SLIDE 1 BBC Homepage Wales Home
BBC Local North West Wales Things to do People & Places Nature & Outdoors History Religion & Ethics Arts & Culture Music TV & Radio Local BBC Sites News Sport Weather Travel Neighbouring Sites Mid Wales North East Wales Related BBC Sites Wales Cymru Gogledd Orllewin
Whose slides are they anyway?
Last updated: 05 January 2007
The Rev Michael W alker from Porthmadog is searching for the railway enthusiast behind the lens.
'Taliesin', and Mrs Jones dressed in Welsh costume at Tan y Bwlch station 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
I was given these slides by a dustbin man when I was a vicar in Halifax. He knew I was interested in trains because he'd seen a photo
- f me in the local paper with a smokebox door which I had
- n display in the garden.
It's the large, circular thing on hinges on the front of an
- engine. I've taken it from vicarage to vicarage as we moved,
though unfortunately there's no room for it here at our home in Porthmadog. He brought me a collection of slides he'd found in a house clearance - they were going to be thrown out otherwise. I've no idea who took them, only that the house was cleared in 1969 and that the photographer was very meticulous as all the slides have the location, date and other information on
- them. I think he must have taken his bicycle by train from
Halifax to North Wales and gone round the steam railways, taking photos. They date back to 1958. I'm a long-time member of the Tal-y-Llyn Railway and in 1958 I came as a volunteer to camp out at Dolgoch Falls to help paint the railings. I remember taking a trip on the Ffestiniog railway from Minffordd to Tan-y-Bwlch. We walked
- n from there and were literally the last people to walk
through the tunnel - we'd got halfway through and the workmen from the hydro-electric plant were blocking it off
more from this section History
Maritime memories Broadcasting Family history Celtic heritage Castles People in History Industrial heritage Telford's legacy The Romans Black History World War II Abolition of slavery Restoration More treasures Useful links
related www links
Ffestiniog Railway
more from North West Wales
Arts Be inspired Release your creativity with a look at local art and artists. Your Say Talking points Share your views, gripes and passions and make your voice heard. Activities Head for adventure Your guide to pursuits on mountains, rivers and at sea.
Tai Hanesyddol
O blastai crand i ffermydd gwledig, camwch dros drothwy rhai o dai mwyaf hanesyddol yr ardal 28 February 2012 Accessibility help Text only This document is a snapshot of content from a discontinued BBC website, originally published between 2002-2011. It has been made available for archival & research purposes only. Please see the foot of this document for Archive Terms of Use.
SLIDE 2
behind us!
your comments
Peter Johnson from Leicester The woman in Welsh dress is Bessie Jones. She lived at the station house with her husband Will, who also worked for the railway, looking after the track. During the 1930s Bessie sold refreshments from the station house and turned out to meet the trains in the summer, a practice she resumed when the railway reopened in 1958. She features in many pictures postcards, some of which she sold herself. Mon Jan 15 09:39:16 2007 Tony Coultiss from W iltshire Dear Michael, I am afraid I cannot shed any light on these, but having visited the FR in roughly the same period, I must say that they are wonderful! Good luck in your search! Tony Mon Jan 15 09:38:51 2007 John Dobson, Garndolbenm aen The lady in the Welsh costume in many of these photographs is Bessie (Elisabeth) Jones, who had been Station Mistress at Tan y Bwlch in the 1930s and resumed her duties when the Festiniog Railway reopened to Tan y Bwlch in 1958. She continued as Station Mistress until the 1970s when she retired with her husband Will (who was the permanent way ganger for the FR) and moved to Betws Garmon near Waunfawr. I think that most of the photographs show the official reopening train, run for the FR Society AGM in April 1958. If this is the case I was a passenger on the train - aged 16. Unfortunately I% have no idea who took the photos. However, as the current editor of the Ffestiniog Railway Magazine, I can say that they are of considerable historical interest, particularly as colour film was by no means common in 1958. They would therefore be a welcome addition to the Festiniog Railway archive, held at the Gwynedd County Archives in Caernarfon, if that can be arranged. Mon Jan 15 09:38:14 2007
SLIDE 3 BBC Homepage Wales Home
BBC Local North West Wales Things to do People & Places Nature & Outdoors History Religion & Ethics Arts & Culture Music TV & Radio Local BBC Sites News Sport Weather Travel Neighbouring Sites Mid Wales North East Wales Related BBC Sites Wales Cymru Gogledd Orllewin
Whose slides are they anyway?
