How Do Trains Climb Mountains? An Evening with David Gwyn

Railway trains do not take kindly to gradients, yet for centuries, engineers have found remarkably inventive ways to defy gravity.

In this engaging and technically informed talk, railway engineer David Gwyn explores how railways have tackled some of the most challenging terrain in the world. Drawing on examples close to home, including the Snowdon Mountain Railway’s Abt rack system and the rope-worked inclined planes of the Dinorwig Slate Quarry, David explains the engineering principles that allow railways to operate where conventional adhesion simply will not work.

This talk offers a clear, accessible explanation of complex engineering ideas, revealing how necessity, landscape and human ingenuity have shaped railway design over thousands of years. It will appeal to anyone with an interest in railways, engineering, industrial heritage, or the remarkable ways in which technology adapts to extreme environments.

David Gwyn is a railway engineer with extensive experience in historic and industrial railway systems. Combining professional engineering insight with a deep understanding of railway history, he places these local solutions within a much wider story - tracing the development of rail-based transport technologies from the Bronze Age through to modern mountain railways.

New for 2026! Enjoy refreshments from our food outlet, The Rack & Pinion, and soak up the stunning surroundings of the mountains during this unique evening.