A summer service to Blaenau Ffestiniog is to run from Chester again this year.

The Welsh Mountaineer is due to depart from Chester on Tuesday August 19 and September 2.

The first steam journey on Tuesday, July 29, saw 1937-built No. 61994 The Great Marquess in action hauling the vintage rail coaches of The Welsh Mountaineer.

This K4 class 2-6-0 locomotive was built at Darlington Works by the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) as a mixed traffic loco for use on passenger and freight trains on the West Highland Line in Scotland.

The steam trains are organised by heritage rail operator The Railway Touring Company, which is also running The North Wales Coast Express steam service from Chester to Bangor and Holyhead on Sundays, August 3, 10, 17 and September 7.

Historic locomotives, including No. 61994 The Great Marquess and Black 5 No. 45305 are lined up to haul the vintage Welsh Mountaineer on different dates. No. 45305 was built for London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMSR) in Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1936.

“The Welsh Mountaineer steams into the heart of the spectacular Snowdonia National Park, via Chester and along the scenic North Wales Coast Line and up the beautiful Conwy Valley, to Blaenau Ffestiniog,” explains The Railway Touring Company’s MD Nigel Dobbing.  “It’s quite a steam adventure.”

The Welsh Mountaineer is expected to reach Blaenau Ffestiniog at approximately 13.15 so that passengers can explore the ‘Victorian slate capital of the world’. The Llechwedd Slate Caverns remain as a tourist attraction open to visitors.

Passengers must pre-book. For details contact The Railway Touring Company on Tel: 01553 661500 or visit  www.railwaytouring.net.