Last updated: 05 January 2007
The Rev Michael W alker from Porthmadog is searching for the railway enthusiast behind the lens.
'Taliesin' at Tan y Bwlch station: 7.4.1958 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
I was given these slides by a dustbin man when I was a vicar in Halifax. He knew I was interested in trains because he'd seen a photo
- f me in the local paper with a smokebox door which I had
- n display in the garden.
It's the large, circular thing on hinges on the front of an
- engine. I've taken it from vicarage to vicarage as we moved,
though unfortunately there's no room for it here at our home in Porthmadog. He brought me a collection of slides he'd found in a house clearance - they were going to be thrown out otherwise. I've no idea who took them, only that the house was cleared in 1969 and that the photographer was very meticulous as all the slides have the location, date and other information on
- them. I think he must have taken his bicycle by train from
Halifax to North Wales and gone round the steam railways, taking photos. They date back to 1958. I'm a long-time member of the Tal-y-Llyn Railway and in 1958 I came as a volunteer to camp out at Dolgoch Falls to help paint the railings. I remember taking a trip on the Ffestiniog railway from Minffordd to Tan-y-Bwlch. We walked
- n from there and were literally the last people to walk
through the tunnel - we'd got halfway through and the workmen from the hydro-electric plant were blocking it off
more from this section History
Maritime memories Broadcasting Family history Celtic heritage Castles People in History Industrial heritage Telford's legacy The Romans Black History World War II Abolition of slavery Restoration More treasures Useful links
related www links
Ffestiniog Railway
more from North West Wales
Arts Be inspired Release your creativity with a look at local art and artists. Your Say Talking points Share your views, gripes and passions and make your voice heard. Activities Head for adventure Your guide to pursuits on mountains, rivers and at sea.
Tai Hanesyddol
O blastai crand i ffermydd gwledig, camwch dros drothwy rhai o dai mwyaf hanesyddol yr ardal 28 February 2012 Accessibility help Text only
SLIDE 4 BBC Homepage Wales Home
BBC Local North West Wales Things to do People & Places Nature & Outdoors History Religion & Ethics Arts & Culture Music TV & Radio Local BBC Sites News Sport Weather Travel Neighbouring Sites Mid Wales North East Wales Related BBC Sites Wales Cymru Gogledd Orllewin
Whose slides are they anyway?
Last updated: 05 January 2007
The Rev Michael W alker from Porthmadog is searching for the railway enthusiast behind the lens.
The Ffestiniog Railway train arriving at Tan y Bwlch station: 7.4.1958 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
I was given these slides by a dustbin man when I was a vicar in Halifax. He knew I was interested in trains because he'd seen a photo
- f me in the local paper with a smokebox door which I had
- n display in the garden.
It's the large, circular thing on hinges on the front of an
- engine. I've taken it from vicarage to vicarage as we moved,
though unfortunately there's no room for it here at our home in Porthmadog. He brought me a collection of slides he'd found in a house clearance - they were going to be thrown out otherwise. I've no idea who took them, only that the house was cleared in 1969 and that the photographer was very meticulous as all the slides have the location, date and other information on
- them. I think he must have taken his bicycle by train from
Halifax to North Wales and gone round the steam railways, taking photos. They date back to 1958. I'm a long-time member of the Tal-y-Llyn Railway and in 1958 I came as a volunteer to camp out at Dolgoch Falls to help paint the railings. I remember taking a trip on the Ffestiniog railway from Minffordd to Tan-y-Bwlch. We walked
- n from there and were literally the last people to walk
through the tunnel - we'd got halfway through and the workmen from the hydro-electric plant were blocking it off
more from this section History
Maritime memories Broadcasting Family history Celtic heritage Castles People in History Industrial heritage Telford's legacy The Romans Black History World War II Abolition of slavery Restoration More treasures Useful links
related www links
Ffestiniog Railway
more from North West Wales
Arts Be inspired Release your creativity with a look at local art and artists. Your Say Talking points Share your views, gripes and passions and make your voice heard. Activities Head for adventure Your guide to pursuits on mountains, rivers and at sea.
