Snowdon Mountain Railway.

Afternoon All,

Whilst in North Wales earlier this month I took advantage of a clear day and took a trip up to the top of Snowdon. Some pictures are now on Flickr, together with pictures from 2009 and 1974 (when steam was still king). If anyone would like to have a look, here's the link :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/train-pix/sets/72157627031600861

Hope that they're of interest.

 

Yes, these were great - I liked the ones showing the train on the mountainside with the cliff beneath, and the ones in bad weather were very atmospheric. Not in my itinerary for this year's trip to North Wales, but will be next year!

John

 

Thanks for posting. Haven't been on the SMR for just over 40 years but the prospect of diesel haulage puts me off a repeat trip.

 

It's probably worth paying the extra to have a ride with steam, not only because it's steam, but because, from what I could see, the carriages used with the steam locos are much more spacious with 2 + 1 seating instead of the five a side with interlocking knees used on the diesel trains. The exception on the diesel trains is the bottom end compartment which is slightly narrower that the others so only has four a side. It is also wider in the other direction so much more room to stretch one's legs.

We had to go with diesel because that was all that was still available on the afternoon we were there.

 

See my reply to nanstallon. Some of the trains are still steam.

 

Is it possible to ensure steam haulage - do they tell you in advance which trains will be steam worked?

John

 

Yes, I think so. Our daughter got there first and bought the tickets so I didn't get a chance to ask. However, their website says that steam runs three times a day, so they must know which ones they are. We saw one going down as we went up, and then we saw one coming up as we went down. That was the 15.30 departure from Llanberis.

 

Thanks, 45669, for that - having looked at the website, don't know why I hadn't already done so, I see that you can book a steam trip; costs £35 plus £3.50 booking fee. Incidentally, I never quite understood why you have to pay booking fees when you are already paying the price. This is common, if not universal, with theatre bookings and, if you'll excuse me going into grumpy old man mode, something which has crept in and should be stopped.

John

 

Quite right. I can understand a booking fee if they're using a ticket agent but organisations who charge a booking fee for using their own website are taking the pee IMO.

 

Only three? Gone are the days when you could stand at the summit and see a procession of steam coming up the mountain.

 

Too expensive, too uncomfortable, and rarely any steam. Dim diolch!!

 

Yes, I remember the summer of 1976 - I couldn't afford the fare (I think it was two quid!), but enjoyed hugely the walk up from Llanberis with steam trains passing by every few minutes as it was a hot day in July and they were running at full capacity.

John

 

Steam journeys aren't as common now as many think.
Booking fees is a normal charge nowadays to cover extra work involved checking online communications, reserving seats to adjust the loadings accordingly.
Unfortunately if people want to guarantee a certain service etc it is the norm now. Some are getting expensive re theatres and similar. One restaurant I use when in centre of London now has a booking fee, only way to guarantee a table at time and date you want. Creeping in every where now.

 

Booking fees serve two purposes from the vendors perspective. They are VAT exempt so allow the vendor to keep all of the fee and they allow the headline fee to be lowered thus encouraging interest in the product/service. They are in most cases not cost reflective.

You must have rather more money in your pocket than me if you are prepared to pay a booking fee at a restaurant.

 

That's why I included the 1974 pictures on Flickr along with the more recent ones.

When I was there in 2009, the Chief Engineer told me that the profits from the diesel trains help to pay towards keeping steam alive.

 

I haven't been on it since it became mostly diesel. And I also remember fondly walking up the mountain in the 1970's to the sound of the frequent procession of steam trains. I doubt the diesel ones enhance the experience in the same way, even though I like some diesels.

 

It's the same with many public houses at New Years Eve, charging tickets to be there even if you are a regular, I don't agree with that, unless entertainment and food is put on, but at many it isn't, but they are still full. Goes to show that if people are willing to pay they are not going to stop.
Re Restaurants and booking fees, nothing to do with available amount of money, I pay the reservation fee if it is for a special occasion, as in the case for some that do charge, the food and service is excellent and are often Michelin starred or other high quality establishments, not the type you can obtain a table just by turning up as are often booked up months away.
You do notice a difference in quality but I don't go to cordon bleu sized portions.

 

I can't help thinking that these extra charges reflect the apathy of the British sheep who don't seem to mind being fleeced! We need a few more awkward types who ask 'why?'.

John

 

Same as those who happily pay a "service charge". Any establishment that advertises their prices as "including a service charge" doesn't get my custom and those who declare service charges to be "optional" allow me to exercise my option by not paying them.

 

Last visited the area in 2005. Went for a walk part way up with my good lady and our dog. Had to wait for two uphill diesel workings before we got to experience steam. The sound of the diesels did not enhance the ambience.