FR & WHR & WHHR News

There is a brief video of it in action in Paul Lewin's spring update - around the 13min mark. (The whole video, as ever is well worth the watch)


Steve B

 

Other than Russell train now limited to Pont Croesor. It is all diesel on the F&WHR tomorrow.

 

From Facebook

'DIESEL-FFEST' 2025...

In the light of today's announcement regarding changes to tomorrow's services, we're delighted to encourage you to join us for our impromptu 'DIESEL-FFEST' - something enthusiasts have been requesting for some time..!

The following diesels have been rostered for our trains on Saturday 12th April:

▪️ VALE OF FFESTINIOG
▪️ CASTELL CAERNARFON
▪️ CRICCIETH CASTLE
▪️ UPNOR CASTLE

Check the captions on each loco portrait for details of their individual workings...

Seats are currently available on all our trains tomorrow, so if diesels are your 'thing' come and enjoy a festival of internal-combustion traction on the F&WHR...

Of course, all these trains will be running in the beautiful scenery of North Wales, so the view from your carriage window will be just as breath-taking as ever - irrespective of what is pulling the train..!

Vale of Ffestiniog on 10.05 Porthmadog - Caernarfon - rtn
Castell Caernarfon 10.15 Caernarfon - Porthmadog - rtn
Criccieth Castle 10.40 Porthmadog - TyB - rtn
Upnor Castle 11.35 and 14.50 Porthmadog - TyB - rtn.

 

Today the fire was a bit too close to the front door for comfort really. I don’t know if this was caused by the train, but it’s so dry that someone sneezing wrong could set off a forest fire.

Beddgelert station is behind the houses in the foreground.

 

Limited coverage from Saturday 5th April of Russell's trips to Beddgelert, together with James Spooner and Lyd on one of the special trains in connection with the mainline railtour (UK Railtours 'The Snowdonian', Euston to Holyhead) - showing the tinder-dry conditions on a very sunny spring day.

 

Praise where due.

On Saturday I was booked on the morning trip with Russell and on Friday I received an email advising that it would only be travelling to Pont Croesor. Whilst this was late notice I was already in the area (at the excellent Llangollen Branch Line gala) so not really a problem. As a sweetener I was offered a seat on the afternoon train (free) subject to availability and as long as all the pre-booked seats were accommodated and also free entry to WHHR for the day with precise instructions as to how this could be fitted in between the two Russell trips - this was given on the day. The trip with Russell was enjoyable with staff apologising and being very friendly. Between the two trips Russell was offering footplate rides on platform 2 for a donation and this was appreciated by many.

It would have been very easy to have simply said on the Friday, "sorry, too risky, fire risk, let's cancel or run with a diesel". The fact that a sensible and responsible compromise was made is very commendable by the FR/WHHR. I had also booked on the afternoon Woodland Wanderer when it was expected to be the single Fairlie (per a quickly superseded FB post on the Friday) but frankly the diesel Upnor Castle instead was very acceptable to a diesel enthusiast like myself. I can come back for steam anytime!

Personally I heard no complaints about diesel instead of steam on Saturday and thanks to all concerned for an excellent day.

 

I saw one person complaining on the FR Facebook about Russell getting less mileage for the money but everyone flamed the guy so hopefully he learned a lesson in humility. You just have to roll with the punches as we are visited by increasingly extreme weather patterns. Looks like the country is getting at least some showers.

 

There's an extremely impressive video of Vale of Ffestiniog crawling through what looks like Dante's idea of a good time on Tiktok

 

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Today Russell successfully completed a full round trip from Porthmadog to Caernarfon, with the 5-coach WHHR rake.

Sustained a solid 14 mph on the upper part of the 1:40 climb between Beddgelert and Rhyd Ddu in damp conditions, that did allow steam to operate after recent dry weather.

On the return a more lively 18 mph sustained on the 1:45 between Dinas and Tryfan Jn.

Delayed on the return at Waunfawr waiting to cross Garratt 130 that had suffered a broken gauge glass.

A very good day, which I hope bodes well for future co-operation.

 

We did the afternoon trip to Blaenau.

It was Domestic Facilities management's birthday so we upgraded to First

She also got an entirely unprompted birthday card from the traincrew!

 

Anyone travelling in the toast rack deserves a medal. They must have been “damp”!

 

I did the Port-Caernarvon leg in one of the unglazed ends of the Gladstone car. Best seat in the house in some ways (the noise through the tunnel was epic), but also the coldest and dampest I've been for some time. Very much felt worth it, but at the same time I wasn't all that bitterly upset when someone else claimed my perch for the way back, and I got a rather warmer and drier spot elsewhere!

 

I was one of the people in the toast rack, when the wind came across it wasn't the warmest but was brilliant fun! Could have done with another layer and gloves though! Great day all round

 

The Beddgelert to Rhyd Ddu is mostly 10 and 15mph speed limits whereas Dinas to Tryfan Jn is 20mph. Which is why you get a faster run up one bank than the other.

 

A few clips of 'Russell' at the Welsh Highland Railway between 2019 and 2025

 

A nice compilation - let's hope it's not TOO long before we can see this again (estimate I have heard is at least two years).
NB I was looking at the Snowdonian footage - train seemed by no means full - lots of empty seats. Wonder if the concept has had its day? Actually, more likely, many enthusiasts are just transferring to the Platinum Jubilee in June. Must say I'd be sorry to see the Snowdonian disappear (not that I can afford it) as it's a welcome way to bring the two parts of the 40-mile railway together.



Another event which was - seemingly - little attended, according to the video: Gelert's Farm had an all-home-based triple header on Saturday evening (Russell, 590, Gelert) - something I doubt has ever happened there before, unless forum readers can tell me different.



James