Hi All,

I'm just back from a week of visiting North Wales' finest: the narrow gauge lines. So while I try and get a grip on the amount of video (over 90 minutes) and the photo's (about 500), here is an introduction!

The whole thing started when I realised just how many preserved lines there are in North Wales, but being on my own it isn't much fun, however now that a couple of friends have come out of the guard's van as it were and professed for their love of trains (especially steam), and that they have a less physically able son, it seemed like the perfect time to give it a go!

Our itinerary was as follows (this will work for much of the South-East & Anglia):

1. Drive up to Much Wenlock (the home of the modern Olympics), we went through Bridgnorth so could have done the SVR, if we had left early but as I live in Kent, we arrived too late. However we did go on funicular railway so all was not lost!

2. Head to Welshpool for the W&Ll... When you get there, ask for the "Great little trains of Wales" card. It costs £10, but it pays back giving 20% discount... Continue to Aberystwyth.

3. Head for the north end of the Promenade, and go on the funicular railway, after head for the main station and the Rheidol.

4. Head off to the Tal-y-llyn, and spend the day there. At this point you can either return to Aberystwyth or head on to Portmadog.

5. If you stayed in Aberystwyth, then head for Porthmadog via Corris, if you picked the right day then visit the Railway, if not continue to Porthmadog for the Ffestiniog. It is possible to do both.

6. Depending on the weather do either the Snowdon or the WHR over the next two days, swap depending on the weather.

7. Head back via Betws Y Coed and visit the museum there

8. Sleep..... It's remarkably tiring, spending days on trains!