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Snowdon & Mountain Railway
We checked on the Snowdon Railway website for tickets to travel on the train, only to find, much to our dissapointment, that there were no tickets left for any of the days that we were on holiday. However at Pams insistence we decided to drive over to Llanberis, the location of the trains base station, on the off chance that the situation had changed. We parked at one of several carparks within the town and, made our way to the station and the ticket office. As we approached I overheard some one say that they only had tickets left for todays 1:30 train. I told Pam what I had heard and rushed with her into the ticket office and up to one of the girls behind the counter. We asked if tickets were in fact available for today, to be told yes for the 1:30 train. We eagerly passed over monies and, in return, had in our hands three tickets for the 1:30 deisel train. Ben a very happy chappy when we showed him the tickets. We had some time to kill so walked back to the cafe and craft centre which we had passed, earlier, having parked the car, which, Pam said was worth a visit on both counts. We stopped for a coffee, Ben a coke, before wandering around the shop. A useful visit as Ben found a couple of presents for mum and dad. I returned the gifts back to the car and renewed the parking ticket to cover us for the time up and back on the railway whilst Ben and Nana started to walk back to the station.
Above: Sadly no steam train ascent for us today, but we were grateful to ascend by diesel.
We had decided to eat at the cafe at the station as they had a good selection of food on the menu. Ben had battered sausage and chips whilst Pam & I enjoyed a local produced lamb and mint pie with chips. Good food and again good value for money. As 1:30 grew nearer we made our way to queue at the platform as our train pulled into the station and disgourged its returning passengers. At the stroke of 1:30 we started our journey to the top of Snowdon, a first for all three intrepid adventurers. Once we had cleared the houses and trees on the lower slopes it was amazing to see the number of people of all ages ascending the mountain. In places it was as busy as our local high street back home, so popilar is the ascent. Both Ben & I wished we were joining them, as we would both love to be able to do the climb - perhaps one day. The ascent takes approximately one hour, by train, as you make steady progress, ever climbing, ever steeper as you ascend. We had a lovely clear view virtually to the top. It was only on approaching the top station that the clouds descended and for a very brief spell we lost sight of the surrounding countryside. The views as we climb ever higher were wonderful at times looking out the windows of the carraige you could have envisaged being in a plane. At the top you are allowed just under 45 minutes to explore, get a drink or visit the facilities. To achieve any you first had to scramble through the mass of people in the top building, a steaming mass of happy humanity having acheived their gaol and wishing to share that with all of their friends and other mountaineers. It was amazing the number of people who had successfully climb to the summit and, we hadn't even got outside the building.
Above: A panorama view as we ascended Mount Snowdon. A shot which made you feel as if you were in a plane and not a train carraige.
We did force our way through the throng and started to walk the steps to the plateau that forms the summit to see yet another swarming mass of bodies doing all kinds of celebrations to mark their acheivements. I decided against joining the throng but Ben, undaunted joined them to have his photo taken to record the fact that he had at least stood on the top, even though he got there by train.
Above: First two pictures taken at the summit with the clouds rolling in, a pair of brilliant atmospheric shots. Sir Edmund Hilary Oswell on top of the summit with the crowd. Finally a view of the surrounding hills as we started our descent.
We sat on the opposite side of the train on the return journey, with the approval of our fellow passengers - you have to return via the same carraige number in which you came up the mountain. This meant that Ben could record even more spectacular views.
Above: Picture of the diesel train and the carraige in which we travelled to the summit of Mount Snowdon. Ironically the carraige was named, in honour of Dame Shirley Bassey, Pams life long favourite female singer of all time. A threesome picture as we celebrated our journey, back at Llanberis station.
Another first Pam & I have recorded, I would love to record it again but this time having walked there and back. A spectacular journey - stunning scenery - amazing to be above the clouds at the summit - stunning photo opportunities.