Welsh Highland: First Caernarfon - Porthmadog passenger train

No chance of that happening. From yesterday's Daily Post report:

"It’s understood F&WHR is not seeking to prosecute him.

North Wales Police confirmed officers were called, but the incident was over by the time they arrived, and the force is not considering taking the matter any further."

Pathetic, really. He should have the book thrown at him. Most probably just got a "you were a naughty boy and don't do it again" slap on the wrist.

 

Interesting that the skip lorry was on a private crossing, so that would have invited a trespass prosecution as well from the land owner, unless the land owner was 'supporting' the protestor.

Nevertheless, it seems that this was the 'last' major opportunity for the FR/WHR bashers to have another go at delaying an 'opening' train.

A pity the locomotive was not driven into the lorry at slow speed, then the police would have had to act!, but there again, the crew appear to have acted properly.

All in all, a good day for the railway, with plenty of genuine local support visible.

 

Yes but if there was going to be a protest at least he had the sense to do so on a well sighted crossing where the train was going slowly and had plenty of time to stop in a controlled manor. It was also peaceful and involved no vandalism etc I can think of lots of much more unsavoury ways of protesting.

I also have to admit to having a tiny wee bit of sympathy for the guy as if my business had gone bust and you thought rightly or wrongly X was partly responsible would you not fancy a tiny bit of revenge.

I say that from a long way away. I sure if had a vested interest or I was on the train or was one who had put in lot of toil into making the event happen I would looking to lead a lynching!

 

So the moaning minnies wont get the chance to mutter about trains terminating or starting at Pont Croesor then as Harbour can accomodate both FR and WHR trains without modification.

 

Something I've read on uk.railway newsgroup:

"the landowner was on the train and saw to it that the lorry was removed"

 

Again, uk.railway is interesting (http://groups.google.com/group/uk.railway/browse_thread/thread/935ec2c8eff51f48#)

It seems this skip driver has "form":

According to the Daily Post article, F&WHR are quoted as saying:

 

Good to see this route up and running. I'll be making a visit at the first opportunity

 

Agreed. Perhaps they should have considered the book that is the Offences Against The Persons Act 1861, Sec. 32 of which says, "Whosoever shall...place, or put, any wood, stone, or other matter or thing on any railway line, or... with intent to endanger life...shall be guilty of a felony and be liable to a sentence of penal servitude, or imprisonment for life. Sec. 33 is similar, concerning altering points and signals, showing lights, etc, again life imprisonment. Both require of course, proof of intent to endanger, difficult and probably not there in this case. S.33 is the catch-all which covers doing any of the above, doesn't require intent and has a max penalty on first conviction of 2 years.

Works for me.

 

Ah yes... but you didn't read the small print !!

 

LOL.

Perhaps it should also be noted that the goodwill of locals is always good to have.

This is the sort of thing that happens when you don't have it.

 

Perhaps you didn't count the number of locals who turned out in Porthmadog to welcome the trains.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2Q05gVECAA

 

Welsh speaking gardeners will have seen and heard a well known television personality on the clip. Oh yes, he does live locally and spends a little time in spooners.

Meic

 

I read that and wondered where it came from as I was near the lorry when the driver got into it, started its engine and drove it away. The last person to speak to him was an FR employee several minutes earlier, and I didn't see or hear any sign of him taking a mobile phone call. I think that he realised that it would be wise to be gone before the police arrived.
Peter Johnson

 

I recall seeing a photo of the recent mega empty stock move from Dinas to BL somewhere this week - can anyone point me to it plse? Iain

 

A photo of the mega-stock move can be found here.

Charlie

 

The landowner was sitting next to us in the observation car. He made a phone call to his son asking him to attend the crossing with tractor and chains to haul the lorry off the rails - but in the event he wasn't needed, as Peter says.

Richard