Tai Hanesyddol
O blastai crand i ffermydd gwledig, camwch dros drothwy rhai o dai mwyaf hanesyddol yr ardal 28 February 2012 Accessibility help Text only
SLIDE 5 BBC Homepage Wales Home
BBC Local North West Wales Things to do People & Places Nature & Outdoors History Religion & Ethics Arts & Culture Music TV & Radio Local BBC Sites News Sport Weather Travel Neighbouring Sites Mid Wales North East Wales Related BBC Sites Wales Cymru Gogledd Orllewin
Whose slides are they anyway?
Last updated: 05 January 2007
The Rev Michael W alker from Porthmadog is searching for the railway enthusiast behind the lens.
'Taliesin' leaving Tan y Bwlch station, with Mrs Jones on the left: 7.4.1958 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
I was given these slides by a dustbin man when I was a vicar in Halifax. He knew I was interested in trains because he'd seen a photo
- f me in the local paper with a smokebox door which I had
- n display in the garden.
It's the large, circular thing on hinges on the front of an
- engine. I've taken it from vicarage to vicarage as we moved,
though unfortunately there's no room for it here at our home in Porthmadog. He brought me a collection of slides he'd found in a house clearance - they were going to be thrown out otherwise. I've no idea who took them, only that the house was cleared in 1969 and that the photographer was very meticulous as all the slides have the location, date and other information on
- them. I think he must have taken his bicycle by train from
Halifax to North Wales and gone round the steam railways, taking photos. They date back to 1958. I'm a long-time member of the Tal-y-Llyn Railway and in 1958 I came as a volunteer to camp out at Dolgoch Falls to help paint the railings. I remember taking a trip on the Ffestiniog railway from Minffordd to Tan-y-Bwlch. We walked
- n from there and were literally the last people to walk
through the tunnel - we'd got halfway through and the workmen from the hydro-electric plant were blocking it off
more from this section History
Maritime memories Broadcasting Family history Celtic heritage Castles People in History Industrial heritage Telford's legacy The Romans Black History World War II Abolition of slavery Restoration More treasures Useful links
related www links
Ffestiniog Railway
more from North West Wales
Arts Be inspired Release your creativity with a look at local art and artists. Your Say Talking points Share your views, gripes and passions and make your voice heard. Activities Head for adventure Your guide to pursuits on mountains, rivers and at sea.
Tai Hanesyddol
O blastai crand i ffermydd gwledig, camwch dros drothwy rhai o dai mwyaf hanesyddol yr ardal 28 February 2012 Accessibility help Text only
SLIDE 6 BBC Homepage Wales Home
BBC Local North West Wales Things to do People & Places Nature & Outdoors History Religion & Ethics Arts & Culture Music TV & Radio Local BBC Sites News Sport Weather Travel Neighbouring Sites Mid Wales North East Wales Related BBC Sites Wales Cymru Gogledd Orllewin
Whose slides are they anyway?
Last updated: 05 January 2007
The Rev Michael W alker from Porthmadog is searching for the railway enthusiast behind the lens.
A train leaving Tan y Bwlch station 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
I was given these slides by a dustbin man when I was a vicar in Halifax. He knew I was interested in trains because he'd seen a photo
- f me in the local paper with a smokebox door which I had
- n display in the garden.
