Steam back at Penrhyn - after 50 years exactly...

Evening all.

Today i was possibly the only member of the 'Narrow Gauge Media' (in that I didn't recognise any of the other usual subjects) to be at the Felin Fawr base of the Penrhyn Quarry Railway project, to see steam return to the Penrhyn Railway for the first time in exactly (to the day) 50 years. Former Penrhyn Quarry Hunslet 'George Sholto', kindly brought along by its current custodians Bressingham Steam museum, gave rides along the quarter-mile or so of newly-restored track at a deliberately low-key opening event aimed specifically at local people.

I've described the event, with some pictures, in the latest edition of my Narrow Gauge World Editor's blog, which you'll find here;

Steam returns to Penrhyn – after 50 years to the day… | Atlantic Publishing

By the way, Narrow Gauge World is now on Twitter, at @NarrowGaugeWrld - if you had been following the feed today i was tweeting pictures and a couple of videos while at Felin Fawr!

hope you find this of interest.

Andrew C
Editor
Narrow Gauge World

 

What a wonderful day it was indeed,it was so so Nice to hear the Shril of the steam whistle let alone the sound of her chugging up the line from my ind unit at Felin Fawr,I know for a fact the there was quite a few of the members from this forum attending as I spoted a few !!!!!! I will endevour to post a few pics up htis week when I have gone through them.

I have seen personally the amount of work the lads have done in getting this up and running,the diggers went in in March and if truth be known these lads have really busted a gut over the last few months working out there in the pouring rain and I personally applaude them.
:clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:

WELL DONE AND LONG MAY IT CONTINUE

Dave

 

What an event this was. The sound, smell and image of an ex-Penrhyn loco chugging up and down the freshly laid track at Felin Fawr was an overwhelming one. A credit to the hard work of the guys at Felin Fawr and the presence of the Bressingham guys with the display of George Sholto.

Hope this is the first of many and I will see the presence of other ex-Penrhyn locos here ... maybe even a proper Penrhyn gathering!!

 

Excellent stuff.

What really should happen next is a recreation of the scrap siding actually at Penrhyn. After all, the locos will all be only just down the road in September....

 

Cant AGREE more with you,as a matter of fact the scrap siding is directly behind my unit at Felin Fawr


Dave

 

The PQR was asked if they wanted to participate in Quarrypower and they declined.

 

This is interesting, any particular reason? What was the intended participation, engines at PQR or wagons at Ffestiniog?

Nige

 

Not quite from what I've been told. Participation went as far as the PQR being allowed to have a stand at Dinas Shed during said event.

Back on topic and PQR have updated their news website at long last. Excellent stuff, well done to all those involved!

 

Two separate people asked on two different occasions if the PQ people wanted a stand at Dinas and they declined. The offer is still open if they've changed their minds.

 

This is fantastic progress - steam back on the Penrhyn. Sincere congratulations to all involved.
I only wish I had known about it, as an exiled Bangor Lad who remembers the line well! I was actually in the area that day too! But they wanted it low key, so me and my wallet were on the Ffestiniog..........

 

The PQR Society were invited but they had a previous commitment (the Leighton Buzzard Railway).

Penrhynman

 

I am trying to find some good (or at least reasonable) video footage of the event at Felin Fawr for possible use in a fund-raising DVD. If you have any which may be suitable, please send me a PM.

Penrhynman

 

Have you checked out the videos on youtube? or try Jonathon Ball at the Penrhyn railway

 

Ask Penrhyn on here he took some and I will check mine aout as well and let me know,if you want to we can put them to disc and you coulld allways pick it up from my unit(unit 4 felin fawr) if you want to


dave

 

I have a fair bit taken on my mobile phone in HD, but it is a bit shakey ... excitement of it all I guess :dance: Happy for any of it to be used as there are some small snippets in there that are in my opinion usable.

 

I believe that Felin Fawr Cyf had just about every angle covered at their event with cameras, I would suggest that you talk to them and ask them how they feel about your CD and fundraising idea, who knows they be able to assit you. Contact details are on their website - Penrhyn Quarry Railway

 

I'm sure Jonathon and Penrhyn Quarries LTD would be willing to surrender some video footage and pictures, as long as the credit for building the line rests fully with the lads who actually built it, and had a chat with all the lads about your idea of the fund raising DVD, and how you want to use the footage in the DVD.
Penrhyn worker

 

another Video posted on youtube
penrhyn Quarry railway 24/7/2012 - YouTube