The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway is gearing up for its ‘Extreme Steam Extravaganza’ Summer Gala weekend in June.

To be held from Friday, 19th to Sunday, 21st June, one of the highlights promises to be ‘Fest-Motor-Rail’, when a pair of classic road cars, a Mini and an Austin A30, will be transported on one of the railway’s well wagons.

The scene promises to be an unusual type of freight on the narrow-gauge line and will no doubt attract the attention of many photographers.

Although the gala is being held from Friday to Sunday, for anyone arriving early, there are other activities the day before, on Thursday, 18th June, including ‘The Quarryman’ set, which is timed to depart from Blaenau Ffestiniog at 17:40, time enough for anyone travelling by the Transport for Wales train that arrives at Blaenau Ffestiniog at 17.25.

For anyone who has a Rover Ticket for Friday, 19th, or a 3-day Rover Ticket, their ticket will also be valid for travel on this train, with its arrival at Harbour Station timed to allow plenty of time for dinner and a drink in Spooner’s.

During the early evening of Thursday, early arrivals will have the chance to witness other activity taking place between Porthmadog and Minffordd while the railway makes sure everything is in the right place for the weekend.

A feature of the weekend will be a chance to vote for which engines visitors want to pull each train. Votes can be cast by booking tickets in advance at https://www.festrail.co.uk/extreme-steam-extravaganza/.

With there being no special anniversaries to celebrate this year, the railway has opted for ‘Weird and Wonderful’ as something out of the ordinary for a working slogan.

The theme of the slogan will extend to many unusual train formations, unusual combinations of locomotives, and the chance for visitors to decide Sunday’s loco roster. To deliver the planned intensive timetable, all sorts of complicated shunting will be needed, which will result in some sights that visitors may never have seen before.

Also taking place from Friday, 19th to Sunday, 21st June is a Mini Model Railway Show at The Gweithdy in Minffordd, where there will be a selection of model railway layouts, and a variety of stalls to browse. Entry to the show is free.

The weekend’s events will kick off with a special ‘Spirit of Steam & Song’ train on Friday, 19th June, which departs Porthmadog at 3:10 pm for Caernarfon.

Throughout May, residents in the local area have been able to travel on the railway for a 50% discount.