Snowdon Mountain Railway North Wales

Snowdon Mountain Railway, Wales

History | Today | Weather | Access | Heritage Railways

Snowdon Mountain Railway in North Wales has been celebrating its 120th anniversary this year. The Snowdon Mountain Railway is one of several scenic railways in Britain, which also include the Rheidol Railway, also in Wales.

History

The railway began in 1896 and the 4.7-mile (7.2-km) railway has transported passengers from Llanberis, at the foot of Snowdon, to the 3560-foot (1085-metre) summit of the mountain (the highest peak in Wales) ever since (despite a fatal accident on its very first journey).

The train travels through some beautiful Welsh countryside

Today

In fact, so popular has the railway become that around 130,000 people ride the trains in season and advanced booking is usually necessary. The railway is now owned and operated by British Heritage plc.

The Snowdon Mountain Railway is Britain’s only rack and pinion mountain railway, and also has the nation’s highest station, perched just below Snowdon’s summit. On clear days the views over the surrounding Snowdon mountains are simply spectacular. An interesting new visitor centre has also recently opened at the top station.

The train with a view

Weather

Given the local geography it comes as little surprise that the railway is operated in some of Britain’s harshest weather conditions.

Services are stopped in cases of extreme weather, with the line remaining closed in the winter season from November through to mid-March.

Steam and diesel locomotives hauling individual carriages take about an hour to complete the journey from Llanberis along a single track narrow gauge line.

Those lucky enough to have tickets on “The Snowdon Lily” or newer “The Snowdon Mountain Goat” carriages will be pushed by one of the railway’s original 1896 steam locomotives.

The railway connects with the Llanberis Lake Railway at Llanberis Station on the A4086.