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Take a seat on the Cambrian line,
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00:00:05,700 --> 00:00:09,155
and be whisked away
on an unforgettable voyage
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00:00:09,180 --> 00:00:10,395
to a lost world.
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00:00:12,660 --> 00:00:15,195
We'll take you back in time
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00:00:15,220 --> 00:00:16,955
to the land of majestic castles...
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00:00:18,860 --> 00:00:22,835
When you see it in front of you,
you realise its greatness.
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00:00:24,140 --> 00:00:26,995
...and ingenious
Victorian engineering.
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00:00:28,540 --> 00:00:31,595
Many a story has been told
on here, on this viaduct.
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00:00:33,100 --> 00:00:37,475
We'll spend a fabulously
old-fashioned day at the seaside...
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00:00:37,500 --> 00:00:38,955
Love the beach.
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00:00:38,980 --> 00:00:40,555
And now I've got over
the fear of them,
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00:00:40,580 --> 00:00:42,315
I'm really loving
the jellyfish as well.
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00:00:44,100 --> 00:00:48,115
...drop in at an astonishing
make-believe Mediterranean village
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00:00:48,140 --> 00:00:49,995
on the beautiful coast of Wales...
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00:00:51,020 --> 00:00:53,555
It's a little pocket of madness,
I guess you'd call it.
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00:00:53,580 --> 00:00:55,395
And welcome the return
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00:00:55,420 --> 00:00:57,555
of these stunning birds of prey
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00:00:57,580 --> 00:00:59,315
to their ancient homelands.
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00:01:01,540 --> 00:01:05,115
We'll meet the people who live
and work along this special railway.
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00:01:06,620 --> 00:01:09,035
I think in Welsh,
I do everything in Welsh,
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I dream in Welsh - everything.
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This is no ordinary
railway journey -
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this is one of the most scenic
railway journeys in the world.
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North Wales.
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This modest railway station
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might seem an unlikely start
to our train journey,
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but this little town in North Wales
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is the gateway to
a spectacularly scenic railway line
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that can compete with
anywhere in the world.
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00:01:53,700 --> 00:01:57,715
The Cambrian Line begins
in the coastal town of Pwllheli
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00:01:57,740 --> 00:02:00,995
and runs 71 miles
to the English border.
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It travels past
ancient castles,
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00:02:04,780 --> 00:02:06,755
Wales' highest
mountain,
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and miles of gorgeous
golden beaches
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00:02:09,580 --> 00:02:12,035
from Barmouth
to Aberdovey.
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00:02:13,380 --> 00:02:16,515
The train turns inland
to historic Machynlleth,
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00:02:16,540 --> 00:02:18,995
and then passes through Caersws,
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a shrine to Welsh poetry,
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00:02:20,900 --> 00:02:24,515
before our final
destination, Shrewsbury.
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This run is one of
the most beautiful lines
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00:02:35,380 --> 00:02:36,955
that you will ever be on.
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I mean, it is stunning.
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It hits the coast,
it goes through the hills,
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it is magnificent.
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00:02:43,580 --> 00:02:47,955
Archaeologist Graham can often
be found excavating Roman remains.
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00:02:47,980 --> 00:02:52,555
But the other love of his life
is the history of his native Wales.
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This line starts
in the early 19th century.
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00:02:58,180 --> 00:03:02,515
There are a lot of small
railways throughout North Wales
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which amalgamate to become
the Cambrian Railway,
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00:03:06,260 --> 00:03:10,195
and these lines were primarily
for exporting slate,
51
00:03:10,220 --> 00:03:12,995
getting slate from
the quarries to the coast,
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00:03:13,020 --> 00:03:16,155
to be exported into England
and to other parts of the world.
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00:03:17,420 --> 00:03:21,635
Welsh slate was highly valued
as far back as Roman times.
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But it was the Victorian
house-building boom
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00:03:26,540 --> 00:03:29,675
that inspired the Welsh
to move the slate by rail
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to cope with the demand.
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00:03:34,940 --> 00:03:38,075
TANNOY: 'We will shortly
be arriving at Criccieih.
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'Thank you.'
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00:03:41,460 --> 00:03:44,315
We've only travelled
eight miles down the line,
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00:03:44,340 --> 00:03:48,035
but it's worth getting off
at the seaside town of Criccieth
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00:03:48,060 --> 00:03:51,275
to see this awe-inspiring
medieval castle.
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00:03:52,700 --> 00:03:55,755
It's been inspiring
artists for years,
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00:03:55,780 --> 00:03:58,195
even the great JMW Turner.
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00:04:02,580 --> 00:04:05,635
Sitting atop a dramatic
rocky headland,
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00:04:05,660 --> 00:04:07,915
it played an important part
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00:04:07,940 --> 00:04:11,115
in Wales' constant struggle for
independence from the English.
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00:04:15,580 --> 00:04:18,155
It's an iconic symbol of Welshness.
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00:04:19,940 --> 00:04:22,555
This castle, initially
built by the Welsh,
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00:04:22,580 --> 00:04:24,515
later conquered by the English,
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00:04:24,540 --> 00:04:26,435
becomes a sign of oppression -
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00:04:26,460 --> 00:04:29,155
as do many of the other castles
in North Wales -
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00:04:29,180 --> 00:04:32,235
this ring of steel
that was set up by Edward I
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00:04:32,260 --> 00:04:36,475
to compress the Welsh into their
mountains and not let them out.
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00:04:44,380 --> 00:04:47,395
Even though it's later taken by
the English, it's a Welsh castle,
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00:04:47,420 --> 00:04:49,555
and it'll always be a Welsh castle.
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00:05:00,500 --> 00:05:04,755
The Cambrian Line wends its way
along this sparkling coast.
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Having spent 20 years
working on its maintenance,
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00:05:08,380 --> 00:05:11,635
every inch of the route
is familiar to Trevor.
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00:05:12,500 --> 00:05:14,075
Although I'm a retired railwayman,
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00:05:14,100 --> 00:05:16,915
I've travelled the railways
throughout Europe
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00:05:16,940 --> 00:05:19,675
and nobody can argue with me
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that this is probably the best
railway line, certainly in Europe.
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00:05:24,100 --> 00:05:26,275
The scenery changes
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00:05:26,300 --> 00:05:28,075
near enough on a monthly basis.
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00:05:33,180 --> 00:05:35,995
Next stop is the town
of Porthmadog...
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00:05:38,060 --> 00:05:41,515
...or was that "Porthma-DOG"...
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00:05:41,540 --> 00:05:42,955
DOG BARKS
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...a town that seems to have
a large population
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00:05:49,020 --> 00:05:50,635
of train-loving canines.
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00:06:00,700 --> 00:06:02,875
Thanks to the myriad of rail lines
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00:06:02,900 --> 00:06:06,755
built to transport slate from
the quarries down to the port,
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00:06:06,780 --> 00:06:09,195
this isn't the only station
in Porthmadog.
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00:06:14,500 --> 00:06:17,555
Across town, there's
a blast from the past,
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00:06:17,580 --> 00:06:20,075
a station just for steam trains.
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00:06:26,020 --> 00:06:27,395
These narrow-gauge routes
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00:06:27,420 --> 00:06:30,795
are run by a whole army
of steam enthusiasts.
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00:06:33,020 --> 00:06:35,155
Steve is the fireman today
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00:06:35,180 --> 00:06:37,355
in charge of getting
this engine ready to go.
99
00:06:38,500 --> 00:06:40,355
Oh, I love the teamwork, the people.
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00:06:40,380 --> 00:06:43,715
It's a group of people coming
together from all walks of life,
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00:06:43,740 --> 00:06:46,275
working together
in a passion that they love.
