FR & WHR & WHHR News

The script really isn't the strongest point of this series, one to watch with the sound muted! Shame, as the photography is fantastic.

 

Is there a date and price for next year's Snowdonian?

 

Don't suppose anyone knows the loco roster for the FR for tomorrow - Monday? And any idea when the quarryman stock and loco return ecs after saturdays trip? Thanks!

 

I'm also wondering whether the Ffestiniog publishes a loco roster anymore. In particular, on a day with one Mountain Spirit and two Woodland Wanderers, which loco runs the second Woodland Wanderer?

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It was being published on Facebook until recently however the person in the marketing team who was doing it retired a couple of weeks ago so it's had a little break. I'm sure it will start again soon.

On those days at the moment it is usually Taliesin working both woodland wanderers.

 

Yes Enterprise and Bikermike – agreed – a very high-quality publication. Particularly interesting to read about the new rake of NWNGR carriages (although the numbering is quite confusing and one carriage seems to have been counted twice). Very good to see that a heritage rake will be available – hopefully next year - and that it’s based mainly on the NWNGR period. That’s a railway company whose history and legacy have been neglected.

I wonder what plans there are for this rake. It might provide a variation on the theme of the FR Victorian service to TYB - probably this would best run from Port to Beddgelert. (Although the NWNGR services never reached either place, I can’t imagine that anyone will complain!) While there is no appropriate motive power, Taliesin would certainly be a good approximation. One can also imagine an event at which the WHHR heritage train, complete with the Baldwin, travels from Port to meet this new rake at Beddgelert (ex-Caernarfon), to re-enact a typical historic WHR 1923 service pattern, for a day or two. Possibly at the already-flagged-up 2026 midsummer gala….

In the longer term - with several 150-year anniversaries of NWNGR opening dates coming up over the next few years – there will be all kinds of possibilities for a WHR-based “Bygones”. In – say – three or four years, Russell will (I hope) be back, and Gowrie may well also be in steam. 590 will still be around. It should be possible, with all those appropriate locos, and 10-plus heritage carriages between the two companies, to run an event to surpass the 2019 “Past, Present and Future” gala, and even the equally-successful first part of WHR100, in 2022.

Perhaps – I might hope – such an event would finally galvanise someone into restoring Moel Tryfan – a loco project that has probably seen more talk and less action than any other…..

James

 

Welsh Highland Heritage Railway Santa trains 13th and 14th December.

https://www.eventbookings.com/b/event/whhr-santa-trains

Just one week to go, Santa train tickets still available to book online.

Sat

11:00 - Sold out

13:00 - Good availability

15:00 - Good availability

Sun

11:00 - Good availability

13:00 - Very limited availability

15:00 - Good availability

 

Any clues as to what might operate the post Christmas services?

 

The odd combination of Taliesin and Lyd on the FR. The green Garratt on the WHR.

 

Thanks for this, maybe strange but 2 of my favourite locos in combo, I'll take that! Will book on the FR.

 

Just watched Moving pictures 115 and really happy to see the progress on the Alco "Mountaineer" at Boston Lodge. For a long time the loco was stored. and there were suggestions it was unlikely to be overhauled. but the work undertaken on the monobloc cylinder assembly is truly heartwarming. Who knew there was a ruddy great single casting supporting the gubbins under the smokebox !! Also impressed to see the alterations to the bar frames under the firebox and cab area - referring to that thin point which the FR engineers plan to alter.

Huge respect

 

BBC News - Landslips hit properties, rail line and close clifftop path
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c74xy5xkzq0o

Landslide near Tryfan Jnc, hopefully nothing too serious.

 

From the BBC'c picture - a load of mud and trees to clear away.

I suspect the site may need some work after the debris has been dealt with, but at least they did not have trains running ...

 

https://www.festrail.co.uk/welsh-highland-railway-landslide-affects-christmas-trains/

Official info.