It's the large, circular thing on hinges on the front of an
- engine. I've taken it from vicarage to vicarage as we moved,
though unfortunately there's no room for it here at our home in Porthmadog. He brought me a collection of slides he'd found in a house clearance - they were going to be thrown out otherwise. I've no idea who took them, only that the house was cleared in 1969 and that the photographer was very meticulous as all the slides have the location, date and other information on
- them. I think he must have taken his bicycle by train from
Halifax to North Wales and gone round the steam railways, taking photos. They date back to 1958. I'm a long-time member of the Tal-y-Llyn Railway and in 1958 I came as a volunteer to camp out at Dolgoch Falls to help paint the railings. I remember taking a trip on the Ffestiniog railway from Minffordd to Tan-y-Bwlch. We walked
- n from there and were literally the last people to walk
through the tunnel - we'd got halfway through and the workmen from the hydro-electric plant were blocking it off
more from this section History
Maritime memories Broadcasting Family history Celtic heritage Castles People in History Industrial heritage Telford's legacy The Romans Black History World War II Abolition of slavery Restoration More treasures Useful links
related www links
Ffestiniog Railway
more from North West Wales
Arts Be inspired Release your creativity with a look at local art and artists. Your Say Talking points Share your views, gripes and passions and make your voice heard. Activities Head for adventure Your guide to pursuits on mountains, rivers and at sea.
Tai Hanesyddol
O blastai crand i ffermydd gwledig, camwch dros drothwy rhai o dai mwyaf hanesyddol yr ardal 28 February 2012 Accessibility help Text only
SLIDE 7 BBC Homepage Wales Home
BBC Local North West Wales Things to do People & Places Nature & Outdoors History Religion & Ethics Arts & Culture Music TV & Radio Local BBC Sites News Sport Weather Travel Neighbouring Sites Mid Wales North East Wales Related BBC Sites Wales Cymru Gogledd Orllewin
Whose slides are they anyway?
Last updated: 05 January 2007
The Rev Michael W alker from Porthmadog is searching for the railway enthusiast behind the lens.
'Princess No 1' of the Ffestiniog Railway at Porthmadog: 26.7.1963 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
I was given these slides by a dustbin man when I was a vicar in Halifax. He knew I was interested in trains because he'd seen a photo
- f me in the local paper with a smokebox door which I had
- n display in the garden.
It's the large, circular thing on hinges on the front of an
- engine. I've taken it from vicarage to vicarage as we moved,
though unfortunately there's no room for it here at our home in Porthmadog. He brought me a collection of slides he'd found in a house clearance - they were going to be thrown out otherwise. I've no idea who took them, only that the house was cleared in 1969 and that the photographer was very meticulous as all the slides have the location, date and other information on
- them. I think he must have taken his bicycle by train from
Halifax to North Wales and gone round the steam railways, taking photos. They date back to 1958. I'm a long-time member of the Tal-y-Llyn Railway and in 1958 I came as a volunteer to camp out at Dolgoch Falls to help paint the railings. I remember taking a trip on the Ffestiniog railway from Minffordd to Tan-y-Bwlch. We walked
- n from there and were literally the last people to walk
through the tunnel - we'd got halfway through and the workmen from the hydro-electric plant were blocking it off
more from this section History
Maritime memories Broadcasting Family history Celtic heritage Castles People in History Industrial heritage Telford's legacy The Romans Black History World War II Abolition of slavery Restoration More treasures Useful links
related www links
Ffestiniog Railway
more from North West Wales
Arts Be inspired Release your creativity with a look at local art and artists. Your Say Talking points Share your views, gripes and passions and make your voice heard. Activities Head for adventure Your guide to pursuits on mountains, rivers and at sea.
Tai Hanesyddol
O blastai crand i ffermydd gwledig, camwch dros drothwy rhai o dai mwyaf hanesyddol yr ardal 28 February 2012 Accessibility help Text only
SLIDE 8 BBC Homepage Wales Home
BBC Local North West Wales Things to do People & Places Nature & Outdoors History Religion & Ethics Arts & Culture Music TV & Radio Local BBC Sites News Sport Weather Travel Neighbouring Sites Mid Wales North East Wales Related BBC Sites Wales Cymru Gogledd Orllewin
Whose slides are they anyway?
Last updated: 05 January 2007
The Rev Michael W alker from Porthmadog is searching for the railway enthusiast behind the lens.
'Princess No 1' of the Ffestiniog Railway at Porthmadog: 26.7.1963 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
I was given these slides by a dustbin man when I was a vicar in Halifax. He knew I was interested in trains because he'd seen a photo
- f me in the local paper with a smokebox door which I had
- n display in the garden.
