FR & WHR & WHHR News

'MAY DAY WEEKEND'


Friday 29th April - Monday 2nd May 2016


DAILY TIMETABLE HIGHLIGHTS


FRIDAY:

• Double-Fairlie working the FR 'Pink' timetable service between Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog

• Additional afternoon service from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog and return - double-headed by 'Palmerston' and 'Lyd'

• Afternoon train with Darjeeling Himalaya Railway '19B' and Victorian carriages from Porthmadog to Tan-y-Bwlch and return

• 'Prince' and 'Hugh Napier' on an afternoon light engine move from Boston Lodge to Minffordd

• 'Prince' and 'Hugh Napier' on an afternoon slate waggon train from Minffordd to Glanypwll

• Three evening trains from Porthmadog to Minffordd and return with Darjeeling '19B' and Victorian carriages

• Three evening trains from Porthmadog to Pont Croesor and return with Darjeeling '19B' and Victorian carriages


SATURDAY:

• Early-morning 'Palmerston' and 'Britomart' hauled train from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog (limited capacity)

• Morning train with Darjeeling '19B' and Victorian carriages from Porthmadog to Tan-y-Bwlch and return

• Two Double-Fairlies working the FR 'Blue' timetable service between Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog

• Double-headed Hunslet 2-4-0STTs working a PRIVATE 'FRS Members Only' special with NEW TRAIN - Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog and return

• Six 'Palmerston' and 'Britomart' top'n'tailed shuttle trains between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Tanygrisiau

• Afternoon train with Darjeeling '19B' and Victorian carriages from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog and return

• Late afternoon 'Palmerston' and 'Britomart' hauled train from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog (limited capacity)

• Footplate rides at Blaenau Ffestiniog - 'Prince' and 'Hugh Napier'

• ALCO 2-6-2T 'Mountaineer' on display at Blaenau Ffestiniog

• Rake of skip wagons on display at Blaenau Ffestiniog - with transfer movements from/to Glanypwll at start and end of day


SUNDAY:

• 'Early-Bird' Breakfast Special - Darjeeling '19B' and corridor stock from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog and return

• Five 'Palmerston' and 'Britomart' hauled shuttles from Porthmadog to Minffordd and return

• Double-headed Hunslet 2-4-0STTs, 'Lyd' and a Double-Fairlie working on the FR 'Yellow' timetable service between Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog

• Afternoon train from Porthmadog to Beddgelert and return with Darjeeling '19B' and Victorian carriages

• PRIVATE >>> 'Farewell to Blanche' special train in the evening

• Footplate rides at Blaenau Ffestiniog - 'Prince' and 'Hugh Napier'

• ALCO 2-6-2T 'Mountaineer' on display at Blaenau Ffestiniog

• Rake of skip wagons on display at Blaenau Ffestiniog - with transfer movements from/to Glanypwll at start and end of day


MONDAY:

• Five Darjeeling '19B' hauled shuttles between Porthmadog and Minffordd

• 'Lyd' & 'Palmerston', along with two Double-Fairlies, working on the FR 'Yellow' timetable service between Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog

• 'Prince' and 'Hugh Napier' on an afternoon slate waggon train from Glanypwll to Minffordd

• 'Prince' and 'Hugh Napier' - light engine Minffordd to Boston Lodge

• Footplate rides at Harbour Station, Porthmadog on board 'Linda'

• Boston Lodge Works open to visitors - valid ticket required


Booking Form now available to Download >>> http://www.festrail.co.uk/content/uploads/1/FR-MAY16_Booking_Form_1.pdf

 

Fairlie (!) average weekend in North West Wales then? Hope our usual hotel isn't already booked up.

 

Anyone know if there is a difference between the summer & winter Conway Valley service?

Just at the moment, CWR services arrive Blae Ffes at 11:36 and yet FR services depart 11:35 on a Saturday...

 

The FR working timtable shows the Conway Valley arriving at 11:33. Arriva probably advertise it slighty later because of all the request stops. The FR train usually waits for the conway valley arrive if it is running a little late though.

Tim

 

Cheers.

How come FR aren't showing the connection times on their online calendars this year? They have done in the past.

 

Diolch Roger.

Ron.

 

A brilliant couple of days in Wales. Will upload full gallery and video from over the weekend later this week but a few here for now...

 

Apologies if I've missed this back up the thread, how long is the Darjeeling railway loco staying at the FR ?

 

Photos from a very enjoyable May Bank Holiday Saturday & Sunday... http://preservedrailway.weebly.com/17/post/2016/05/may-bank-holiday-weekend.html

 

Scenes from the Ffestiniog on August 8th. 2016

 

We paid one of our all too rare visits to the WHR last weekend to make a return trip from Waunfaur to Porthmadog. The sun shone, the NGG16's made the climbs appear effortless and the on-board service was excellent, as were the new(ish) facilities at Spooner's, where we partook of beer and vitals alfresco-style whilst watching the comings and goings of the WHR & FR, plus Linda shuttling up and down giving cab rides. I was also seriously impressed by the condition of the NGG16's - they moved around the station almost silently with no discernible knocks - So a perfect day out ..... well not quite ......

