One of the Great Little Trains of Wales, the Bala Lake Railway
is of 1ft 11½in gauge which operates along 4½ miles of track along the southern shore of
Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake) on the headwaters of the River Dee.
Set in the heart of Snowdonia, the National Park in the north west corner of Wales, the
BLR uses part of the trackbed of the former Bala and Dolgellau Railway (see also the Llangollen Railway), and opened as a tourist line in 1976 using
locomotives which once worked in the slate quarries of the area. Depending on the weather,
open or closed coaches are used to carry passengers.
Its main station is at Llanuwchllyn, but there are other stations at Llangower and Bala,
and halts at Pentrepiod and Bryn Hynod.
The engine sheds, refreshment rooms and souvenir shop is located at Llanuwchllyn, while at
Llangower there is a picnic site on the shore of the lake, with toilet facilities.
Single trips last 25 minutes, and although the round trip between Llanuwchllyn and Bala lasts one hour, in the reverse direction the Bala - Bala round trip takes an hour-and-a-half on account of trains taking on coal and water when they arrive at Llanuwchllyn. Trains leave Llangower ten minutes after leaving Llanuwchllyn, and fifteen minutes after leaving Bala.
For the 2012 season the BLR is open on the following days (all dates inclusive);
April 3rd to 15th; then daily 17th to 29th except Mondays and Fridays;
May Daily 1st to 13th except Fridays; then
15th to 31st except Mondays and Fridays
June 2nd to 10thl then 12th to 30th
except Mondays and Fridays
July and August The railway is open daily
September 1st to 30th Daily except Mondays and Fridays
October 23rd, 24th and 25th
Times
Trains leave Llanuwchllyn at 11.15am, 12.50pm, 2.25pm and 4.00pm
Return from Bala at 11.50am, 1.25pm, 3.00pm and 4.35pm.
October 23rd, 24th and 25th, there are just two round trips, leaving Llanuwchllyn at 12.15 and 2.25pm; and returning from Bala at 12.50pm and 3.00pm
August 11th and 12th 40th Anniversary Celebrations. Three engines in steam; ride in Queen Victoria's 'Yellow Truck', built for her visit to Dinorwic Quarry
December 8th and 9th Santa Specials
Trains depart from Llanuwchllyn only at 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30 pm, 1.30pm,
2.30pm and 3.30pm
Ten minutes on the train to get to Santa's Halt, with the round trip taking
approximately 45 minutes.
Advance booking essential.
Llanuwchllyn and Bala are on the A4403, off the A494 road
between Corwen and Dolgellau. They are served by bus route 94 from Corwen and Dolgellau,
and by Clippa bus No 69 from Corwen.
The 94 bus service also connects with the national rail network at Wrexham or Barmouth.
For details of connecting services, including travel planner and timetables,
visit the Traveline Cymru website.
To join the Bala Lake Railway as a volunteer, visit the Bala Lake Railway's official Website
Copyright © 1997/8/9/2000/1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12 by Deryck Lewis. All
rights reserved.
Page created July 23 1997; Redesigned March 29 1999; Updated January 19 2012
If you have any suggestions, comments, or glitches to report, please contact the author at
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