At 21.7km long, the Ffestiniog Railway runs from the harbour at Porthmadog to the slate mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. Owned by the Ffestiniog Railway Company (more properly known as the Festiniog Railway Company), the oldest surviving railway company in the world, the line was constructed between 1833 and 1836 to transport slate from the quarries to the harbour to be loaded onto ships. The railway was deliberately graded so that the trains could be run downhill, under gravity, to the harbour, and the hauled back uphill by horses who travelled downhill in specially constructed 'Dandy Wagons'.

Until a long tunnel (designed by Robert Stephenson, son of George Stephenson, designer of 'The Rocket', and himself a noted railway engineer) opened through a long spur in the Moelwyn Mountains, trains were worked over the top via inclines.

With the decline of the demand for slate, the line fell into disuse and disrepair until bought by a group of railway enthusiasts in 1954 who restored it to full working order and transformed it into the major tourist attraction that it is today.

For four players only, in this scenario players choose which end to start their Surveyor at - players can only build on Station cards from their Surveyor's starting station up to, and including, the Station on which their Surveyor is currently located. When an Event happens, it is resolved from the end at which the game's Surveyor is located, and after resolution the game's Surveyor switches to the other end of the track.


Click to view route map

Track layout

Stations in detail

Blaenau Ffestiniog

Railway stations at Blaenau Ffestiniog are a subject so complicated that their evolution merits an entire Wikipedia page to itself - no, really, they do, and it's here. Suffice to say that the Festiniog Railway station was the first to open, in 1836, to serve traffic from the slate mines to Porthmadog Harbour.

Player count : ALL
Build spaces : 4
Surveyor pts : 0

4 rubble (excavation) - 6 points
4 rubble (excavation) - 5 points
4 stone - 9 points
3 stone - 6 points

Tanygrisiau

The station serves the small nearby slate mining village of the same name - opened in 1866, closing to passengers on 15th September 1939. It reopened as part of the railway's restoration, in 1978, and served as the terminus of the line until 1982.

Player count : ALL
Build spaces : 5
Surveyor pts : 1

5 rubble (excavation) - 7 points
3 stone - 7 points
3 stone - 6 points
1 steel bar - 7 points
2 stone - 4 points

Tan-y-Bwlch

This station is the main passenger station on the railway between the two termini of the railway. Opened in 1873 and closed in 1939, passenger services resumed with the restoration of the railway in 1958.

Player count : ALL
Build spaces : 3
Surveyor pts : 3

4 rubble (excavation) - 5 points
3 stone - 7 points
2 steel bars - 16 points

Plas Halt (Private)

This station was a private stop which only served the household at Plas Tan y Bwlch, a stately home built by the Oakley family (owners of a huge slate quarry in Blaenau Ffestiniog).

Player count : ALL
Build spaces : 2
Surveyor pts : 6

2 rubble (excavation) - 4 points
1 steel bar and 2 stone - 13 points

Rhiw Goch (Passing Loop)

Rhiw Goch was originally a passing loop and an exchange point for the horses which worked the line - they were stabled overnight at a nearby farm. When the railway moved to using steam locomotives in 1863, the passing loop was no longer needed and was closed until 1975, when it was reinstated because its location allowed for flexble timetabling, allowing up and down trains to cross with minimum waiting times.

Player count : ALL
Build spaces : 4
Surveyor pts : 6

4 rubble (excavation) - 5 points
1 steel bar - 7 points
1 steel bar - 6 points
1 steel bar and 2 stone - 11 points

Penrhyndeudraeth

Meaning 'Headland between two beaches', this station has a unique feature - the railway crosses a nearby A road on the railway' only remaining gated and manned level crossing, and because of the layout of the crossing there are three private houses between the gates, believed to the be only place in the UK with such a layout. The station opened in 1865 and was rebuilt in 1879 using components from the original Porthmadog Harbour Station. Whilst originally called 'Penrhyndeudraeth', the name was changed to 'Penrhyn' in the 1870s to avoid confusion with the mainline train station of the same name at the lower end of the town.

Player count : ALL
Build spaces : 4
Surveyor pts : 3

3 rubble (excavation) - 4 points
3 stone - 7 points
3 stone - 6 points
2 stone - 4 points

Minffordd

Literally 'The Lip of the Road' station, Minffordd actually has two adjacent stations, operated entirely independently of each other - one station for the mainline route, and one for the narrow gauge route of the Festiniog Railway, which passes underneath the mainline track.

