RailFfest '99 was a special Ffestiniog Gala for us. It was the first time that we took our MGB GT to an FR event, and also we are Taliesin subscribers, Stewart being one of the first subscribers in May 1988, (subscriber TAL/010) before the official launch in May 1989.

We were both allocated tickets for the Taliesin launch train on Saturday 1 May 1999. As Stewart was jointly guarding the train, with Rod Buchanan (subscriber TAL/009) and Sarah (subscriber TAL/221) was commencing her roster duties immediately upon return of the launch train, we were not able to get any photgraphs of the naming ceromony or launch train.

Sarah was also fortunate enough to be guarding the first public train that included Taliesin - the 16:50 to Blaenau Ffestiniog. This was double headed with David Lloyd George to Blaenau Ffestiniog (giving a Triple Fairlie train, which was repeated on the Monday evening). The return trip also included Earl of Merioneth giving the rare, and probably for the first (and maybe the last) time, sight of three Fairlie locomotives at the head of the same train. What is more significant is that it was not planned this way. Earl of Merioneth was scheduled to return to Boston Lodge on the previous train (with Linda and Blanche) but was kept at Glanypwll late due to the demand for "Drive an Engine".

Due to our volunteering commitments, we have a very patchy photogrphic record of RailFfest '99, however, here are some pictures taken before and during the event.

	Thursday 29 April 1999 Bronllwyd on first test run, facing downhill, at Minffordd after arrival on the Ffestiniog Railway
	Friday 30 April 1999 A test train at Minffordd, hauled by an un-named, black painted, Single Fairlie, whilst checks are performed on the running gear.
	Sunday 2 May 1999 Taliesin and Prince hauling the Vintage train on the 14:15 Porthmadog to Tan-y-Bwlch away from Minffordd.
	Sunday 2 May 1999 During the shunting to arrange the Cavalcade, Alco, Cloister, Palmerston and Blanche on the down line at Minffordd, having moved from the up line. When these locomotives moved from the up line to the down line, the coal fired locomotives provided the power.
	Sunday 2 May 1999 Prince on the down line at Minffordd during the assembly of the cavalcade.
	Sunday 2 May 1999 Whilst awaiting permission to proceed to the assembly point, fireman of Earl of Merioneth - Jon Walsh - escapes from the heat of his footplate.
	Sunday 2 May 1999 The smallest locomovite in the cavalcade was Harold, normally confined to Boston Lodge on shunting duties, or on occasional oil train turns to Porthmadog.
	Sunday 2 May 1999 The only locomotive (fit for passenger traffic) not in the cavalcade was Vale of Ffestiniog. This was on service train duty during the cavalcade, and was held at Rhiw Goch, for the cavalcade to be completed. Here it is arriving at Minffordd were it collected a "large" number of photographers
	Sunday 2 May 1999 Cavalcade Mark II was moved into the Minffordd Down Line for the return to Boston Lodge. Here we see Jon Walsh - again - on Earl of Merioneth taking a photograph of the photographer, with Angela Gawthrop - how cosy!! - (who had been seen wearing an u.m.r.a - uk.media.radio.archers - T-shirt earlier in the weekend) who was hitching a lift back to Boston Lodge from Minffordd.
	Sunday 2 May 1999 "Cavacade Mark II" The easiest way to get most the Cavalcade locomotives back to Boston Lodge from Minffordd was coupled together in a single train.
From left to right:- Conway Castle, Earl of Merioneth, Blanche, Linda, Palmerston, Prince, Criccieth Castle, Lilla, Bronllwyd and Cloister. For the record, the Minffordd to Porthmadog staff was carried on Earl of Merioneth, the following locomotives not being part of the motive power for this train. However, the drivers could not resist whistling for all the "Whistle" boards to Boston Lodge. Merddin Emrys did not participate in the cavalcade due to currently being dismantled for its major overhaul.