It's the large, circular thing on hinges on the front of an
- engine. I've taken it from vicarage to vicarage as we moved,
though unfortunately there's no room for it here at our home in Porthmadog. He brought me a collection of slides he'd found in a house clearance - they were going to be thrown out otherwise. I've no idea who took them, only that the house was cleared in 1969 and that the photographer was very meticulous as all the slides have the location, date and other information on
- them. I think he must have taken his bicycle by train from
Halifax to North Wales and gone round the steam railways, taking photos. They date back to 1958. I'm a long-time member of the Tal-y-Llyn Railway and in 1958 I came as a volunteer to camp out at Dolgoch Falls to help paint the railings. I remember taking a trip on the Ffestiniog railway from Minffordd to Tan-y-Bwlch. We walked
- n from there and were literally the last people to walk
through the tunnel - we'd got halfway through and the workmen from the hydro-electric plant were blocking it off
more from this section History
Maritime memories Broadcasting Family history Celtic heritage Castles People in History Industrial heritage Telford's legacy The Romans Black History World War II Abolition of slavery Restoration More treasures Useful links
related www links
Ffestiniog Railway
more from North West Wales
Arts Be inspired Release your creativity with a look at local art and artists. Your Say Talking points Share your views, gripes and passions and make your voice heard. Activities Head for adventure Your guide to pursuits on mountains, rivers and at sea.
Tai Hanesyddol
O blastai crand i ffermydd gwledig, camwch dros drothwy rhai o dai mwyaf hanesyddol yr ardal 28 February 2012 Accessibility help Text only
SLIDE 9 BBC Homepage Wales Home
BBC Local North West Wales Things to do People & Places Nature & Outdoors History Religion & Ethics Arts & Culture Music TV & Radio Local BBC Sites News Sport Weather Travel Neighbouring Sites Mid Wales North East Wales Related BBC Sites Wales Cymru Gogledd Orllewin
Whose slides are they anyway?
Last updated: 05 January 2007
The Rev Michael W alker from Porthmadog is searching for the railway enthusiast behind the lens.
'Merddyn (sic) Emrys' at Boston Lodge on the Ffestiniog Railway: 26.7.1963 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
I was given these slides by a dustbin man when I was a vicar in Halifax. He knew I was interested in trains because he'd seen a photo
- f me in the local paper with a smokebox door which I had
- n display in the garden.
It's the large, circular thing on hinges on the front of an
- engine. I've taken it from vicarage to vicarage as we moved,
though unfortunately there's no room for it here at our home in Porthmadog. He brought me a collection of slides he'd found in a house clearance - they were going to be thrown out otherwise. I've no idea who took them, only that the house was cleared in 1969 and that the photographer was very meticulous as all the slides have the location, date and other information on
- them. I think he must have taken his bicycle by train from
Halifax to North Wales and gone round the steam railways, taking photos. They date back to 1958. I'm a long-time member of the Tal-y-Llyn Railway and in 1958 I came as a volunteer to camp out at Dolgoch Falls to help paint the railings. I remember taking a trip on the Ffestiniog railway from Minffordd to Tan-y-Bwlch. We walked
- n from there and were literally the last people to walk
through the tunnel - we'd got halfway through and the workmen from the hydro-electric plant were blocking it off
more from this section History
Maritime memories Broadcasting Family history Celtic heritage Castles People in History Industrial heritage Telford's legacy The Romans Black History World War II Abolition of slavery Restoration More treasures Useful links
related www links
Ffestiniog Railway
more from North West Wales
Arts Be inspired Release your creativity with a look at local art and artists. Your Say Talking points Share your views, gripes and passions and make your voice heard. Activities Head for adventure Your guide to pursuits on mountains, rivers and at sea.
Tai Hanesyddol
O blastai crand i ffermydd gwledig, camwch dros drothwy rhai o dai mwyaf hanesyddol yr ardal 28 February 2012 Accessibility help Text only
SLIDE 10 BBC Homepage Wales Home
BBC Local North West Wales Things to do People & Places Nature & Outdoors History Religion & Ethics Arts & Culture Music TV & Radio Local BBC Sites News Sport Weather Travel Neighbouring Sites Mid Wales North East Wales Related BBC Sites Wales Cymru Gogledd Orllewin
Whose slides are they anyway?