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00:06:47,460 --> 00:06:50,715
All the hard graft
is done at Boston Lodge,
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00:06:50,740 --> 00:06:53,835
the oldest such engineering works
in the world.
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00:06:56,260 --> 00:06:58,715
These mighty,
time-honoured locomotives
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00:06:58,740 --> 00:07:01,555
can burn up to
a ton of coal an hour,
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00:07:01,580 --> 00:07:04,475
depending on speed
and the gradient of the track.
107
00:07:05,700 --> 00:07:10,555
They take around two hours to light
from cold to operating pressure.
108
00:07:12,900 --> 00:07:14,075
When I was a kid,
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00:07:14,100 --> 00:07:17,475
I just dreamt of going
on the footplate, once,
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00:07:17,500 --> 00:07:18,995
of a steam engine,
111
00:07:19,020 --> 00:07:21,355
and here I am doing this
112
00:07:21,380 --> 00:07:24,035
and, every time I come,
I get a huge thrill.
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00:07:24,060 --> 00:07:25,915
There's nothing to beat it.
114
00:07:27,140 --> 00:07:31,595
Richard's day job is in
a hospital burns unit in Stockport.
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00:07:31,620 --> 00:07:35,595
But today he's a volunteer
in charge of the fire box.
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00:07:37,540 --> 00:07:38,875
In the real world,
117
00:07:38,900 --> 00:07:42,075
driver Paul is a retired
college lecturer.
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00:07:42,100 --> 00:07:45,915
He's been escaping here
for almost 50 years.
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00:07:47,020 --> 00:07:49,315
I don't do this all the time,
I do this, erm...
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00:07:49,340 --> 00:07:52,075
two or three days a month,
something like that.
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When I can escape
from my wife and do it.
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00:07:56,100 --> 00:07:58,555
And what does your wife say?
You'll have to cut that bit out!
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00:07:58,580 --> 00:07:59,755
THEY LAUGH
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00:07:59,780 --> 00:08:01,955
If you like,
this is my mistress, this is.
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00:08:01,980 --> 00:08:04,395
At least she knows where I am
when I'm doing this.
126
00:08:07,660 --> 00:08:09,115
At the Harbour station,
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00:08:09,140 --> 00:08:11,115
passengers can buy a ticket
128
00:08:11,140 --> 00:08:13,555
to ride the Ffestiniog Line
to Blaenau
129
00:08:13,580 --> 00:08:16,315
or the Welsh Highland Railway
up to Carnarvon.
130
00:08:19,620 --> 00:08:22,155
On this glorious trip back in time,
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00:08:22,180 --> 00:08:23,795
you can enjoy a taste
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00:08:23,820 --> 00:08:26,515
of old-fashioned,
first-class Welsh service.
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00:08:28,060 --> 00:08:29,755
A still cold water.
134
00:08:29,780 --> 00:08:32,955
Still water. And Welsh rarebit.
135
00:08:32,980 --> 00:08:36,195
Welsh Rarebit.
As it comes, sir, or with onions?
136
00:09:37,900 --> 00:09:42,115
At the village of Rhyd Ddu,
it's time to change trains.
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You can't come all this way
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and not take a trip up
Wales' highest mountain, Snowdon.
139
00:09:59,340 --> 00:10:02,275
Next, our Cambrian Railway adventure
140
00:10:02,300 --> 00:10:05,435
transports us to a magical
Mediterranean wonderland
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00:10:05,460 --> 00:10:08,715
built on the coast of Wales.
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We're back on
the glorious Cambrian Line.
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A voyage that takes us through
the stunning scenery of North Wales
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00:10:25,060 --> 00:10:27,515
between the sea and the mountains.
145
00:10:37,940 --> 00:10:40,515
A short hop from Minffordd station,
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we step into
a totally different world.
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00:10:46,980 --> 00:10:49,315
This is Portmeirion,
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00:10:49,340 --> 00:10:51,075
a fairy-tale village
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00:10:51,100 --> 00:10:52,875
created a century ago
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00:10:52,900 --> 00:10:56,595
by the eccentric architect
Clough Williams-Ellis.
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00:10:58,300 --> 00:11:02,515
Location manager Meurig
is passionate about the place.
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00:11:03,580 --> 00:11:05,795
I find ii incredibly
inspiring here
153
00:11:05,820 --> 00:11:09,275
because, you know, one man
had this vision and he did it.
154
00:11:09,300 --> 00:11:13,155
You know, he'd waited 20 years
to find the right site to do this
155
00:11:13,180 --> 00:11:14,915
and he bought it for £5,000,
156
00:11:14,940 --> 00:11:16,955
a loan from the Midland Bank,
157
00:11:16,980 --> 00:11:19,155
and I don't think any bank
would ever give a loan
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00:11:19,180 --> 00:11:21,035
to buy and build
something like this again
159
00:11:21,060 --> 00:11:22,275
but, at that time, they did,
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00:11:22,300 --> 00:11:25,635
and he then spent
50 years building it.
161
00:11:38,900 --> 00:11:42,875
Clough Williams-Ellis had
a playful approach to architecture
162
00:11:42,900 --> 00:11:45,515
and loved to mix
the new with the old.
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He rescued buildings
from demolition,
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00:11:50,300 --> 00:11:53,555
like this Georgian bath house
from war-damaged Bristol,
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which he transported to Portmeirion
stone by stone.
166
00:12:04,380 --> 00:12:06,075
The beauty of this
167
00:12:06,100 --> 00:12:08,595
was the proximity to the rail line -
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all these people were coming here,
169
00:12:10,100 --> 00:12:12,275
before cars were common
and easier to get hold of,
170
00:12:12,300 --> 00:12:13,755
people come by train.
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00:12:14,740 --> 00:12:17,115
It's a little pocket of madness,
I guess you'd call it.
172
00:12:18,980 --> 00:12:22,755
But all the mad details
need constant maintenance.
173
00:12:22,780 --> 00:12:25,315
Hi, Nige. Hi, Meurig.
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00:12:25,340 --> 00:12:28,555
How's it going?
OK, thank you. Well done.
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00:12:28,580 --> 00:12:33,195
Nigel Simmons has been
the resident artist at Portmeirion
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since 1984.
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00:12:38,540 --> 00:12:40,675
This wall is new.
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00:12:40,700 --> 00:12:41,955
So, from over there,
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00:12:41,980 --> 00:12:43,995
you can see a big blank wall,
180
00:12:44,020 --> 00:12:46,275
if I hadn't painted it.
181
00:12:46,300 --> 00:12:48,595
So now I'm just trying
to camouflage it
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00:12:48,620 --> 00:12:51,875
and make it look like
the rest of the foliage.
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00:12:51,900 --> 00:12:55,715
What I like about coming here
and doing things,
184
00:12:55,740 --> 00:12:57,915
is that they're all different.
185
00:12:57,940 --> 00:13:02,155
Like these top windows
of the terrace of housing there,
186
00:13:02,180 --> 00:13:04,915
they're not windows,
they're just painted on.
187
00:13:04,940 --> 00:13:06,835
The bottom ones are,
188
00:13:06,860 --> 00:13:09,555
but the top ones are false windows.
189
00:13:10,740 --> 00:13:15,155
And Nigel has become infamous
for pushing back his deadlines.
190
00:13:17,660 --> 00:13:19,315
You'll be finishing soon the night?
191
00:13:19,340 --> 00:13:22,155
Uh... I don't know what time it is.
192
00:13:22,180 --> 00:13:23,355
It's nearly midday.
