Trawsfynydd and Blaenau Ffestiniog Railway

Yes, absolutely.

And the KESR/RVR has a very exciting pioneering project of its own, we can't say there's nothing suitable.

 

I've always wondered why nothing been tested out of Crewe.

Diesel hauled Crewe to Llandudno in the morning.
Steam does 2/3 trips up the branch during the day (depending upon what can fitted in around the service).
Diesel then return Llandudno to Crewe.
Means steam does the "fun" bits but also ensures a rescue loco should anything happen during the day.

 

locally based operation in lieu of the service train on selected dates?

 

Aren't the sidings at Llandudno Junction disconnected? If so, where would the servicing facilities be? Do Arriva leave anything in the area overnight? Crewe isn't a million miles away as suggested, the other option being Valley Jcn is it?

 

Have to disagree. Crewe much better for servicing both locos and stock, is better connected for the staff operating the service to get to etc etc. It's what 45 mins Crewe to Llandudno?

You could even have people board at Crewe + Chester on your way out, ride 1x trip and spend time in either Ffestiniog or round Llandudno for the second trip before returning home with the train. So increases your customer potential from the word go, instead of having to purely rely on Llandudno holidaymakers (though having said that the Cambrian never seemed to struggle). Just a thought mind, WCRC seem happy to rely on the coach parties that support the Mountaineer.

 

Run it with pairs of 80XXXs!

 

The Conway Valley is very much the place to be at the moment. A multitude of new attractions have sprung up in a few short years. The Festiniog has seen a real benefit from this, particularly the number of people catching the train from Bleanau.

Tourists spend a small fortune for 5 minutes on a zip line then have nothing to do for the rest of the day. Suddenly £20 for a train you spend all day on if you want looks like great value. You'll notice the FR is running earlier departures in the summer this year to try and grab a bit more of this traffic.

So a Llandudno to Bleanau steam or even 1st gen dmu service could be a real money spinner. The problem is that Traws is outside of this tourist hot spot. It's scenic enough but there is nothing there. It is just a place in the middle of nowhere on the way to somewhere else.

Tim

 

There is always a huge, attractive glow-in-the-dark box to admire.

 

Was meant to be 75 mins, slip on keyboard. And 75 mins isn't a massive amount of time. As said in my very first suggestive post, have it Diesel hauled Crewe - Llandudno outward and then on the return to save the need for tender first running on the NWML - leaving the steam to strut its stuff purely on the Conway Valley line.

 

I fell in that lake once when we were fishing and I don't glow in the dark, except maybe after a few pints. It was famous for its many perch who thrived in the warm coolant water discharged into the lake.

 

Hello,

here`s an appeal for equipment which will help clearing the track from debris.
http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/blaenau-ffestiniog-and-trawsfynydd-railway-society

Apparently they're progressing well according to their facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BlaenauFfestiniogTrawsRailwayVolunteers/

 

For the last few years, they've been saying "we'll be running trains next year". I wonder how many "next years" will roll by before a train runs.