WHR/FR news

As reported on Barrie Hughes WHR site exciting times (again!)NEWS

WHR 2011 Events

Paul Lewin (F&WHR General manager) reports:

We are in the final stages with the lawyers tidying up the paperwork for the purchase of the former Welsh Water shed at Dinas north of the Dinas Loco shed. (This will allow extension of the Loco Shed-Ed).
The last Mallet built in Germany (Jatibarang No.9-Ed) arrives with us first week in April.
Linda getting ever closer to service.
Car 123 in traffic. Seen in the sunshine today at BL the first Blaenau facing Obs car.
A highly entertaining Easter event....list of stuff just about to be released.
Darjeeling tank (No.778-Ed) back for Superpower weekend. Now won't that look nice crossing the Mallet somewhere in the hills.
No.143 in Brunswick green and possibly the best Garratt overhaul yet.
Taliesin with piston valve conversion coming soon.
Bill (Ex-Shotton Steelworks diesel shunter-Ed) returning from Willesden and Ben going back to be similarly treated.
FR small locos going on tour. Dates to be announced shortly.
Chaloner visiting from Leighton Buzzard and traversing the length of the WHR.
Britomart striking forth for Caernarfon.

 

You might also want to check http://www.festrail.co.uk and http://www.facebook.com/festrail for the latest news and photographs like this one:

 

What an amazing railway!

 

Sunday March 27. Just another ordinary day on the F&WHR. Merddin Emrys heads out with the 1015 for Blaenau Ffestiniog, while station pilot Vale of Ffestiniog waits to draw the carriages for the 1045 to Caernarfon into the platform. The loco for this service, NG/G16 138 waits in the sidings.

 

Pix and video of today's Snowdonian special (first train from Blaenau to run through Porthmadog non-stop on the way to Caernarfon) on the F&WHR Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/festrail

 

This evening's East Midlands Today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZMn07UtZ5k

 

I think that its worth recording that Alan Peglar celebrated his 91st Birthday yesterday by taking the return trip from Porthmadog to Caernarvon and back. He freely admitted he never would have thought that when he found the money to preserve the Ffestiniog the Welsh Highland would later come alive again.

 

The gala is less than a week away, is there anything out and about on thursday as preperation for the gala?

 

It's all on the website.
www.festrail.co.uk

 

Andrew, I was refering to anything like Lilla or Britomart Shunting, That Sort of thing. Also will Boston Lodge Be Open to the Public again this year over the event?

 

Blodge isn't open this time. Lilla and Britomart normally handle the footplate ride duties at these events.

 

Currently Lilla and Britomart are down for footplate rides from Saturday 23rd until Tuesday 26th. Timings for anyone who is interested will be.

Saturday 23rd April
Depart BL light engines 9:10
Arrive TYB 9:55

Footplate rides in between services until departure for Glan-y-pwll at 16:00.
The locos will then do footplate rides at BF for the next 3 days until returning with Linda on the 16:10 departure on the 26th.

Linda is rostered on the 10:55 and 14:30 Port-BF departures on the 26th and 27th instead of Blanche.

Tim

 

Linda's first service train for seven years...







Hwyl,
A.

 

I was on it! The weather throughout Sunday and Monday was wonderful, I've come away with quite a few decent photos. Almost none of the rostered locos were turned out on their respective trains but I didn't mind been kept guessing until the last minute...

 

I love the Prancing Horse on the tender. Can we get that on to some of the big stuff as well!

 

Just found a lovely video of WHR trains in the run up to the Spring Thing - includes the Mallet, 138, Lyd, Taliesin, Moelwyn and EM.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWS8eBIwRGo

 

It is too! You wouldn't happen to know where the first sequence was filmed? It's a new one to me.

Regards

 

Looks like just north of Beddgelert Station.

 

Yep, thats the north end of the station, accessed by a footpath that runs under the railway there.