The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway is giving visitors the rare chance to take a tour behind the scenes at the Boston Lodge works.

The tours are being held as part of the National Lottery Open Week as a thank-you for the contribution National Lottery players have made to the railway’s Interpretation and Boston Lodge Project.

Work to restore the buildings at Boston Lodge works started in 2022 and was funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway Trust, and the Ffestiniog Railway Society.

The rebuilding work provided training and volunteering opportunities for people in both Porthmadog and the wider area, and the overall project was designed to attract more visitors to the railway.

The tours are being held on the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd of March 2025, and are open to anyone who brings a National Lottery ticket or scratch card with them.

On each day there will be morning and afternoon tours, with scheduled shuttle buses taking visitors from Porthmadog’s Harbour station to Boston Lodge works.

Morning tours will leave Harbour station at 10:10 and afternoon tours will depart at 14:00, but all participants should arrive 30 minutes before scheduled tour time. At Harbour station, participants will be met by their tour guide and receive a visitor vest.

The weather is likely to be unpredictable, so visitors should wear warm clothes and bring a waterproof coat, and all visitors must wear stout shoes, preferably walking boots. Anyone wearing unsuitable footwear, such as sandals or open-toed shoes, will not be allowed to take part in the tour.

At Harbour station, Spooner’s will be open for refreshments, and before leaving for Boston Lodge the Tour Guide will give a safety briefing.

Unfortunately, children under the age of 10 will not be allowed to take part, and children aged from 10-15 years must be accompanied by an adult.

Applications for a place on the tour can be made online at https://www.festrail.co.uk/free-tours-of-boston-lodge/