193
00:13:23,380 --> 00:13:25,875
Oh, another half an hour
and I'll jack it in.
194
00:13:25,900 --> 00:13:29,675
When I first started here,
I started 9-5.
195
00:13:29,700 --> 00:13:31,835
And I just...
196
00:13:31,860 --> 00:13:33,875
Bits I did...
197
00:13:33,900 --> 00:13:35,195
When I came back the next day,
198
00:13:35,220 --> 00:13:37,995
the bits I did between 3pm and 5pm
were not very good,
199
00:13:38,020 --> 00:13:39,355
so I had to redo it.
200
00:13:39,380 --> 00:13:43,635
So, what I did then, was jack it in
at three o'clock in the afternoon,
201
00:13:43,660 --> 00:13:47,435
but then I found all I did in
the afternoon wasn't very good.
202
00:13:47,460 --> 00:13:50,195
So now I jack it in at lunchtime.
203
00:13:51,260 --> 00:13:54,275
You keep threatening to retire,
don't you, Nigel? Oh, yes.
204
00:13:54,300 --> 00:13:56,155
That's right.
205
00:13:56,180 --> 00:13:59,115
I've been threatening to retire
since a long time.
206
00:13:59,140 --> 00:14:00,475
But they won't let me.
207
00:14:00,500 --> 00:14:03,595
Well, no. That's because,
as I keep telling Nige,
208
00:14:03,620 --> 00:14:05,515
it's like the Hotel California,
isn't it?
209
00:14:05,540 --> 00:14:07,715
You know, you can
check out any time you like,
210
00:14:07,740 --> 00:14:09,915
but you can never leave.
Never leave, yes.
211
00:14:13,780 --> 00:14:16,795
Unlike Nigel, we have
no problem leaving,
212
00:14:16,820 --> 00:14:19,435
and we're soon safely
back on the train,
213
00:14:19,460 --> 00:14:20,795
heading for Harlech...
214
00:14:22,660 --> 00:14:24,635
...with retired railwayman Trevor
215
00:14:24,660 --> 00:14:27,275
and his fond memories
of childhood journeys.
216
00:14:29,220 --> 00:14:30,595
It frightens me when I think
217
00:14:30,620 --> 00:14:32,795
how long I've been
travelling on the train.
218
00:14:32,820 --> 00:14:34,955
But you never get bored of it.
219
00:14:34,980 --> 00:14:36,235
Having the schoolchildren,
220
00:14:36,260 --> 00:14:38,875
I think that brings you
back down to earth sometimes.
221
00:14:38,900 --> 00:14:40,435
We all think we all know everything,
222
00:14:40,460 --> 00:14:42,955
and then you get the youngsters
that'll tell you things
223
00:14:42,980 --> 00:14:44,195
you never even thought of.
224
00:14:44,220 --> 00:14:47,435
We're coming into Harlech now,
225
00:14:47,460 --> 00:14:50,035
1957 the school was built
and I attended the school there.
226
00:14:50,060 --> 00:14:52,555
I travelled every day
back and forward,
227
00:14:52,580 --> 00:14:55,395
so that was a 21-22 mile
journey every day.
228
00:14:59,860 --> 00:15:03,195
The railway line passes
directly underneath
229
00:15:03,220 --> 00:15:05,435
the splendid Harlech Castle.
230
00:15:09,220 --> 00:15:11,875
The castle sits on the Harlech Dome,
231
00:15:11,900 --> 00:15:14,875
this great geological
formation in front of us,
232
00:15:14,900 --> 00:15:17,475
which sits on the end
of the Rhinogydd mountains.
233
00:15:17,500 --> 00:15:21,315
It's said that this is one of the
oldest rock formations in the world.
234
00:15:23,020 --> 00:15:26,595
When the castle was built
in the 13th century,
235
00:15:26,620 --> 00:15:28,795
the sea lapped at its foot.
236
00:15:28,820 --> 00:15:32,195
But since then,
the water has retreated.
237
00:15:33,500 --> 00:15:36,355
Harlech Castle is a wonderful castle
238
00:15:36,380 --> 00:15:39,835
built by a Frenchman
working for Edward I.
239
00:15:42,020 --> 00:15:44,475
This great bastion of power
240
00:15:44,500 --> 00:15:46,355
dominates the landscape,
241
00:15:46,380 --> 00:15:48,715
with views in every direction.
242
00:15:53,500 --> 00:15:56,395
The castle is then snatched
from the English
243
00:15:56,420 --> 00:15:59,395
by the Welsh rebel leader
Owain Glyndwr.
244
00:16:02,420 --> 00:16:06,755
Harlech Castle, once a symbol
of power for Edward,
245
00:16:06,780 --> 00:16:09,475
becomes a symbol of Welsh identity.
246
00:16:09,500 --> 00:16:11,635
And to imagine the bastions
247
00:16:11,660 --> 00:16:13,315
in the towers behind us
248
00:16:13,340 --> 00:16:16,115
having Welsh banners and Welsh flags
249
00:16:16,140 --> 00:16:18,155
and ensigns flying all around,
250
00:16:18,180 --> 00:16:21,475
it must have formed an incredible
symbol for Welshness
251
00:16:21,500 --> 00:16:23,995
and for the Welsh people
to rally around.
252
00:16:32,180 --> 00:16:35,435
It's time for a pint at the pub
by the railway line
253
00:16:35,460 --> 00:16:38,155
at the foot of this great fortress
254
00:16:38,180 --> 00:16:42,115
which held out for seven years
in a spectacular siege.
255
00:16:43,100 --> 00:16:45,675
It ended in 1468,
256
00:16:45,700 --> 00:16:48,915
and it's a very proud moment
in Welsh history.
257
00:16:48,940 --> 00:16:50,075
Lloniannau.
258
00:16:53,460 --> 00:16:56,515
This siege was so epic,
259
00:16:56,540 --> 00:16:59,595
it's filled the hearts
of every Welshman.
260
00:16:59,620 --> 00:17:01,795
The captain of the castle
was a Welshman,
261
00:17:01,820 --> 00:17:03,035
it's got a Welsh garrison,
262
00:17:03,060 --> 00:17:06,755
and so this siege became
immortalised in Welsh song.
263
00:17:08,100 --> 00:17:11,355
SONG: Men of Harlech
# Harlech cyfod dy faneri
264
00:17:11,380 --> 00:17:16,635
# Gwel y celyn enyn yn I
265
00:17:16,660 --> 00:17:21,675
# Meion wyr oll I wnaedd I
266
00:17:21,700 --> 00:17:25,155
# Cmru f0 am byth
267
00:17:25,180 --> 00:17:30,955
# Aed y waedd ac aed y weddi
268
00:17:30,980 --> 00:17:34,955
# I bob cwr o'n gwlad uchelfri
269
00:17:34,980 --> 00:17:39,595
# Nes adsinia yr eiryri
270
00:17:39,620 --> 00:17:44,035
# Cymru f0 am byth
271
00:17:44,060 --> 00:17:49,515
# Arwyr, sawdwyr sydyn
272
00:17:49,540 --> 00:17:53,715
1% RhuKh rwyn at y sewn
273
00:17:53,740 --> 00:17:58,995
# Gyrwn ef I ffoi o nant
274
00:17:59,020 --> 00:18:03,195
# A bryn a phant a Dyffryn
275
00:18:03,220 --> 00:18:07,795
# Chwifiwn faner goruchafiaeth
276
00:18:07,820 --> 00:18:12,515
# Gorfoleddwn yn ei al aeth
277
00:18:12,540 --> 00:18:18,515
# Clywir llef ein buddugol iaeth
278
00:18:18,540 --> 00:18:24,515
1% Cymru f0 am byKh. 1%
279
00:18:24,540 --> 00:18:25,555
APPLAUSE
280
00:18:27,580 --> 00:18:31,875
The train hugs the stunning
coastline for the next 12 miles.