Player count : ALL
Build spaces : 5
Surveyor pts : 1

2 rubble (excavation) - 3 points
2 rubble (excavation) - 4 points
4 stone - 9 points
4 stone - 8 points
1 steel bar - 7 points

Porthmadog Harbour

The station at Porthmadog Harbour serves as the terminus not just for the Festiniog Railway, but also the Welsh Highland Railway, another narrow gauge railway build in 1923. The station is built at the western end of the Cob, a huge 1.5km long embankment built to reclaim 1,500 acres of low-lying land.

Player count : ALL
Build spaces : 4
Surveyor pts : 0

4 rubble (excavation) - 6 points
4 rubble (excavation) - 5 points
3 stone - 7 points
2 stone - 4 points

Scenario trains

Trains in detail

No. 1 L.A.D.A.S.

L.A.D.A.S. was the Snowdon Mountain Railway's first steam engine built in the 1890's. She was manufactured at the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works in Winterthur, Switzerland in 1895, arriving at Llanberis in July 1895, costing £1523.00. She was named after Laura Alice Duff Assheton-Smith, the wife of a major local landowner. The train was operating the first public passenger service on April 6th, 1896 when she had a very unfortunate accident. She was coming back down the line when she derailed and went cab over wheels down the mountain. Once she rolled down the mountain, she was a complete wreck with only the pistons, motion, frames and wheels still intact. She was beyond repair, so she was scrapped. To this day, the Snowdon Mountain Railway has never replaced L.A.D.A.S. with another steam engine carrying the number one.

Whenever the Owner of this Train carries out the Excavate Action, the Labourer excavates at 2 more than the current Excavation Work Rate. The total can exceed the maximum rate on the board.

No. 2 Enid

Enid was constructed at the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works in Winterthur in 1895, and was delivered to help with the construction of the 4.7-mile mountain railway up Snowdon that year. She was named after Enid Assheton-Smith, the daughter of Snowdonia's then-landowner George William Duff Assheton-Smith and his wife Laura Alice Assheton-Smith. Enid cut the first sod in December 1894 in place of her mother, who was ill at the time. Her namesake arrived at Llanberis in August 1895 and cost £1,525.

Whenever the Owner of this train uses the Works action, they may convert 2 Iron Ore into a Steel Bar instead of 3.

No. 3 Wyddfa

Wyddfa (Welsh for "Snowdon") is the Snowdon Mountain Railway's No. 3 who works and shunts at Llanberis. Wyddfa was built at the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works in Winterthur, Switzerland in 1895 and arrived at Llanberis on 7 December 1895.

Whenever the Owner of this Train takes the Stock Yard action, they may take an additional cube from the Stock Yard, if available (subject to the maximum of one Coal per action).

No. 4 Snowdon

Snowdon was built at the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works in Winterthur, Switzerland in 1896 and is still in operation.

At the end of the game this Train card adds 9 victory points to its Owner's score.

No. 5 Moel Siabod

Number 5 was named Moel Siabod after the nearby mountain in the Moelwynion range and at 872m it is the highest peak in the range.

This Train costs 1 Steel Bar less to purchase than most of the other trains (as it doesn't come with any benefit other than the ability to access your additional Labourer). It also comes with 2 Coal cubes.

No. 6 Padarn

Named after the lower lake at Llanberis. Originally named Sir Harmood after the chairman of the company, Sir John Sutherland Harmood-Banner, it was renamed Padarn in 1928.

At the end of resolving the Build Action Area [E], if there has been at least one Build action performed this round by any player, the owner may perform an additional Build action.

No. 7 Ralph

No.7 was in the second batch of locos delivered to the Snowdon Mountain Railway by the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works in 1923. Originally named Aylwin until October 1978 when it was renamed Ralph Sadler, later shortened to Ralph, after the company's consulting engineer between 1964 and 1977.

The Owner of this Train may Lay Track at a rate one more than the current work rate for that action. The total can exceed the maximum rate on the board.

Scenario contract cards

Contract cards in detail

Contract no. 1

Contract terms
Move 5 of your ownership markers from completed excavation and/or non-excavation building sites.

