A SNOWDONIA heritage railway is hoping to back track though time to honour former employees who served the company and their country in the First World War.

In this centenary year marking the Armistice of the 1914-18 War, the Ffestiniog Railway company has been keen to understand the contribution its former employees made during the Great War.

Members of the Ffestiniog Railway Heritage Group, launched a project to discover the names and stories of railway workers who had served, or died in the conflict.

In May 2017, an appeal was made through social media and other media outlets, and two former employees names came forward.

They were Charles James and David Davies, who both worked at Boston Lodge, railway works at Porthmadog. Sadly both men were killed in action in France.

The former appeal is still ongoing and the railway is calling for any information about family members, with a view to paying tribute to their efforts during a special commemoration service.

At 3pm, on November 11, a newly-constructed war memorial, funded by the Railway Heritage Trust, will be unveiled at Tan y Bwlch Station, to mark the sacrifice made by these men.

There will be a short service of remembrance on site, and a display of items of rolling stock that saw service on the Western Front.

Andy Savage, executive director of the Railway Heritage Trust, and formerly deputy chairman of The Festiniog Railway Company, said:

“The Trust's researches showed that the Ffestiniog Railway was one of a small number of railway companies that had not honoured those who served with a war memorial.

"Uniquely, the quality of the railway's records made it possible to create a memorial at this late stage that not only honoured the two employees who died in the War, but also all those who served in the forces.

"I am personally delighted that the Trust has been able to fund the memorial, given my long involvement with the railway, and I congratulate those who carried out the comprehensive research that made the memorial possible.”

A special train will leave Porthmadog Harbour Station at 2pm, arriving at Tan y Bwlch, in time for the service which will take place at 3pm.

Refreshments will be served on the return journey, and the train will arrive back in Porthmadog at approximately 4.30pm.

Bookings are open to staff and members of the public. There will be no charge for travelling on this train, however places must be pre-booked.

Please either call our booking office on 01766 516024 or email bookingoffice@ffwhr.com to confirm attendance.