281
00:18:33,260 --> 00:18:37,835
In Cardigan Bay you may even
see seals and dolphins,
282
00:18:37,860 --> 00:18:40,555
until you arrive in Barmouth,
283
00:18:40,580 --> 00:18:42,995
a place where the sea
meets the mountains
284
00:18:43,020 --> 00:18:46,755
and the Victorian engineers
had a mighty problem to solve -
285
00:18:46,780 --> 00:18:50,595
how to build a lifeline
linking the communities
286
00:18:50,620 --> 00:18:52,875
on each side of the estuary.
287
00:18:54,780 --> 00:18:57,795
This is the famous Barmouth Viaduct.
288
00:18:57,820 --> 00:18:59,955
It's now 152 years old.
289
00:19:02,100 --> 00:19:05,355
My late father, he worked
on the viaduct before me,
290
00:19:05,380 --> 00:19:08,115
I did spend 20 years
on this viaduct,
291
00:19:08,140 --> 00:19:10,035
in all sorts of weathers,
292
00:19:10,060 --> 00:19:13,075
and believe me, on a late Saturday
night, early Sunday morning,
293
00:19:13,100 --> 00:19:15,315
when there's an east wind
coming down the river,
294
00:19:15,340 --> 00:19:17,515
doesn't matter how well
you're wrapped up,
295
00:19:17,540 --> 00:19:19,355
it's like a knife, the wind can be.
296
00:19:19,380 --> 00:19:21,355
Originally there were shelters
297
00:19:21,380 --> 00:19:25,035
so locals could take advantage
of the charms of the estuary
298
00:19:25,060 --> 00:19:26,395
whatever the weather.
299
00:19:26,420 --> 00:19:29,315
When we used to have
the shelters as kids,
300
00:19:29,340 --> 00:19:32,075
we played on here,
the fishing from here,
301
00:19:32,100 --> 00:19:33,995
start your early courting
as youngsters,
302
00:19:34,020 --> 00:19:37,035
you'd come on the viaduct
with those shelters here.
303
00:19:37,060 --> 00:19:39,035
Many a story has been told on here,
304
00:19:39,060 --> 00:19:40,555
on this viaduct.
305
00:19:42,140 --> 00:19:43,555
All right, come and see my baby.
306
00:19:45,020 --> 00:19:48,035
This is the...
This is what it's all about.
307
00:19:49,260 --> 00:19:51,915
The viaduct has a swing bridge
308
00:19:51,940 --> 00:19:55,755
which used to open to allow
large boats to pass through,
309
00:19:55,780 --> 00:19:59,995
and Trevor was one of the railwaymen
tasked with its operation.
310
00:20:01,020 --> 00:20:04,155
We would take out
four little lengths of rail,
311
00:20:04,180 --> 00:20:05,195
one on each end here,
312
00:20:05,220 --> 00:20:06,915
and the same on the opposite side.
313
00:20:08,100 --> 00:20:10,515
We would get a key from
the signal box in Barmouth
314
00:20:10,540 --> 00:20:13,555
which protected the railway line
so there's no trains come,
315
00:20:13,580 --> 00:20:15,795
and we'd put the key in here,
unlocked it,
316
00:20:15,820 --> 00:20:18,035
and we could pull
the two levers forward,
317
00:20:18,060 --> 00:20:21,995
cos the levers pull the boats out
to allow the viaduct to turn.
318
00:20:22,020 --> 00:20:24,275
And this is where
you'd have your handles,
319
00:20:24,300 --> 00:20:28,035
three or four men - one here,
one there on the other side -
320
00:20:28,060 --> 00:20:29,675
and that's how the whole viaduct
321
00:20:29,700 --> 00:20:32,595
or the whole span
turned round, that way.
322
00:20:35,540 --> 00:20:38,195
Opening it was straightforward,
323
00:20:38,220 --> 00:20:42,155
but closing it could
sometimes take a lot longer.
324
00:20:44,860 --> 00:20:46,835
Problem being,
in the middle of the summer,
325
00:20:46,860 --> 00:20:50,835
once you'd opened it, the heat
built up, the metal expanded,
326
00:20:50,860 --> 00:20:53,155
and you could never
close it immediately.
327
00:20:53,180 --> 00:20:54,435
If it was a very hot day,
328
00:20:54,460 --> 00:20:56,195
you may be there several hours,
329
00:20:56,220 --> 00:20:57,835
and there'd be a welder
330
00:20:57,860 --> 00:21:00,555
perhaps just chapping off
a little bit here and there
331
00:21:00,580 --> 00:21:02,355
so he could get the bridge closed.
332
00:21:02,380 --> 00:21:04,555
I can remember, as a youngster,
333
00:21:04,580 --> 00:21:06,475
we only used to have
the one train on a Sunday,
334
00:21:06,500 --> 00:21:08,315
it would come in first thing
in the morning,
335
00:21:08,340 --> 00:21:10,795
and same in Barmouth,
so the bridge could be opened,
336
00:21:10,820 --> 00:21:13,595
and the train would come back out
at six o'clock at night.
337
00:21:13,620 --> 00:21:14,995
If it had been a very hot day,
338
00:21:15,020 --> 00:21:16,835
the train never
come back out of Barmouth,
339
00:21:16,860 --> 00:21:18,635
cos you couldn't
close the bridge again.
340
00:21:21,380 --> 00:21:23,075
It's not a problem these days,
341
00:21:23,100 --> 00:21:26,195
as the bridge hasn't been open
for more than 20 years.
342
00:21:31,580 --> 00:21:33,835
The views as you cross the river
343
00:21:33,860 --> 00:21:35,235
are truly breath-taking.
344
00:21:36,740 --> 00:21:39,875
But it seems you can have
too much of a good thing,
345
00:21:39,900 --> 00:21:43,235
according to these two
retired train drivers.
346
00:21:43,260 --> 00:21:45,235
I used to work on it for years,
347
00:21:45,260 --> 00:21:46,635
I used to enjoy it,
348
00:21:46,660 --> 00:21:49,515
it's especially all right
in the summer,
349
00:21:49,540 --> 00:21:51,035
bit rough in the winter.
350
00:21:52,180 --> 00:21:56,075
Just going once and back is nice,
have a nice day.
351
00:21:56,100 --> 00:21:57,915
But, you know...
352
00:21:57,940 --> 00:22:00,515
when we had to do it twice,
it was a bit, like...
353
00:22:00,540 --> 00:22:03,355
It were a bit boring
and monotonous, weren't it?
354
00:22:03,380 --> 00:22:06,515
You know, you're stopping
in all these 27 stops.
355
00:22:10,220 --> 00:22:11,715
Here the train squeezes
356
00:22:11,740 --> 00:22:14,555
between the sand dunes,
and even a golf course,
357
00:22:14,580 --> 00:22:19,115
until it reaches the ever-popular
seaside resort Aberdovey,
358
00:22:19,140 --> 00:22:22,795
with it's fantastic,
unspoiled sandy beach
359
00:22:22,820 --> 00:22:25,235
stretching for miles.
360
00:22:42,340 --> 00:22:45,235
There's nine of us. There's my mum.
361
00:22:45,260 --> 00:22:47,395
When my children were young,
362
00:22:47,420 --> 00:22:49,355
Mum and I used to
bring them every year.
363
00:22:49,380 --> 00:22:52,035
We used to come and stay
in a caravan here.