Bonus effect
Whenever you take the Lay Track Action this Round, you do it at one more than the current Work Rate.

Type : Building bonus
Effect location : D
Points : 15

Contract no. 2

Contract terms
Move 4 of your ownership markers from completed excavation and/or non-excavation building sites.

Bonus effect
Whenever you take the Lay Track Action this Round, you do it at one more than the current Work Rate.

Type : Building bonus
Effect location : D
Points : 10

Contract no. 3

Contract terms
Move 3 of your ownership markers from completed excavation and/or non-excavation building sites.

Bonus effect
After all other Excavate Actions has been resolved you may excavate completely the next space with Rubble in it (Track card or BUilding site).

Type : Building bonus
Effect location : A
Points : 6

Contract no. 4

Contract terms
Move 2 of your ownership markers from completed excavation and/or non-excavation building sites and move 2 of your ownership markers from completed Track cards.

Bonus effect
Swap the Weather disc in the middle position on the Weather Track with one of your choice from the general supply. (This weather will be used at the start of the next Round)

Type : Building and Track bonus
Effect location : A
Points : 17

Contract no. 5

Contract terms
Move 2 of your ownership markers from completed excavation and/or non-excavation building sites, 1 of your ownership markers from a completed Track card, and 4 rubble pieces from your personal supply.

Bonus effect
Draw the top two cards from the Contract Card Deck. You may keep this card or one of the cardsyou have drawn. Discard the other two cards.

Type : Building, Track and Excavation bonus
Effect location : F
Points : 14

Contract no. 6

Contract terms
Move 12 rubble pieces from your personal supply and 1 of your ownership markers from a completed Track card.

Bonus effect
Whenever you take a Build Action (E) this Round you may use 3 Iron Ore as if it was a Steel Bar.

Type : Track and Excavation bonus
Effect location : E
Points : 22

Contract no. 7

Contract terms
Move 8 rubble pieces from your personal supply.

Bonus effect
Whenever you take a Stock Yard Action this Round, you may take two additional cubes (the one Coal per Labourer limit still applies).

Type : Excavation bonus
Effect location : E
Points : 11

Contract no. 8

Contract terms
Move 8 rubble pieces from your personal supply.

Bonus effect
After all other Lay Track Actions has been resolved you may take a Lay Track Action as if you had placed a Labourer here this Round.

Type : Excavation bonus
Effect location : D
Points : 11

Contract no. 9

Contract terms
Move 6 rubble pieces from your personal supply and 1 of your ownership markers from a completed Track card.

Bonus effect
Whenever you pay a Stone requirement for a Building site this Round, pay one Stone less.

Type : Track and Excavation bonus
Effect location : E
Points : 14

Contract no. 10

Contract terms
Move 4 rubble pieces from your personal supply.

Bonus effect
After all other Build Actions have been resolved, you may take a Build Action as if you had placed a Labourer here this Round.

Type : Excavation bonus
Effect location : E
Points : 5

Contract no. 11

Contract terms
Move 4 rubble pieces from your personal supply.

Bonus effect
Immediately convert 2 Rubble in your personal supply into 1 Stone up to 3 times. Take the Stone from the Supply Bag.

Type : Excavation bonus
Effect location : C
Points : 5

Contract no. 12

Contract terms
Move 12 rubble pieces from your personal supply.

Bonus effect
Immediately convert 2 Iron Ore from your personal supply into 1 Steel Bar once or twice. Put the Iron Ore into the Bag.

Type : Excavation bonus
Effect location : C
Points : 16

Contract no. 13

Contract terms
Move 4 rubble pieces from your personal supply and 2 of your ownership markers from completed Track cards.

Bonus effect
After this card has been played, no other Contract cards may be played for the rest of the Round

Type : Track and Excavation bonus
Effect location : A
Points : 18

Contract no. 14

Contract terms
Move 4 rubble pieces from your personal supply and 1 ownership marker from a completed Track card.

Bonus effect
Whenever you pay a Stone requirement for a Building site this Round, pay one Stone less.

Type : Track and Excavation bonus
Effect location : E
Points : 11

Contract no. 15

Contract terms
Move 8 rubble pieces from your personal supply and 1 ownership marker from a completed Track card.