Last updated: 05 January 2007
The Rev Michael W alker from Porthmadog is searching for the railway enthusiast behind the lens.
Slate wagons at Tan y Bwlch 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
I was given these slides by a dustbin man when I was a vicar in Halifax. He knew I was interested in trains because he'd seen a photo
- f me in the local paper with a smokebox door which I had
- n display in the garden.
It's the large, circular thing on hinges on the front of an
- engine. I've taken it from vicarage to vicarage as we moved,
though unfortunately there's no room for it here at our home in Porthmadog. He brought me a collection of slides he'd found in a house clearance - they were going to be thrown out otherwise. I've no idea who took them, only that the house was cleared in 1969 and that the photographer was very meticulous as all the slides have the location, date and other information on
- them. I think he must have taken his bicycle by train from
Halifax to North Wales and gone round the steam railways, taking photos. They date back to 1958. I'm a long-time member of the Tal-y-Llyn Railway and in 1958 I came as a volunteer to camp out at Dolgoch Falls to help paint the railings. I remember taking a trip on the Ffestiniog railway from Minffordd to Tan-y-Bwlch. We walked
- n from there and were literally the last people to walk
through the tunnel - we'd got halfway through and the workmen from the hydro-electric plant were blocking it off
more from this section History
Maritime memories Broadcasting Family history Celtic heritage Castles People in History Industrial heritage Telford's legacy The Romans Black History World War II Abolition of slavery Restoration More treasures Useful links
related www links
Ffestiniog Railway
more from North West Wales
Arts Be inspired Release your creativity with a look at local art and artists. Your Say Talking points Share your views, gripes and passions and make your voice heard. Activities Head for adventure Your guide to pursuits on mountains, rivers and at sea.
Tai Hanesyddol
O blastai crand i ffermydd gwledig, camwch dros drothwy rhai o dai mwyaf hanesyddol yr ardal 28 February 2012 Accessibility help Text only
SLIDE 11
behind us!
your comments
Peter Johnson from Leicester The woman in Welsh dress is Bessie Jones. She lived at the station house with her husband Will, who also worked for the railway, looking after the track. During the 1930s Bessie sold refreshments from the station house and turned out to meet the trains in the summer, a practice she resumed when the railway reopened in 1958. She features in many pictures postcards, some of which she sold herself. Mon Jan 15 09:39:16 2007 Tony Coultiss from W iltshire Dear Michael, I am afraid I cannot shed any light on these, but having visited the FR in roughly the same period, I must say that they are wonderful! Good luck in your search! Tony Mon Jan 15 09:38:51 2007 John Dobson, Garndolbenm aen The lady in the Welsh costume in many of these photographs is Bessie (Elisabeth) Jones, who had been Station Mistress at Tan y Bwlch in the 1930s and resumed her duties when the Festiniog Railway reopened to Tan y Bwlch in 1958. She continued as Station Mistress until the 1970s when she retired with her husband Will (who was the permanent way ganger for the FR) and moved to Betws Garmon near Waunfawr. I think that most of the photographs show the official reopening train, run for the FR Society AGM in April 1958. If this is the case I was a passenger on the train - aged 16. Unfortunately I% have no idea who took the photos. However, as the current editor of the Ffestiniog Railway Magazine, I can say that they are of considerable historical interest, particularly as colour film was by no means common in 1958. They would therefore be a welcome addition to the Festiniog Railway archive, held at the Gwynedd County Archives in Caernarfon, if that can be arranged. Mon Jan 15 09:38:14 2007 This site is now closed and cannot accept new com m ents.
Archive Terms of Use This document is made available for archival or reference purposes and should only be used for private (non-commercial) purposes. These pages may contain materials or content which do not belong to the BBC and in particular materials or content which belong to members of the public whose identities may or may not be known. Whilst the BBC had the necessary rights, permissions and clearances to include and publish them as part of the former 'Where I Live' BBC website, the BBC may not have the right to allow users to use, copy or exploit them or to distribute them to others. No such usage is permitted and the BBC cannot process requests for permission to do so. For more information about deleted or discontinued web pages on the BBC, go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ help/web/mothballing/