364
00:22:52,060 --> 00:22:53,795
So now that we've got grandchildren
365
00:22:53,820 --> 00:22:56,115
and Mum's got great-grandchildren,
366
00:22:56,140 --> 00:22:58,595
we've decided
to carry on the tradition
367
00:22:58,620 --> 00:23:00,275
and bring the new ones along.
368
00:23:05,300 --> 00:23:08,315
The water is the clearest water
I've swum in in ages.
369
00:23:08,340 --> 00:23:10,515
It's beautiful,
and I love the beach
370
00:23:10,540 --> 00:23:12,515
and, now I've got over
the fear of them,
371
00:23:12,540 --> 00:23:14,835
I'm really loving
the jellyfish as well.
372
00:23:20,460 --> 00:23:22,995
It's all the fun
of the seaside here.
373
00:23:23,020 --> 00:23:25,835
But on the grassy side
of the tracks,
374
00:23:25,860 --> 00:23:29,195
the sand gives way to hard work.
375
00:23:33,380 --> 00:23:37,395
David is the third generation
of his family to farm this land.
376
00:23:38,980 --> 00:23:41,915
"Taid" is a grandfather in Welsh.
377
00:23:41,940 --> 00:23:44,435
So, Taid came here in 1926,
378
00:23:44,460 --> 00:23:46,115
year of the General Strike,
379
00:23:46,140 --> 00:23:49,075
and then they stayed on here
till 1957
380
00:23:49,100 --> 00:23:51,635
when my mum and dad took over.
381
00:23:51,660 --> 00:23:54,155
Taid, he farmed with horses,
382
00:23:54,180 --> 00:23:56,595
so he didn't have a tractor,
383
00:23:56,620 --> 00:23:58,195
but he'd use a train.
384
00:23:58,220 --> 00:24:02,555
But a lot of livestock from
this area was moved by train,
385
00:24:02,580 --> 00:24:04,035
cattle and sheep.
386
00:24:04,900 --> 00:24:07,115
They're all organic.
387
00:24:07,140 --> 00:24:09,355
Here's the bull here,
his name is Glyn.
388
00:24:09,380 --> 00:24:11,955
He's very calm, which is
a good thing in a bull.
389
00:24:11,980 --> 00:24:13,515
They've all got names.
390
00:24:13,540 --> 00:24:15,195
Livvy, George.
391
00:24:15,220 --> 00:24:19,115
George is far more vicious
than any other of the cows here,
392
00:24:19,140 --> 00:24:20,795
so we give her plenty of space.
393
00:24:21,900 --> 00:24:25,595
If I wanted to move them,
I'd call them.
394
00:24:25,620 --> 00:24:27,435
I just do it a couple of times.
395
00:24:27,460 --> 00:24:29,635
I'm sure it's been used
since ancient times.
396
00:24:29,660 --> 00:24:30,955
You know, I'd say...
397
00:24:30,980 --> 00:24:32,635
HE CALLS THEM
398
00:24:32,660 --> 00:24:34,955
And they'd follow.
399
00:24:34,980 --> 00:24:37,155
They think I'm joking now,
cos they're happy here.
400
00:24:38,540 --> 00:24:39,555
I love the estuary,
401
00:24:39,580 --> 00:24:42,715
it changes colour and
it changes shape every day,
402
00:24:42,740 --> 00:24:45,195
every hour, every minute.
403
00:24:45,220 --> 00:24:46,955
The trains arrive -
404
00:24:46,980 --> 00:24:49,395
enigmatic, the way
it hugs the estuary there.
405
00:24:51,140 --> 00:24:53,035
Somebody had the vision
to build that line,
406
00:24:53,060 --> 00:24:54,835
and it's not an easy place
to build -
407
00:24:54,860 --> 00:24:57,035
there's five tunnels
along this piece,
408
00:24:57,060 --> 00:24:58,875
goes through
the golf course as well.
409
00:24:58,900 --> 00:25:02,075
And there's a friend of mine
playing golf
410
00:25:02,100 --> 00:25:05,555
and he hits the ball-
bang - and hits the train.
411
00:25:05,580 --> 00:25:07,755
The train driver stops
to remonstrate
412
00:25:07,780 --> 00:25:09,435
and my friend shouts back at him,
413
00:25:09,460 --> 00:25:12,315
"if you'd been on time
he wouldn't have hit you!"
414
00:25:13,500 --> 00:25:14,755
True story.
415
00:25:28,100 --> 00:25:29,755
My grandfather, Taid,
416
00:25:29,780 --> 00:25:31,595
if he could hear the train
in Dovey Junction,
417
00:25:31,620 --> 00:25:33,475
it would mean that
the wind was up in the east,
418
00:25:33,500 --> 00:25:35,795
and it would be
one of the factors he'd use
419
00:25:35,820 --> 00:25:37,995
to decide whether he was
going to cut hay or not -
420
00:25:38,020 --> 00:25:39,195
my father the same.
421
00:25:46,980 --> 00:25:49,595
As it has done for over 100 years,
422
00:25:49,620 --> 00:25:53,355
the train continues
to mark the rhythm of time
423
00:25:53,380 --> 00:25:56,555
for all the people living
and working along its route.
424
00:26:03,340 --> 00:26:06,675
Our next stop is so remote
425
00:26:06,700 --> 00:26:10,275
that it's only
one person's commute to work.
426
00:26:20,660 --> 00:26:23,515
The wide Dovey Estuary
was a big obstacle
427
00:26:23,540 --> 00:26:28,515
for the engineers working on
the next part of the Cambrian Line.
428
00:26:30,180 --> 00:26:32,955
A bridge was deemed
too difficult to build.
429
00:26:35,180 --> 00:26:36,955
Instead, the line was routed
430
00:26:36,980 --> 00:26:39,195
along the north side of the estuary
431
00:26:39,220 --> 00:26:41,835
from Aberdovey
to Dovey Junction station.
432
00:26:43,020 --> 00:26:44,835
The line then splits -
433
00:26:44,860 --> 00:26:47,635
one branch running
southwest to Aberystwyth,
434
00:26:47,660 --> 00:26:49,995
and the other running eastwards
435
00:26:50,020 --> 00:26:51,595
to Machynlleth and England.
436
00:27:04,460 --> 00:27:07,315
Dovey Junction appears to be
in the middle of nowhere.
437
00:27:08,540 --> 00:27:11,915
And today only one person gets off.
438
00:27:13,820 --> 00:27:16,995
I am pretty much the only commuter
at Dovey Junction.
439
00:27:18,260 --> 00:27:19,635
And if I go anywhere else,
440
00:27:19,660 --> 00:27:21,835
the train staff
like to point out to me
441
00:27:21,860 --> 00:27:23,715
that I'm not at my correct station.
442
00:27:28,100 --> 00:27:31,635
We have a collection of wildlife
here that is quite unique.
443
00:27:32,700 --> 00:27:34,195
There's not many commutes
444
00:27:34,220 --> 00:27:37,875
where you could count 15 white
egrets, or spot three herons,
445
00:27:37,900 --> 00:27:42,635
or come past a collection
of shell ducks every morning.
446
00:27:42,660 --> 00:27:45,595
And the way with the tides
on the saltmarshes as well,
447
00:27:45,620 --> 00:27:47,875
you never know quite
what you're going to get.
448
00:27:55,980 --> 00:27:59,075
Kim's commute is remarkable
in another way, too.
449
00:28:02,140 --> 00:28:05,835
Her journey takes her back
into Wales' wild past
450
00:28:05,860 --> 00:28:10,635
where magnificent birds of prey
flew free across the country.