Being a peak summer Saturday, we were fretting over getting a seat, and would have booked in advance, but this wasn't possible as the website doesn't offer bookings other than full line journeys, nor can you book member or privilege tickets. However, that's all by-the-by, as when the train arrived, much to our surprise it was less than 1/3 full.

My wife reckoned that this was no surprise given the ticket price of £38 for a full line return. Even allowing for the inclusion of one 'free' child per adult, this represents a serious investment, even though the p/mile rate isn't too fierce. Strangely, it works out cheaper to join with Family Membership, which would allow you to travel all year (or several times in a fortnight's holiday). The cost barrier is exacerbated by the low frequency of services, making hopping on and off along the way at say Rhyd-Ddu and Beddgelert impossible if you want to reach the other end and return to your start point (few people will want to make single journeys as they rely on returning to their cars at the end of the day). But even more strangely, I found it nigh on impossible to find any mention of membership or volunteering on the website http://www.festrail.co.uk/index.htm (feel free to try).

Now don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of the WHR (I wouldn't be a member otherwise), but I'm seriously concerned at the lack of custom we experienced. There may be some mitigation - Saturday is a changeover day for instance - but dragging around 10 coaches when 5 would have sufficed can't be good business. So what is the answer? I wish I knew - here's a few thoughts though ....

Firstly, make shorter journey options more visible e.g. via on-line booking etc e.g Port - Bethgelert or Caernarfon - Rhyd-Ddu - at around £20 adult (inc child) are more attractive propositions - even more so if the price was say £19.50. Also simplify the fare structure - does there need to be so many different fares for not dissimilar journey lengths?

Secondly, run a third set, maybe by reducing the number of carriages per set rather than waiting for the construction of another full rake? Say run 3 x 7 carriage sets? (I realise that this probably sounds naive, and is subject to all sorts of practical and economic factors ..... availability of locos, crews and other essential volunteers/staff, economics of using NGG16's on shorter trains, need for extra catering car, etc etc etc).

Lastly, raise the profile of the society and benefits of membership - many railways have leaflets laid out on the tables etc.

Anyway, that's my thoughts, for what they are worth, as a member, enthusiast, heritage volunteer and tourist. I wish WHR a long and prosperous future.

 

Interesting thoughts above, however, the latest Steam Railway reports the WHR outperforming the FR financially last year with both lines reporting a healthy surplus. My friend and I enjoyed trips over both lines last weekend, FR Saturday + WHR Sunday. All trains we travelled on were well loaded (3/4 full) with a healthy trade in the excellent on board catering. Having a hot meal in a comfortable carriage on 2ft gauge was a revelation and pleasant surprise! Loco's, stations and carriages were beautifully presented. Membership leaflets were available in the carriages in which we travelled - you must have been unlucky? We were struck with how professional the railway was, lots of enthusiastic young staff and came away thinking one or two other lines could learn a thing or two. As a new member I will certainly be back again soon and i am eager to keep in touch with developments - it felt like a railway that is going places and not stagnating like some others.

 

if you go to the more into tab on the main website and down to help us there is this for whr http://www.whrsoc.org.uk/ and this for fr http://www.ffestiniograilway.org.uk/

mark

 

Caernarfon Station progress:
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/new-picture-shows-future-caernarfons-11733251

Will

 

I think you just proved my point No obvious link to WHRS & Volunteering which I find odd.

 

No obvious link? Not sure if the websites been updates since your post but on the home page theres a large headline with link 'Volunteering' with accompanying text 'The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways could not operate without your essential volunteer input. Why not become part of the team?', with links to the FRS and WHRS websites at the bottom of every page on the website site (along with a link to the volunteering page).

 

I have always been a fan of the Ffestiniog Rly, and years ago I recall there being concern that a rebuilt WHR would be a competitor for a finite market. However, there does seem to be room for both, and Caernarfon does need the boost that a steam railway gives to a fading country town.

Anyway, I enjoy both when I make it to North Wales. If time is tight, one can do a single trip over the WHR, and get a bus back from the other end - I have to admit that they are faster and more frequent; not as scenic, though!

John

 

Some valid points about the timetable. There are plenty of options for getting trains out of Porthmadog, typically 4 up the FR and 1.5 on the WHR. But at the other end most of the year you either have to get to Caernarfon for 10am to do a round trip. Or you can go half way to the middle of nowhere and back about 2 in the afternoon. On the high summer timetable you have the luxury of a second round trip at 1pm. Seems a bit pointless to be spending £2million pounds on a station when there are no trains. If you wanted to avoid taking business away from the FR why not run some trains out of Caernarfon terminating at Beddgelert using a 3rd set and try and make it a bit more attractive to people on the North Wales coast.


Tim

 

To bring up the most important issue always on NP, i.e. loco liveries: With EoM due for retirement and a new James Spooner II, there will be no green Fairlies on the FfR. Will James Spooner be green? Likewise with the Englands - all red currently. Will Welsh Pony return in green like at the 150th?
(As a side note, I am interested that the new loco is to take the name of a scrapped loco, although it isn't a replica but a new build. I wonder why a new name wasn't chosen instead as with DLG?)