Thanks to a competition sponsored by the Department for Transport, travellers to Wales have a new free guide to tell them how to visit the "Great Little Trains of Wales" and many other Welsh attractions by public transport.
 
Taking the big trains to meet the little trains is the theme of a new 100 page guidebook being launched at London King's Cross station on 2 Aug 2016.
 
It is published by the 11 little railways, working together with Arriva Trains Wales, and includes ideas for intriguing places to stay and eat, walks, heritage sites, and the magnificent scenery of Wales.
 
"Big Train meets Little Train" is inspired by the Bradshaw's Guides of years gone by and suggests a range of trips into and around Wales, encouraging the novice public transport user or overseas tourist to get out and about by rail.
 
There is a feature on each of the little trains, plus two of Wales' beautiful community lines, run by Arriva Trains Wales.
 
In addition, there are some real travellers' tales to whet your appetite, including BBC "Antiques Roadshow" expert, Paul Atterbury.
 
There are suggestions on places to eat, journeys to make, and places to stay, as well as some local tips to get the most from your visit to this proud little country.
 
In May, a £67,000 UK Government funding boost was awarded to the Great Little Train of Wales (GLTW) from the Department for Transport (DfT) to work together with Arriva Trains Wales to attract tourists from London to Wales.
 
GLTW, which represents 11 railways across Wales, put together an entry for the DfT Heritage and Community Rail Tourism Innovation Competition and secured the grant to implement the plan.
 
GLTW have not let the grass grow under their wheels, the pilot edition of their guide and website is being launched at King's Cross station from noon on 2 Aug 2016.
 
Traveller and storyteller, Gavin Young, will be telling stories found during his family's visit to Mid Wales.
 
The exhibition will remain in place until 7 Aug 2016 for people to collect their guide.
 
Alongside the printed guidebook, a new website is being set up on which it will be possible to read the guide online or to download it.
 
The permanent address will be bigTrainLittleTrain.com which should go live in the next few days.
 
The GLTW includes Bala Lake, Brecon Mountain, Fairbourne, Ffestiniog, Llanberis Lake, Snowdon Mountain, Talyllyn, Vale of Rheidol, Welsh Highland, Welsh Highland Heritage, and Welshpool & Llanfair Railways.
 
Duncan Foulkes.