Quarrypower 14-16 September on WHR, WHHR and FR

This has just gone out to the railway trades:


WHHR joins in F&WHR Quarrypower gala September 14th – 16th

The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway is joining forces with the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway to play a significant part in this September’s Quarrypower event.

Half a century ago, the scrap line at Penrhyn was photographed and the locos which looked so sorry for themselves then have now been restored to their former glory. We are celebrating by bringing the engines back, in steam and lined up as they were 50 years ago. We will be running them in a cavalcade at Beddgelert so they can all be seen and photographed against the backdrop of Snowdonia.

The Welsh Highland’s popular Superpower weekend is to become Quarrypower this year and restored Penrhyn Scrap line locos will be in action over the length of the F&WHR with the added attraction of the chance to see the locos in a convoy on the WHR from Caernarfon to Porthmadog and on both the WHHR and FR over the course of the weekend.

For many of the locos it will be the longest single journey they have ever made.

The date is set for the 14th – 16th of September when Lilian, Stanhope, Eigiau, Sgt Murphy, Bronllwyd and the newly-restored Hugh Napier will be reunited with the F&WHR's Lilla, Linda, Blanche and Britomart in what promises to be an unforgettable demonstration of Quarrypower.

Friday sees the grand arrival at Dinas of the engines for the first time as they steam over from Boston Lodge. There will be the opportunity to ride behind triple-headed shuttle trains from Dinas to Caernarfon and Waunfawr.

All the locomotives will be in steam for evening photography in the yard at Dinas, where music, food and beer will be available. Meet the loco owners, crews and the people who restored and now care for them and perhaps buy them a pint.

On Saturday, big sisters Linda and Blanche ‘The Queens of the Hill’ will double head a special service from Porthmadog to Caernarfon and back, while Dinas opens to the public at 0700 so you can see the engines emerge from the shed and prepared for the day’s activities. Don’t worry about breakfast, bacon butties and tea will be available on site.

At 1000, there’s a chance to see the locos lined up in scrap line order for the first time in 50 years, accompanied by the Nantlle Silver Band. At 1130 you can follow the locos up the line with our special bus service as they head for the Beddgelert cavalcade.

On arrival, each of the engines will be showcased on the S bends above Beddgelert, providing great photo opportunities. Then follow the locos through the Aberglaslyn Pass as they make their way to their overnight stop at Gelert’s Farm on the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway. The WHHR will be operating an enhanced service throughout the day, on the hour and half hour.

Enjoy a pint or a meal in Spooner’s as the sun goes down and watch out for a special guest appearance on Saturday evening at Harbour Station.

Sunday is your chance to see the locos light up at Gelert’s Farm, which opens at 0700. Food will be available in the Russell Tea Rooms. Then there’s a chance to ride behind them as an intensive service operates between Pont Croesor, Minffordd and Porthmadog Harbour and between Porthmadog WHHR and Pen y Mount. Trains will run non-stop through Harbour Station on their way to Minffordd.

Watch regular Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland services mingling with Quarrypower specials at Harbour Station throughout the lunchtime and early afternoon peak.

See and ride the grand finale special from Pont Croesor to Harbour Station at 1600 and marvel at the most unusual sextuple header you will see this year.

In addition, there will be book signings of David Payling’s new volume on the Garratts and Kalaharis of the Welsh Highland and Gordon Rushton’s long-awaited definitive history of the rebuilding of the WHR.

There will be guided walks along the Bryngwyn Branch and the route of the Penrhyn Quarry Railway and the National Slate Museum at Llanberis will have its incline working specially on the Sunday between 1100 and 1530. Pre-booking is essential for these activities.

The locos
Name Location
Lilian Launceston
Eigiau Bredgar
Stanhope West Lancs
Sgt. Murphy Teifi Valley
Bronllwyd Statfold Barn
Hugh Napier Penrhyn Castle
Linda F&WHR
Blanche F&WHR
Lilla F&WHR
Britomart F&WHR

Ticketing
A special Three Day Rover ticket is available, giving access to Gelert’s Farm and Dinas plus travel on the FR, WHR and WHHR. It includes the walks and travel on the bus services but note that places on these must be reserved at the time of booking.

Tickets for individual days are also available. Prices start at £25. For more details, check the microsite at www.festrail.co.uk/quarrypower or phone the booking office on 01766 516024.



The microsite isn't live yet, but should be up today or tomorrow.

 

and according to the Ffestiniog's Facebook Page Winifred has been added to Quarrypower bill.

It's getting harder and harder to choose.

 

Does anyone know the likely departure time from Portmadog for the Linda/Blanche double header on the Saturday of the event??

Thanks!!

 

I really really hope I do not have to work the weekend this is on........

 

For those who haven't seen the announcement elsewhere - unfortunately Lilian will not be at Quarrypower as she is required to keep the services running at Launceston. Hope she can take part in another form of Penrhyn reunion (G, L and W reunion anyone?) in the near future when we are a little less stretched on the motive power front.

 

I've heard that Sgt. Murphy is now unable to attend due to hot bearings, can anyone confirm this?
Thanks,
Nathan.

 

We learn that Alan George is out of action so Sgt Murphy cannot travel north as it is needed to run service trains.

 

So that leaves 4 visiting engines then? or are there surpises coming?

 

Lilla, Linda, Blanche, Bronllwyd, Winifred, Eigiau, Stanhope, Leary, Hugh Napier, Britomart. WHHR locos; FR and WHR service trains. Pont Croesor - Minffordd and Caernarfon - Waunfawr shuttles, beer, food and music.

 

Does anyone know if there is a charge to get into Dinas on the Saturday? I can see the rover tickets include entry, but I can't see a price for just entry.

Thanks

 

Phone Porthmadog Booking Office - 01766 516024 - in the morning. They'll be able to tell you...

 

View attachment 5529 View attachment 5530 View attachment 5531 View attachment 5534

 

And from the other end of the line...

(quite impressive performance heading up the hill)

Steve B

 

I spent a couple of days at this event which for photographers and people who like seeing engines sitting around was great but if you like riding trains was spoilt by a terrible timetable. I went on the Lilla & Britomart train on Friday, the only extra full line train other than the usual two train garratt service that day. It was good fun and entertaining but there was no way to do this and ride the shuttle trains in the evening. Luckily I was able to stay in Dinas and get a lift back with my wife but I know a few people who were staying in Port and so missed out on the activities in Dinas. Seems silly to have late night activities at one end of the line and no way of getting back to the other especially as there is nothing else in Dinas. Surely an extra FR rake could have been run?

Saturday was similarly poor, the only extra full line train left at 8am with Blanche and Linda, surely not worth the price of a rover ticket? The connections were so poor I would have missed most other things that day so I didn't bother with this in the end.

A real shame as it could have been a really good event but was ruined by the terrible timetable. In hindsight I should have gone to Leighton Buzzard.

 

Personally I thought it was a great event. Dinas was a magical place on Saturday morning and I'll never forget the quarry locomotives whistling from the "scrap line"/fuel road in salute to Linda and Blanche who were steaming past them leaving Dinas on their way to Caernarfon.

 

Excellent run up from Porthmadog on the 8am departure on Saturday with Linda and Blanche, though I understand the point about the length of time between trains......

Excellent event for me !!!

 

Video taster.
Quarrypower - YouTube

 

A great set of photos Andrew, thanks for sharing.

Cheers

Alan