Boston Lodge Works, the historic engineering home of the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways, is enjoying a busy summer as visitors take the opportunity to explore behind the scenes at one of the world’s most remarkable railway workshops.
The renewed Boston Lodge Works was recognised earlier this year with a Highly Commended accolade at the 2026 Civic Trust Awards. The award recognised the sensitive conservation and redevelopment of the historic site, alongside its continued role as a working railway engineering works and its new opportunities for public engagement.
Now, as the summer season gets into full swing, the project is allowing increasing numbers of visitors to experience the results for themselves, with three guided Boston Lodge tours taking place each week.
The approximately two-hour experience begins at Porthmadog Harbour Station, where visitors board a short train journey to Boston Lodge before being taken behind the scenes to discover the history, characters and craftsmanship that have shaped the Works and the railways.
The Civic Trust Awards judges praised the project for securing the future of the historic working site “not by freezing it in time, but by ensuring it remains active and relevant for generations to come.”
That philosophy is now being put into practice every week, as visitors see the historic buildings not simply as preserved heritage, but as a living and working part of the railway.
With tours proving particularly popular during the summer season, Boston Lodge is offering visitors a rare opportunity to see this nationally important industrial heritage site at work and learn more about the people, skills and stories behind nearly 200 years of railway history.
Mae Gwethdai Boston Lodge, cartref peirianneg hanesyddol Rheilffyrdd Ffestiniog ac Eryri, yn mwynhau Haf prysur wrth i ymwelwyr fanteisio ar y cyfle i archwilio tu ôl i’r llenni yn un o weithdai rheilffordd mwyaf rhyfeddol y byd.
Cafodd Gweithdai Boston Lodge, ar ôl ei adnewyddu, gydnabyddiaeth yn gynharach eleni gyda gwobr ‘Highly Commended’ yng Ngwobrau Civic Trust. Roedd y wobr yn cydnabod gwaith cadwraeth ac ailddatblygu sensitif y safle hanesyddol, ynghyd â’i rôl barhaus fel gweithdy peirianneg rheilffordd gweithredol a’r cyfleoedd newydd ar gyfer ymgysylltu â’r cyhoedd.
Bellach, wrth i dymor yr haf fynd rhagddo’n llawn hwyliau, mae’r prosiect yn galluogi niferoedd cynyddol o ymwelwyr i brofi’r canlyniadau drostynt eu hunain, gyda thair taith dywys o amgylch Boston Lodge yn cael eu cynnal bob wythnos.
Mae’r profiad, sy’n para tua dwy awr, yn dechrau yng Ngorsaf Harbwr Porthmadog, lle mae ymwelwyr yn mynd ar daith fer ar drên i Boston Lodge cyn cael eu tywys tu ôl i’r llenni i ddarganfod hanes, cymeriadau a chrefftwaith sydd wedi llunio’r gweithdy a’r rheilffyrdd.
Canmolodd beirniaid Gwobrau Civic Trust y prosiect am sicrhau dyfodol y safle hanesyddol gweithredol “nid drwy ei rewi mewn amser, ond drwy sicrhau ei fod yn parhau i fod yn weithredol ac yn berthnasol i genedlaethau’r dyfodol.”
Mae’r athroniaeth honno bellach yn cael ei rhoi ar waith bob wythnos, wrth i ymwelwyr weld yr adeiladau hanesyddol nid yn unig fel treftadaeth wedi’i chadw, ond fel rhan fyw a gweithredol o’r rheilffordd.
Gan fod teithiau tywys yn arbennig o boblogaidd yn ystod tymor yr Haf, mae Boston Lodge yn cynnig cyfle prin i ymwelwyr weld y safle treftadaeth ddiwydiannol hwn – sy’n bwysig ar lefel genedlaethol – ar waith, a dysgu mwy am y bobl, y sgiliau a’r straeon y tu ôl i bron i 200 mlynedd o hanes y rheilffordd.