Bonus effect
Whenever you pay a Stone requirement for a Building site this Round, pay one Stone less.

Type : Track and Excavation bonus
Effect location : E
Points : 17

Contract no. 16

Contract terms
Move 8 rubble pieces from your personal supply and 2 ownership markers from completed Track cards.

Bonus effect
You may discard this card instead of a Steel Bar when required to pay for train maintenance.

Type : Track and Excavation bonus
Effect location : Train Maintenance
Points : 23

Contract no. 17

Contract terms
Move 16 rubble pieces from your personal supply.

Bonus effect
Whenever you take a Build Action (E) this Round, you may use 2 Rubble as 1 Stone, or 4 Rubble as 2 Stone.

Type : Excavation bonus
Effect location : E
Points : 21

Contract no. 18

Contract terms
Move 11 rubble pieces from your personal supply.

Bonus effect
Immediately draw three cubs from the Supply Bag; return each Event cube drawn this way.

Type : Excavation bonus
Effect location : G
Points : 15

Contract no. 19

Contract terms
Move 7 rubble pieces from your personal supply.

Bonus effect
Immediately draw three cubs from the Supply Bag; return each Event cube drawn this way.

Type : Excavation bonus
Effect location : G
Points : 10

Contract no. 20

Contract terms
Move 5 of your ownership markers from completed Track cards.

Bonus effect
Immediately take any 2 cubes from the Stock Yard (one Coal maximum).

Type : Track bonus
Effect location : A
Points : 40

Contract no. 21

Contract terms
Move 3 of your ownership markers from completed Track cards.

Bonus effect
You may discard this card instead of a Steel Bar when required to pay for train maintenance.

Type : Track bonus
Effect location : Train Maintenance
Points : 24

Contract no. 22

Contract terms
Move 3 of your ownership markers from completed Track cards.

Bonus effect
Take the Start Player marker. The marker cannot move again this Round.

Type : Track bonus
Effect location : A
Points : 24

Contract no. 23

Contract terms
Move 4 of your ownership markers from completed Track cards.

Bonus effect
Immediately take any 2 cubes from the Stock Yard (one Coal maximum).

Type : Track bonus
Effect location : A
Points : 31

Contract no. 24

Contract terms
Move 1 of your ownership markers from a completed Track card.

Bonus effect
Immediately convert 2 Iron Ore from your personal supply into 1 Steel Bar once or twice. Put the Iron Ore into the Bag.

Type : Track bonus
Effect location : C
Points : 4

Contract no. 25

Contract terms
Move 1 of your ownership markers from a completed Track card.

Bonus effect
Whenever you take a Build Action (E) this Round you may use 3 Iron Ore as if it was a Steel Bar.

Type : Track bonus
Effect location : E
Points : 7

Contract no. 26

Contract terms
Move 2 of your ownership markers from completed Track cards.

Bonus effect
Whenever you take the Excavate Action this Round take double the number of Rubble Cubes (Work Rate plus any bonuses).

Type : Track bonus
Effect location : B
Points : 15

Contract no. 27

Contract terms
If the player has this Contract card, score 2 victory points per Coal cube in your personal supply.

Bonus effect
Immediately move your Surveyor 1 Station further along.

Type : Coal bonus
Effect location : G
Points : 15

Contract no. 28

Contract terms
Move 5 of your ownership markers from completed excavation and/or non-excavation building sites - this contact is complete if your Surveyor has reached at least Station 6.

Bonus effect
Immediately move one of your placed Labourers to any different, empty, Action space.

Type : Surveyor bonus
Effect location : A
Points : 23

Contract no. 29

Contract terms
This contract is complete if your Surveyor has reached at least Station 5.

Bonus effect
You may ignore the limit on taking Coal from the Stock Yard this Round.

Type : Surveyor bonus
Effect location : A
Points : 6 points if your Surveyor has reached Station 5, 10 if he has reached Station 6, 15 if he has reached Station 7

Contract no. 30

Contract terms
Move 2 of your ownership markers from completed Track cards.

Bonus effect
Whenever you take the Excavate Action this Round take double the number of Rubble Cubes (Work Rate plus any bonuses).

Type : Track bonus
Effect location : B
Points : 15

Scenario action spaces