Today the line runs from Llanuwchllyn, to the outskirts of Bala 4½ miles away. The smaller scale of the railway's operation, of the old buildings and locomotives means the railway has all the charm of the old fashioned narrow gauge railway. Lovely cafe with yummy cakes and sandwiches too.
When you visit , have a chat with the staff and volunteeres and you might be able to visit the signal box and loco shed/workshop.... and see all those amazing engines.
Alice
Winifred
Maid Marian
Holy War
Chilmark
Lady Madcap
The Bala Lake Railway
' It's always great to meet you at Alice Gala Events, teling stories, cartooning and signing books.. and I hope you like my ever changing cartoon model railway ! ' Pauline
Chuffer Nutter Fact
Listen out for the clickety clacks on the track as you go over each fishplate
Trigger
Faces made at saddletank studios by Pauline
Fun driving Alice with help and advice from Birley, owner of Alice and Winifred, who supplied the information for the first 3 story books.
The home of Alice and Winifred
Sadly Alice day on 1st August 2020 full of arty fun and book stuff was cancelled. Missed you all!
See you in 2021 !
Wow look at all these engines at Bala !!!
The true history of Alice The LIttle Welsh Engine No.1
You can still visit Alice's shed up in the Dinorwic mountain, on Australia level. It's a fantastic climb.
A lot of the buildings and machinery are still there. I counted 40 wild goats when I went up, and the
slate mountain is stunning.
Chris Scott really did keep Alice in his garden and she was pulled through the village behind a tractor. The marks in the ground are still there. And dear Mrs Hyde sold books on the platform to raise money for her repair.
Great to have advice and help from David Shepherd too, and all his funny stories.
Winifred Goes to America No.2 & Winifred Comes Home No.3
This engine is older than Alice and she really did travel across to America on the Manchester Progress. There's a photo of the 3 men unloading her at the dock which I used as reference and she really was lot no. 1 in the auction.
And of course she was brought back with Ogwen and Glyder, by Graham Morris (owner of Peter Pan ) and Birley in the sequel which is all documented in a video too.
Graham Morris and Birley who feature in Winifred Comes Home.
The Bala Lake Railway
Triassic George B Nesta