FR & WHR & WHHR News

Looking back at original the original WHR's timetables, especially when you consider the maximum capacity of the trains back then, add in the paucity of freight and the total absence of staple mineral traffic (just the new Rhyd Ddu - Croesor link, not the collapsing slate industry served by constituent lines) and you have to wonder how the hell any projections could've been made remotely convincing enough to generate authority to build, never mind drum up the capital. That's before WWI, never mind when work proper got underway, with all the postwar problems on top.

The only possible conclusion is that history has been so focused on the two feet between the rails that everyone, from Boyd onwards has greatly under rated the key role of the North Wales Power and Traction Company, who controlled the WHR's precursor Portmadoc, Beddgelert and South Snowdon Railway and overlooked arguments made on the basis of the economics of electrical operations.

Here's a question: Was the intention to use the proposed PB&SSR line in concert with the backbone of an electrical distribution system? That'd not only change how we might perceive the economics of the whole shooting match, but cast some light over the wider grandiose pre-war railway schemes associated with the NWP&T Co. 'General Undertaking'.

 

The simple answer is yes... As I understand it, one of the drivers for the PBSSR was to provide a route for a powerline from the generating station near Beddgelert to customers in Porthmadog/Criccieth. But they could never really raise the money - never mind for the wider schemes.

With respect to the later WHR, I feel the thinking was something along the lines of providing the transport link that would stimulate the economy of a poorly developed area, generating the traffic to make it a viable concern. Hence why the local authorities of the time got involved, borrowing money to make it happen. But it was never enough to do a proper job, meaning the service was poor - just as road competition really got going. The end result was fairly inevitable.

 

Morning All,

I've put another short video from 1991 on YouTube if anyone would like to have a look. It shows M E departing from Blaenau and a blue LINDA bringing a train in. There is then a ride on the train up to the summit. Hope it's of interest:



TTFN,

Ron.

 

The 'Hunslet Hundred' steam gala in 1993 drew quite a crowd and was highly enjoyable. I was there with my video camera and the first instalment of the footage taken over that weekend is now on YouTube. I hope you like it:

 

Trip down memory lane for some, I think.
https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film...Zf2DABV7KWNlNfPslEypmVG1I-xocBkiiWQa2-7p7iTk8
Had to chuckle at Col. Campbell moving his painting to Dduallt Manor on a works train. And the 1950's re-enactor whose working garb was collar, tie and tweed jacket!
Pat

 

Good stuff. I was there and there are some things I remember (Minffordd Yard shuttles) but a lot of stuff I didn't remember. I had forgotten how many 7 1/4 and 5 1/2 inch locos were there.

Good (but sad) seeing Evan Davies on DLG.

 

Morning All,

Part Two of the video footage I shot at the Hunslet Hundred Steam Gala in 1993 is now on YouTube. It shows more of the activities in Minffordd Yard, plus the shuttle train between Minffordd Station and Porthmadog Harbour. Here's the link if anyone would like to have a look:



Hope you like it.

TTFN

Ron.

 

This year's services have been announced elsewhere:

 

The Mountain Prince is a bit of a blast from the past

But it looks an interesting timetable and programme and sensibly flexible.

Interesting to wonder what the definition of 'heritage diesel' is on the FR.

 

Moelwyn, I understand.

 

Yes Moelwyn is the preffered option, the alternative would be Upnor.

Tim

 

Looking forward to having a visit this year. I'm guessing there's no plans for a trip to Blaenau to meet the Welsh Mountaineer in July, I'm booked on that and was hoping to have a little trip on the line in the 3 hours we have there.

 

I think you'll probably have the wait until closer to the time to find out. No doubt if there is sufficient interest a charter could be run.

The services announced are the baseline for opening up. If things can be extended they will be. There was talk of running to Blaenau a couple of times a week with the corridor set, but the station poses quite a few problems with social distancing.

Tim

 

There are few railtour operators doing charters over the first couple of months who have requested trains on operating dates. Suspect it would need the RTC to enquire if it is possible.

 

I had visions of the Simplex out and about on front line.

 

I don't think that would do the finances much good. Should have filled it up when the petrol price dropped this time last year.

Sadly it is out of action anyway. It suffered a cracked exhaust manifold on its holidays. The staff at Beamish managed to braze it up so it wasn't as bad, but it still leaks fumes into the cab. Another one for the to do list.

Tim

 

Poor Mary Ann. I did once double head with Prince and Mary Ann. I had the distinct impression that Prince was pulling the train and propelling the Simplex.

 

Tickets now on sale:
Woodland Wanderer - Daily 29th May - 6th June.
Mountain Prince - Daily 1st - 28th May & 7th June - 23rd July.
Gelert Explorer - Saturdays, Tuesdays & Thursdays 1st May - 22nd July, Wednesdays 2nd June & 30th June -21st July plus Sunday 30th May and Monday 5th July. 1st class not available 1st May and 5th July.
Glaslyn Venturer - Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays 1st June - 22nd July plus BH Monday 31st May.

 

*NOT* ABOUT DOOR LOCKING!

Sorry if this has been answered beforr, but I've trawled back and can find no mention of this, so ...

All old photos of the passenger line at Portmadoc (as was) Harbour station clearly show a substantial super-elevation. My understanding is that gravity slate working to the wharves always ended at Blodge, where the bottom shunter took over and passenger trains, even before the old company's LRO, could scarcely have needed it, so my question is why was there such a super elevation within the station?

 

When Minffordd yard and it's weighbridge opened, trains were weighed and divided at Minfford. The Porthmadog portion was no longer required to stop at Boston Lodge weighbridge. Although gravity trains were supposed to stop to pick up the bottom shunter at Boston Lodge, they frequently didn't and would thunder through at alarming speeds. They are known to have gone all the way across Britannia Bridge and around the harbour.

The excessive cant was supposedly to aid gravity trains. It was achieved using special "high heeled" chairs. Perhaps one of Spooners less sucessful ideas. I expect they just used those chairs on curves of a certain radius as a matter of course which would explain the curve of the platform road in port. I'm not 100% sure but I think South Snowdon Wharf was accessed through the sidings and not the platform road. So the there would be no gravity trains through there anyway.

The excessive cant was frequently criticised by the Railway Inspectorate, and is cited in a few derailment reports.

Tim