AN HISTORIC Welsh railway carriage is set to take centre stage at a major event being held in Manchester.

The Welsh Highland Railway Pullman "Gwyrfai" will be appearing at the Caravan and Motorhome show in Manchester.

The luxury carriage was built by craftsmen at the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways’ historic engineering and carriage works at Boston Lodge, in Porthmadog.

It was named Gwyrfai, in October 2019, after the Snowdonia river which flows alongside the track of the Welsh Highland Railway.

The full size Pullman Observation carriage, which entered service last year, was lifted from the railway and transported during Monday, January 13 and Tuesday January 14.

Once in position at the Event City show, which runs from January 16-19, the public will be able to experience the carriage's luxury interior and see it laid out as if for a Pullman-style afternoon tea.

A Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Rauilway spokesperson said Gwyrfai was being taken to Manchester to "not only promote the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways and demonstrate the quality and craftsmanship of its carriages, but also to highlight its spectacular route through the mountains of Snowdonia from the coast at Porthmadog to the coast at Caernarfon, as well as provide information on local caravan, camping and motorhome sites.

"As you can imagine, it is no small feat to lift a full-size carriage from the railway in Snowdonia and transport it to Event City in Manchester."