Porthmadog is one of the largest towns in Snowdonia with a population of around 4,200. This popular town is also the hub of both the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways, also the smaller Welsh Highland Heritage Railway.

The Ffestiniog Railway was opened in 1836 and runs 13.5 miles to Blaenau Ffestiniog along the Vale of Ffestiniog. It was built to transport slate from various quarries along the route, including Cwmorthin. The whole line was built on a slight incline, so the carriages could travel all the way unpowered. Horses were transported down in special carriages, so they could pull the empty wagons back up. The Welsh Highland Railway (WHR) (“Rheilffordd Eryri” in Welsh) runs 25 miles to Caernarfon, passing through Beddgelert and the Aberglaslyn Pass. There is also the 0.75-mile long Welsh Highland Heritage Railway which connects to the WHR main line at the junction at Pen-y-Mount.