Welsh Railways - Season 1

In April 2011 Wales's newest and most ambitious railway - the Welsh Highland Railway in Snowdonia - was completed. For the many hundreds of volunteers who worked tirelessly for little more than the love of steam, it was a dream come true.

Full Steam Ahead tells the story of this challenging and, at times, controversial project. Volunteers, benefactors and a vast collection of friends and supporters completed the remarkable feat of turning a run-down old industrial railway into one of the modern wonders of Wales.

In April 2011, Wales's newest and most ambitious railway, spanning 25 miles of a narrow gauge track through the stunning scenery of Snowdonia, was finally completed.

Supported by royalty and donations from around the world, the Welsh Highland Railway has taken 15 years and cost almost 30 million pounds to build. It wasn't an easy ride. Many locals initially objected to what they believed to be the defiling of a quiet valley in the National Park, but for the many volunteers from Wales and across the world it was a dream come true.

The steam railways of Wales seemed lost forever with the Beeching cuts of the 1960s, but this series celebrates their revival with wonderful colour archive film combined with the memories of passengers and railwaymen from the age of steam.

In this episode, we meet a schoolboy driver, a station master, firemen and some holidaymakers who share a passion for steam with the volunteers at Llangollen Railway.

We also meet the last generation of Welsh steam railwaymen and visit the heritage railway which keeps their glorious past alive.

The steam railways of Wales seemed lost forever with the Beeching cuts of the 1960s, but this series celebrates their revival with wonderful colour archive film combined with the memories of passengers and railwaymen from the age of steam.

In this episode we meet the last generation of Welsh steam railwaymen and visit the heritage railway that keeps their glorious past alive.