451
00:28:15,060 --> 00:28:17,835
A short bike ride from the station,
452
00:28:17,860 --> 00:28:22,235
and Kim clocks in at
the Cors Dyfi Wildlife Reserve.
453
00:28:23,580 --> 00:28:24,795
So, through this window here,
454
00:28:24,820 --> 00:28:27,155
you can see right the way
across to the osprey nest.
455
00:28:30,900 --> 00:28:32,475
When the ospreys
come back each year,
456
00:28:32,500 --> 00:28:34,515
it's an absolutely amazing feeling,
457
00:28:34,540 --> 00:28:37,675
just to know they've made it
safely through their migration,
458
00:28:37,700 --> 00:28:40,155
they've made that journey
back from West Africa,
459
00:28:40,180 --> 00:28:43,155
and then they're here, and then
we look forward to the eggs,
460
00:28:43,180 --> 00:28:45,795
to the chicks and
to those chicks then going on
461
00:28:45,820 --> 00:28:49,195
and hopefully starting nests
of their own in a few years' time.
462
00:28:50,860 --> 00:28:52,355
We just have one breeding pair here,
463
00:28:52,380 --> 00:28:54,915
they've got three chicks
at the moment.
464
00:28:54,940 --> 00:28:57,355
There are five
breeding pairs in Wales,
465
00:28:57,380 --> 00:28:59,795
so very much
a recovering population.
466
00:29:01,700 --> 00:29:04,795
In the 1990s, ospreys were
extinct in the UK.
467
00:29:04,820 --> 00:29:07,875
In the 1950s, they began
to recover in Scotland
468
00:29:07,900 --> 00:29:10,035
and it's not until recent years,
469
00:29:10,060 --> 00:29:12,915
20 years ago, that they've begun
to recover in Wales.
470
00:29:12,940 --> 00:29:17,195
They were persecuted
and their habitat destroyed,
471
00:29:17,220 --> 00:29:19,635
which meant we had
no breeding pairs left.
472
00:29:22,900 --> 00:29:26,755
The male osprey, just about
to jump onto the perch out here,
473
00:29:26,780 --> 00:29:28,475
with a fish in his talons.
474
00:29:35,620 --> 00:29:38,595
The osprey barely look up
from their fish dinner
475
00:29:38,620 --> 00:29:40,995
when the train passes their nest.
476
00:29:42,740 --> 00:29:46,355
These mighty birds don't need
permission to cross the track,
477
00:29:46,380 --> 00:29:49,515
but everything else
on two or four legs does.
478
00:29:51,820 --> 00:29:53,355
Even though it might look as though
479
00:29:53,380 --> 00:29:55,395
the trains can
take care of themselves
480
00:29:55,420 --> 00:29:57,635
as they trundle their way
along the line,
481
00:29:57,660 --> 00:30:00,755
in fact, they, and everyone
crossing the track,
482
00:30:00,780 --> 00:30:04,275
are totally dependent
on this control room,
483
00:30:04,300 --> 00:30:07,075
the most hi-tech in the UK.
484
00:30:08,460 --> 00:30:10,595
Machynlleth Signalling Centre.
485
00:30:13,300 --> 00:30:14,715
One car. One minute.
486
00:30:14,740 --> 00:30:17,715
Yes, you're safe
to cross the railway now.
487
00:30:17,740 --> 00:30:19,755
ALARM WAILS
Thank you. Ta-ra.
488
00:30:22,020 --> 00:30:24,155
That was Borthwen Farm.
489
00:30:24,180 --> 00:30:26,955
It's got quite a large
caravan park there.
490
00:30:26,980 --> 00:30:28,835
One of the users wanted permission
491
00:30:28,860 --> 00:30:30,515
to go across the railway line.
492
00:30:35,180 --> 00:30:37,555
Despite its sophisticated equipment,
493
00:30:37,580 --> 00:30:41,835
this nerve centre
still requires...a human
494
00:30:41,860 --> 00:30:45,275
to tell people when it's safe
to cross on foot.
495
00:30:45,300 --> 00:30:47,875
Machynlleth Signalling Centre.
496
00:30:49,460 --> 00:30:51,075
One minibus. One minute.
497
00:30:51,100 --> 00:30:53,075
Hold on, I'll just see
where the train is.
498
00:30:53,100 --> 00:30:54,595
Just bear with me.
499
00:30:54,620 --> 00:30:55,795
No, it's not safe to cross.
500
00:30:55,820 --> 00:30:58,515
There's a train coming towards you
from the Barmouth direction.
501
00:30:58,540 --> 00:31:00,555
Can you wait for that train
to pass you, please?
502
00:31:00,580 --> 00:31:02,795
Thank you. Ta-ra.
503
00:31:02,820 --> 00:31:03,915
Some months of the year,
504
00:31:03,940 --> 00:31:06,115
we move more people
across our railway line
505
00:31:06,140 --> 00:31:07,795
than we move along our railway line.
506
00:31:07,820 --> 00:31:11,435
We've got open access now
to the coast,
507
00:31:11,460 --> 00:31:13,835
moving the sheep for shearing,
508
00:31:13,860 --> 00:31:15,435
the caravaners.
509
00:31:15,460 --> 00:31:18,595
It gets very busy now -
school holidays are always busy.
510
00:31:18,620 --> 00:31:20,435
That's fine. OK. Bye.
511
00:31:21,900 --> 00:31:23,755
Because it's a single line,
512
00:31:23,780 --> 00:31:26,475
we have to have two bits of track
513
00:31:26,500 --> 00:31:28,235
in somewhere like Harlech here,
514
00:31:28,260 --> 00:31:30,075
where we've got a crossing point.
515
00:31:30,100 --> 00:31:33,595
So each train comes in and waits
for the other train to pass it,
516
00:31:33,620 --> 00:31:36,035
and then it can carry on
on its journey.
517
00:31:36,060 --> 00:31:38,275
If a train is late,
if it's late coming in,
518
00:31:38,300 --> 00:31:41,195
then the other one
will be late leaving as well.
519
00:31:41,220 --> 00:31:45,435
This now is where two trains are
actually crossing as we speak.
520
00:31:45,460 --> 00:31:47,915
It is a challenge
to keep it running,
521
00:31:47,940 --> 00:31:52,155
because we have so many things
that trip us up, you know.
522
00:31:52,180 --> 00:31:54,515
It's just anything from
a large group of golfers
523
00:31:54,540 --> 00:31:57,875
turning up at Harlech, for instance,
with their golf carts.
524
00:31:57,900 --> 00:31:59,635
It takes three minutes
525
00:31:59,660 --> 00:32:01,835
to get them on a train
when we allow two -
526
00:32:01,860 --> 00:32:04,435
and that's enough
to put us out one minute.
527
00:32:06,380 --> 00:32:09,995
Running the Cambrian Line
is a very exacting business...
528
00:32:10,020 --> 00:32:12,955
TANNOY: 'We are now at Machynlleth.'
529
00:32:12,980 --> 00:32:15,435
...but Carl loves his job.
530
00:32:17,340 --> 00:32:21,315
The people who work on the railway
are all very talented,
531
00:32:21,340 --> 00:32:22,635
they enjoy their job
532
00:32:22,660 --> 00:32:26,435
and it's a pleasure to be
amongst them all day, to be honest.
533
00:32:26,460 --> 00:32:28,235
I'm a very lucky man.
534
00:32:28,260 --> 00:32:31,755
The control centre
is based here, in Machynlleth,
535
00:32:31,780 --> 00:32:33,915
which is a very special place.
