FR & WHR & WHHR News

As you say, looks like being a great weekend. Unfortunately, with the ridiculous pricing of tickets, I for one will be staying away. A real shame as a lifelong FR supporter, but it's become a rich man's railway.

 

Yes, I do see your point. When I describe even the normal everyday fare structure to people here in East Anglia, I get a very sharp intake of breath - though that reaction doesn't seem to be in play with music festivals (or even dining trains on the main line).

However, there are quite good discounts for members of all local railways, other related groups, and holders of HRA passes - I would imagine that includes a majority of dedicated enthusiasts, one way and another. More to the point, the high-point (the loco parade itself on Sunday) is effectively free to attend, as there's a pubic footpath alongside the track on the Cob, which cannot be closed - and the "tramway" connection from Stryd Fawr to Harbour Station also makes it nigh-impossible to restrict general public access onto the island platform, either.

To be fair to the FR, where else could you see around 15 working steam locos - many extremely historic and most in some way unique - in one place? Statfold, possibly....but obviously without long-distance haulage. Add the incredible scenery and the long railway history at Porthmadog (both before and after the revival in 1955), and the cost begins to seem quite reasonable JH

 

I followed your advice and went back to the website to check discounts for HRA pass holders (I have one). I cannot find any mention. But I did not that, in addition to the outrageous cost of a ticket, there's a booking fee on top.

Somebody, somewhere is taking the proverbial.

 

https://www.hra.uk.com/hra-privilege-2025/privilege-participating-railways
F&WHR offer: 50% off for pass holder +1 guest. Phone or on the day bookings.

Edit: For the FR Platinum Jubilee Weekend event the discount is 30%.

 

Hi - this is a quote from the event pdf (there's a link to it further up this thread):

 

Thank you for the clarification.

 

Unfortunately the booking fee is imposed by the fare harbour system. It is their cut for using their product basically and the system doesn't let you include it in the ticket price. The fee doesn't go to the railway. You can avoid it by booking on the phone (I think) or in person on the day.

 

I certainly made a booking (without fees) by phone a couple of weeks ago.
Booking office number is 01766 516024

 

Considering it covers event trains across the whole of the Welsh Highland and Ffestiniog and is a rover it isn't really that outrageous is it? You could do the whole of both lines in one day. There isn't really a good comparison as there aren't many gala events where you can have a rover that covers two whole railways that add up to 40 miles.

 

Probably, most people don't. This is one of those seemingly 'generous offers' which probably doesn't cost the company very much.

 

Which part do you think doesn't cost the railway very much? The fact that every operational loco will be in steam is already a very high cost I would imagine.
Don't get me wrong, it is expensive but I wouldn't call it outrageous.

 

I didn't mean the cost of staging the event which, as you say, must be substantial. I mean the 'concession' allowing ticket-holders to 'rove' all day over the whole railway. I doubt many take the opportunity to 'do' the whole of both lines in one day. So, from a marketing point of view, it's a 'generous' looking offer which actually costs the company little.

 

I suppose not but the option is there. I will be utilising it!

 

Have visited the WHHR and the FR this week, a few observations;

WHHR
Had a great day there with the family, rode up and down 3 times, kids had no less than 5 runs on the 7 1/4, and really enjoyed the interactive bits in the museum- which I also think does a great job of working for pretty much the whole spectrum of visitors from enthusiasts to kids.

Cafe was also good, well priced and decent food, so a good value proposition.

Lasting impression was that for what is now a very limited operation they have done a great job, but more than anything, the friendly and engaging volunteers and staff absolutely made the day on all levels for us- if anyone from the WHHR reads this, please pass on our feedback to them.


FR
We did the woodland wanderer as doing the full trip was outside of our holiday budget, and a very different experience all round.

With the exception of the fireman and the trainee on ME who we had a really good chat with(which looks lovely turned out in green currently) it all felt a bit like being at an airport or a theme park rather than a heritage experience, how quickly can we get people in, extract money and onto the next…….

“can I check your boarding pass…….” Asked the guard.

Oddly, on the woodland wanderer the schedule for the stop doesn’t allow much time for a look at the loco a mooch round the station and refreshments- we had looked at the timings and opted for a packed lunch on the basis of this, so I wonder if they are missing quite a bit of secondary spend?

Looked at the Boston Lodge tours, really fancied it but the pressure of being here with family and price put me off.

It’s very slick, but feels like the soul has gone, maybe one for a revisit at an enthusiast/event weekend.

Chris

 

Thank you for your kind words about the WHHR. It is really what we aim for, we want everyone that visits us to have the best experience they can, to feel included and to have interactions they may not get elsewhere. I will pass your words onto the rest of our volunteer team.

 

Just in case people were interested. 134 is now starting to be used on service trains from this week. It is working the Gelert Explorer (Caernarfon - Beddgelert) on Sunday and Friday. I believe the plan is for it to regularly work this service on Sundays now while crew training takes place. No doubt this can be expanded as more people become familiar. There's still some work to do before it can regularly run to Porthmadog.

 

Latest video from the railway's YouTube channel has 134 working last Saturday's Rail Ale festival shuttle trains:



It's quite a machine!