ‘Upnor CastleLots of memories from the sixties with trains to Minffordd and Tan y Bwlch.

Whilst the Ffestiniog is back in the sixties, Hunslets ‘Linda’ & ‘Blanche’ will take a ‘Ladies Day Out to Caernarfon.

Some special event opportunities will also take place so that visitors can experience a trip on an infrastructure train or take a ‘Moelwyn’ hauled inspection train to Dduallt.

There will also be an early evening train, hauled by Merddin Emrys and Prince, running non-stop from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog, in both directions.

SATURDAY 21st of June 2025 - If you missed the ‘Early Bird’ on Friday, you have another chance today, this time steam hauled! This service should give a good view of a spectacular ‘200 wheel’ goods train which you cross at Tanygrisiau.

More trains from the sixties and then in the afternoon, on to the seventies with some careful recreations of crossing trains at Dduallt – recreating those ‘over and under’ photographs snapped on Kodak Instamatics back in the day!

Linda will be running one trip up to Minffordd and one trip to Tan y Bwlch with a 1950s style flying flea, made up of 4-wheel carriages and bogies just like the relief trains of days gone by!

If you are still hungry for trains, there are two evening services to Blaenau to make the most of the longest day. However, if you would rather have a pint and a chat, Spooners will be open along with ‘The Top Yard Arms’ bar at Boston Lodge.

SUNDAY, 22nd of June 2025 - The last day of the event promises to be extra special as we join the country to celebrate 200 years of railways, as we bring you the ‘200 Steam Wheels on the Cob’ spectacle, a Grand Cavalcade from Boston Lodge to Porthmadog! The locos will be in order of preservation-era milestone; and there are a few opportunities to have a once in a lifetime part in this epic spectacular.

Take part in our special event auction on Sunday, 4th of May 2025, where a selection of Cavalcade footplate passes will be going under the hammer, allowing you an opportunity to bid on a once in a lifetime experience! (more details to follow).

Aside from the cavalcade there will be a wide variety of services to entertain, including a special ‘Snowdonia Star’ coming from Caernarfon to join and watch the cavalcade.

Boston Lodge will be open throughout the weekend to ticket holders with exhibits and stalls, locos under restoration, footplate rides and a chance to look at some of the changes that have taken place with thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Refreshments and the ‘Top Yard Bar’ will be on-hand to provide food and drink!

Spooner’s Café and Bar and Tan y Bwlch tearooms will also be open to keep visitors fed and watered.

Tickets and full details regarding the weekend will be available on the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway’s website.