536
00:32:36,060 --> 00:32:39,115
Some of the town's inhabitants
are still reeling
537
00:32:39,140 --> 00:32:43,595
from the shock decision in 1955
538
00:32:43,620 --> 00:32:46,955
to make the city of Cardiff
the capital of Wales,
539
00:32:46,980 --> 00:32:49,195
and not Machynlleth.
540
00:32:52,020 --> 00:32:54,315
We see before us here
541
00:32:54,340 --> 00:32:55,795
the Parliament House,
542
00:32:55,820 --> 00:32:57,955
the Senedd-Dy,
543
00:32:57,980 --> 00:33:00,235
Owain Glyndwr, 1404.
544
00:33:00,260 --> 00:33:03,515
Where he called two
from each comote in Wales
545
00:33:03,540 --> 00:33:06,755
and he was crowned Prince of Wales.
546
00:33:07,820 --> 00:33:10,195
What more cultural heritage
547
00:33:10,220 --> 00:33:11,835
would you want than that?
548
00:33:11,860 --> 00:33:13,155
It's massive.
549
00:33:21,700 --> 00:33:23,035
Here we are.
550
00:33:26,940 --> 00:33:32,075
This picture shows Owain Glyndwr
crowned with his scepire.
551
00:33:33,620 --> 00:33:36,995
He transformed himself
from rebel leader
552
00:33:37,020 --> 00:33:41,395
to ruler of a virtually,
at that time, independent Wales.
553
00:33:42,780 --> 00:33:45,275
Owain Glyndwr hammered the English
554
00:33:45,300 --> 00:33:46,995
up on Hyddgen Mountain.
555
00:33:48,100 --> 00:33:50,915
1401, he hammered them.
556
00:33:50,940 --> 00:33:53,515
Even bigger hammerings
than they get at Twickenham.
557
00:33:53,540 --> 00:33:55,035
He hammered them.
558
00:33:55,060 --> 00:33:58,035
He came down the mountain
to Machynlleth
559
00:33:58,060 --> 00:33:59,075
and he felt so sure
560
00:33:59,100 --> 00:34:02,235
that this place should be
the first parliament of Wales.
561
00:34:02,260 --> 00:34:06,155
And it was, and it is known as
the ancient capital of Wales.
562
00:34:08,700 --> 00:34:11,035
MUSIC: "Highland Cathedral"
563
00:34:18,020 --> 00:34:20,835
There is nothing the town likes more
564
00:34:20,860 --> 00:34:24,435
than Owain's modern counterpart,
Prince Charles,
565
00:34:24,460 --> 00:34:26,395
the present Prince of Wales,
566
00:34:26,420 --> 00:34:27,595
to pay a visit.
567
00:34:37,900 --> 00:34:40,035
We're leaving the realm of princes
568
00:34:40,060 --> 00:34:44,315
and heading to a station that's
a shrine to its past manager,
569
00:34:44,340 --> 00:34:47,835
who loved his job and his poetry.
570
00:34:55,900 --> 00:34:59,075
We're making our way
down the Cambrian Line...
571
00:35:02,100 --> 00:35:04,235
and our next stop is a village
572
00:35:04,260 --> 00:35:06,275
that's steeped
in the music and words
573
00:35:06,300 --> 00:35:08,195
so important to Welsh tradition.
574
00:35:10,340 --> 00:35:14,075
THEY SPEAK IN WELSH
575
00:35:17,300 --> 00:35:19,715
Delma Thomas is a retired teacher
576
00:35:19,740 --> 00:35:24,675
who runs an organisation devoted to
keeping her native language alive.
577
00:35:25,860 --> 00:35:27,595
I'm very proud to be Welsh.
578
00:35:27,620 --> 00:35:30,435
I think in welsh,
I do everything in Welsh,
579
00:35:30,460 --> 00:35:32,315
I dream in Welsh - everything,
580
00:35:32,340 --> 00:35:34,955
through the medium
of the Welsh language.
581
00:35:34,980 --> 00:35:36,675
I do speak English a little bit.
582
00:35:36,700 --> 00:35:40,315
But I prefer speaking in Welsh
583
00:35:40,340 --> 00:35:42,795
and I translate
as I'm going along now.
584
00:35:44,020 --> 00:35:48,035
There's no longer
a station master at Caersws.
585
00:35:48,060 --> 00:35:49,995
But the spirit of one man
586
00:35:50,020 --> 00:35:53,755
who spent almost 20 years
running the station
587
00:35:53,780 --> 00:35:55,435
is still very much present.
588
00:35:57,140 --> 00:36:00,155
Ceiriog. That's a Welsh...
Very famous Welsh poet.
589
00:36:00,180 --> 00:36:02,315
John Ceiriog Hughes.
590
00:36:02,340 --> 00:36:04,755
He was station master here
591
00:36:04,780 --> 00:36:07,835
and he collected old Welsh tunes
592
00:36:07,860 --> 00:36:11,595
and he wrote very many of his poems
593
00:36:11,620 --> 00:36:15,075
to fit onto these tunes as songs
594
00:36:15,100 --> 00:36:17,675
and they've become
very, very popular.
595
00:36:17,700 --> 00:36:20,995
I mean, if you showed him that shed,
596
00:36:21,020 --> 00:36:23,355
he could make a song about it.
597
00:36:23,380 --> 00:36:27,715
You know, he could write
about anything and everything.
598
00:36:29,900 --> 00:36:32,715
The old ticket office
on the other side of the track
599
00:36:32,740 --> 00:36:34,715
has hardly been touched
600
00:36:34,740 --> 00:36:37,915
since the days of
John Ceiriog Hughes.
601
00:36:37,940 --> 00:36:39,275
It's as it was.
602
00:36:39,300 --> 00:36:41,875
I think it's the same carpet.
603
00:36:41,900 --> 00:36:43,835
THEY LAUGH
604
00:36:45,140 --> 00:36:48,755
He would sell
the tickets there for you.
605
00:36:48,780 --> 00:36:51,915
And this is where
he was sitting down.
606
00:36:53,620 --> 00:36:55,475
Had the fire, here, lit.
607
00:36:55,500 --> 00:36:57,675
All his cupboards
and the shelves there
608
00:36:57,700 --> 00:37:00,715
with all the things that he needed
to get the service going.
609
00:37:00,740 --> 00:37:05,755
This is a tangible connection,
isn't it, with Ceiriog?
610
00:37:05,780 --> 00:37:07,435
It's wonderful. Wonderful.
611
00:37:09,620 --> 00:37:11,475
Oh, yes. Now, then.
612
00:37:11,500 --> 00:37:14,635
They're still storing
a few things here.
613
00:37:14,660 --> 00:37:16,515
He probably sat down here
614
00:37:16,540 --> 00:37:19,555
and got his pencil out
to write his poems.
615
00:37:19,580 --> 00:37:22,835
He used to boil a kettle on there
616
00:37:22,860 --> 00:37:25,115
and have his cup of tea in here.
617
00:37:25,140 --> 00:37:27,755
Would it be tea or would he
have something stronger?
618
00:37:27,780 --> 00:37:28,955
Well, yes.
619
00:37:28,980 --> 00:37:32,195
I mustn't tell tales
about him, must I?
620
00:37:32,220 --> 00:37:35,195
He allegedly did like his tipple,
621
00:37:35,220 --> 00:37:37,515
I'm not quite sure which brand.
622
00:37:37,540 --> 00:37:40,715
And then he adopted, shall I say,
623
00:37:40,740 --> 00:37:42,515
the Bohemian lifestyle.
