FR & WHR & WHHR News

Looks great- seems to be quite glitchy when played though, even if I allow it to fully load before playing.

Chris

 

Simply amazing, it looks brilliant, great control of the drone. Really gives the railway a more grander and epic scale.

 

Good to see the sequences that were obviously reversed in the first version have been fixed.

 

It is hi-res. The finished products will be on DVD and any segments that we put on YouTube and Facebook will be scaled down for people with slow connections.

 

Sad if true regardingRussell - http://isengard.co.uk/ (recent article) although there is probably more to it than published...

 

What a shame. Doesn't reflect well.
The sooner the two organisations move towards a merger the better. Yes, I know, I know.... But, seriously - sort it out and get together, for the good of the railway(s).

 

Desperately sad, I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd be delighted to see and ride behind Russell on the re-instated WHR

 

Note that the following has since been added to the original statement:

"The issue seems to be the ongoing dispute over land at Pen-y-Mount. The F&WHR apparently approached the WHHR to negotiate a settlement some considerable time ago without any progress being made despite promises made to deal with the matter by the WHHR."

Still seams rather petty if that's the reason, especially as 'differences' seemed to be (slowly) being settled between the organisations...

Will

 

All in favour of better relations. However, a call for merger will not appeal to WHHR for, if the two railways merged, there would be absolutely no reason for the WHHR part of a newly merged railway to be continued as it would just be a distraction to the railway's operations in Porthmadog.
More to the point, perhaps, the WHHR should stop its yearnings to get onto WHR metals and get a route of its own. The current operation is really too short for anyone but the family with very young kids! An extension of a further mile or two of their own track would make it a worthwhile visit and give the locos room to show off what they can do. Options have been mooted on Nat Pres already and include a line to Tremadog or a line westwards along one of the old tramway trackbeds. Any other thoughts?

 

We don't need another route out of Porthmadog!
I think some of the WHHR operation would be great for a combined organisation: another workshop, covered storage, a museum, not to mention more volunteers.
I know it is very hard to put aside history, and not everyone has always behaved as well as one might like, but what future is there for the WHHR as a separate concern?
Whereas combined, the WHHR's historic stock would be a great asset to the route, and the WHHR people might be able to push for more heritage on the WHR, as their title suggests.
One factor though is that some people would much rather be a big fish in a little pond...
And in reality putting aside history is really hard! But would be worth doing if it could be done.

 

Some video from a week ago with a flying visit while in the area to see the Welsh Mountaineer (ps. would definitely recommend a Spooners Bacon Bap). Managed to get footage of Prince & Taliesin double heading the first train of the day at Boston Lodge, Minffordd, Penrhyn, Tan-y-bwlch (arrival and depart) and their later run approach Galn-y-pwll. Enjoy.

 

Would the FR want the expense/hassle of running another (relatively small) workshop? Is there a benefit to having a museum situated a good distance from your main station? Would the WHHR volunteers move across to the FR? Many of them might prefer the smaller engine/more personal set-up of the WHHR and choose not to volunteer in a post merger FR/WHR. Would the FR actually use the historic carriages and Russell? Maybe on the odd special, but would that be enough to warrant the cost of the next overhaul?

Just playing devil's advocate...

Keith

 

Exactly. A merger would not benefit WHHR (as it would soon be closed), nor the FR/WHR as Keith notes.
The alternatives for WHR are, then, stay as they are, or build their own running line. Simples.

 

It's a preserved steam railway, none of it is needed, it's entertainment and a hobby. Need is not much of a governing factor, otherwise lets scrap all the steam and use nice easy to maintain diesels. I say this to illustrate my point, not as an actual suggestion.

The WHHR should be allowed to build whatever they need to become successful and keep themselves going, much like the FR/WHR did.
Also, as an outsider, it seems that the FR muscled in on what the WHHR wanted to do, in recreating the WHR. The whole situation comes across as petty, and the FR, frankly, look like bullies.

I'd much rather see Russell working the WHR route than the ridiculously large and out of place Garretts.

 

....of course.......totally agree with the last phrase......

 

Lets not reopen the worm can.

The WHHR has evolved into something different. It has the makings of a good museum, a short run, a useful miniature railway and a damn good bookshop.

I think it can pick up different markets, the young families and the enthusiasts.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

....and more important than anything else ..........stay small ..!

 

Well the 1964 company have been going for 50 years and all they've achieved is a short siding (which is not even on the route of the WHR) and a bookshop - contrast that with what the FR have achieved. I travelled the whole route of the WHR from Portmadoc to Carnarvon and return a couple of weeks ago - something which I never thought would happen in my lifetime - and it wouldn't have if it had been up to the 1964 Co.

 

Funny, when I travelled on it it went from Porthmadog to Caernarfon...

 

Déjà vu anyone??? I suspect there was more to it than time (and money). Otherwise why would the FR reopen the line from the far end??? But hey, probably best left in the past ;-)