624
00:37:43,740 --> 00:37:47,915
A shopkeeper was complaining one day
625
00:37:47,940 --> 00:37:50,795
that he was two weeks late
getting two bags of flour
626
00:37:50,820 --> 00:37:53,995
because Ceiriog was so involved
in writing the poetry,
627
00:37:54,020 --> 00:37:55,835
he forgot to put them on the train.
628
00:38:05,940 --> 00:38:08,315
This now-celebrated poet,
629
00:38:08,340 --> 00:38:11,035
sometimes called
the Wordsworth of Wales,
630
00:38:11,060 --> 00:38:12,555
is buried close by.
631
00:38:14,420 --> 00:38:18,035
He died in poverty
at the age of just 54.
632
00:38:23,500 --> 00:38:25,635
John Ceiriog Hughes.
633
00:38:25,660 --> 00:38:29,395
Born 25th September 1832
634
00:38:29,420 --> 00:38:33,675
and died 23rd April 1887.
635
00:38:34,540 --> 00:38:38,235
And then this
is one he himself wrote,
636
00:38:38,260 --> 00:38:40,275
for his own epitaph.
637
00:38:41,500 --> 00:38:45,835
“Carotid eiflau cerddorcfl' -
carodd iéwdd,
638
00:38:45,860 --> 00:38:47,435
"Carodd fyw'n naturiol,
639
00:38:47,460 --> 00:38:49,755
"Carodd gerdd yn angerddol:
640
00:38:49,780 --> 00:38:52,675
"Dyma ei lwch, a dim lol"
641
00:38:55,340 --> 00:38:58,195
"He loved musical words,
he loved poets,
642
00:38:58,220 --> 00:39:00,195
"he loved to live naturally,
643
00:39:00,220 --> 00:39:03,035
"He loved poems passionately:
644
00:39:03,060 --> 00:39:06,155
"This is his dust, no nonsense."
645
00:39:06,180 --> 00:39:09,115
He's got a great
sense of humour. Yes.
646
00:39:09,140 --> 00:39:12,315
You know, here's my dust
and no nonsense,
647
00:39:12,340 --> 00:39:14,875
you know, that's the end of it.
648
00:39:32,020 --> 00:39:35,755
Back on the train, and
we'll soon be leaving Wales behind.
649
00:39:37,780 --> 00:39:40,795
The movements of all trains
coming in to Shrewsbury
650
00:39:40,820 --> 00:39:43,795
on the Cambrian Line
are controlled here.
651
00:39:49,300 --> 00:39:52,235
This is currently the world's
largest mechanical signal box
652
00:39:52,260 --> 00:39:53,675
that's left in operation.
653
00:39:53,700 --> 00:39:56,475
There were, of course,
others that were bigger
654
00:39:56,500 --> 00:39:57,995
but, as this technology
655
00:39:58,020 --> 00:40:00,195
has been closed down and got rid of,
656
00:40:00,220 --> 00:40:03,115
this is now the largest
left in the world.
657
00:40:04,700 --> 00:40:07,595
Unlike the hi-tech setup
at Machynlleth,
658
00:40:07,620 --> 00:40:11,395
this remarkable
historic control room
659
00:40:11,420 --> 00:40:14,595
is 117 years old
and still going strong.
660
00:40:19,860 --> 00:40:23,355
Jamie is a Signalman
who revels in the fact
661
00:40:23,380 --> 00:40:26,155
that he's still using
the old technology.
662
00:40:26,180 --> 00:40:27,195
BELLS RINGS
663
00:40:28,620 --> 00:40:30,835
I love the fact that
you're sort of dealing with stuff
664
00:40:30,860 --> 00:40:32,555
that's happening
right in front of you.
665
00:40:32,580 --> 00:40:34,475
You're dealing with
mechanical signals,
666
00:40:34,500 --> 00:40:36,755
mechanical points,
watching the trains go past.
667
00:40:36,780 --> 00:40:39,035
It's not all happening
on a computer screen.
668
00:40:41,060 --> 00:40:42,795
So that's for
that freight train there,
669
00:40:42,820 --> 00:40:45,835
which will now pass the box
on its way to near Shotton,
670
00:40:45,860 --> 00:40:47,115
demarcates junction.
671
00:40:48,460 --> 00:40:51,195
Each colour has a different meaning.
672
00:40:51,220 --> 00:40:54,595
White levers are
no longer in use, regrettably.
673
00:40:54,620 --> 00:40:57,155
Black levers are the points.
674
00:40:57,180 --> 00:40:59,995
So that's where we change
the direction of the tracks
675
00:41:00,020 --> 00:41:02,475
and route the trains
in different directions.
676
00:41:02,500 --> 00:41:04,275
Blue levers lock the points
677
00:41:04,300 --> 00:41:07,835
and then the red levers
are the signals themselves.
678
00:41:07,860 --> 00:41:10,715
I actually started
my signalling career
679
00:41:10,740 --> 00:41:12,475
as a volunteer on a steam railway
680
00:41:12,500 --> 00:41:15,715
and the job that I'm doing now
is exactly the same.
681
00:41:15,740 --> 00:41:17,315
BELL DINGS TWICE
682
00:41:18,340 --> 00:41:22,595
Basically, we communicate
from box to box by bell code -
683
00:41:22,620 --> 00:41:25,235
it's a bit like Morse code,
it's absolutely unequivocal,
684
00:41:25,260 --> 00:41:26,595
you can't mistake a bell code
685
00:41:26,620 --> 00:41:28,595
in the way a phone call
could be mistaken.
686
00:41:28,620 --> 00:41:30,755
Those two beats on the bell then
687
00:41:30,780 --> 00:41:33,395
was Abbey Forgate telling me
that we've got a train
688
00:41:33,420 --> 00:41:38,115
entering the section between me and
him, coming toward me, on the line.
689
00:41:38,140 --> 00:41:40,835
So I acknowledge it
by sending two beats back to him
690
00:41:40,860 --> 00:41:43,315
and I move the indicator over
to "Train On Line"
691
00:41:43,340 --> 00:41:45,035
and, when it gets to me,
I will tell him
692
00:41:45,060 --> 00:41:47,715
that it's got to me, complete
with its red lights on the back
693
00:41:47,740 --> 00:41:49,435
and then we're ready to start again.
694
00:42:00,580 --> 00:42:02,555
When you're here sort of
in the late evening
695
00:42:02,580 --> 00:42:04,555
and the sunlight's falling on it,
696
00:42:04,580 --> 00:42:06,715
you think, wow, this has been here
697
00:42:06,740 --> 00:42:08,355
for 116-odd years now
698
00:42:08,380 --> 00:42:10,715
and, you know, we're just
the latest in a long line
699
00:42:10,740 --> 00:42:13,275
of signalmen to be working it.
700
00:42:14,140 --> 00:42:15,435
BELL DINGS
701
00:42:15,460 --> 00:42:16,915
BELL DINGS THREE TIMES
702
00:42:18,180 --> 00:42:20,755
Jamie has given our train
the all clear
703
00:42:20,780 --> 00:42:23,595
to proceed into Shrewsbury station.
704
00:42:31,860 --> 00:42:36,595
Our glorious journey has
taken us from grand mountains
705
00:42:36,620 --> 00:42:40,235
to bastions of
Welsh historic battles,
706
00:42:40,260 --> 00:42:42,195
steam-train heaven...
707
00:42:43,980 --> 00:42:47,795
and the turquoise-blue waters
of Aberdovey and beyond.
708
00:42:50,420 --> 00:42:54,395
A nostalgic voyage
through Wales' heartland
709
00:42:54,420 --> 00:42:57,035
on the great Cambrian Line.
710
00:43:11,180 --> 00:43:14,595
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