WHR/FR news

The first video report by 'Festshopman' makes interesting viewing as well as the daily web cam time lapse videos. Here's the link if anyone hasn't seen it :

Cob widening 2011 report 1 - YouTube

No doubt further reports will follow as the work progresses.

 

There'll be an edited-down version of the time lapse vids for the 2012 'Year in the Life' DVD. I'll talk to John about the possibility of producing a Cob widening special if you think the demand is there.

 

I may have missed this somewhere but is there a plan available of the proposed final layout at port? Just curious where everythings going to be located!

 

Im guessing the Ffestiniog alignment at the station throat will be pushed a few yards to the right on the new earthworks, one thought does occur however, won't that make the curves through the FR platform and associated loops/sidings a bit on the tight side ?, i know it won't be too tight for the loco's/stock, but i'd of thought the extra drag of the sharper bend would make starting a heavy train with something like Blanche/Linda/Taliesin a bit erm interesting.

 

I assumed that John would be putting further short reports of the Cob widening on YouTube as the work progresses, and then
including some footage on the 2012 'Year in the Life' DVD in due course.

Whether a DVD devoted solely to the subject would sell many copies I wouldn't like to say.

 

Outline plan here.

 

In other news, any comments / thoughts on the 360 degree video clips at Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways - SphereVision ?

 

Will we be looking back in 20, 30, maybe even 40 years time on this as the biggest act of heritage vandalism of the modern age? Akin to flooding of the old line, the hacking around of Merddin Emrys & Prince? Getting through those challenges was a magnificant achievement, but just bare a thought in these 'exciting' times for the pioneering narrow gauge heritage railway that is once again being forced away from its original alignment.

 

I suppose in reply to Silly Billy's question, at least this is adding to rather than taking away so could be reversed at some point in the future if there was a need or a will to change it. After all the station at Port has evolved through the preservation years and this is just another step.

 

No we won't.

 

I can understand how the cob can be widened to fit the new lay out.

Where I struggle is with regard to the supporting infrastructure. At peak and busy teams Harbour already seems not bessed designed to cope with the numbers. It is a squeeze if you try and leave through the station building.

It is a squeeze through the shop etc, toilet facilities are limited and not the best, the cafe is not large enough and presumably with more passengers it will put more pressure on the booking office side. I am sure the FR would love to improve these but I can not see how within the confines of the site these can be addressed. It would be an exageration to say at times presently the shop etc seems like the black hole of Calcutta but as a passenger I am not tempted to linger and browse or think about getting a coffee and a cake.

 

Very true, the only vandalism that took place happened years ago when 'legoland' was built.....

 

Its all relative - what may be a big change to the track layout is nothing compared to the much more visible and obvious changes made before to the station and the surrounding area. If it noticeably compromised the historical look of the station, especially to visitors, i'd be more concerned but this is just the latest in a long history of modifications post-preservation and probably one of the easiest to justify.

Chris

 

If you don't modify Porthmadog (Harbour), what is the alternative? Do you reconstuct Porthmadog (New) with appropriate buildings and access for WHR trains and keep the cross town link for empty stock workings only? Through passengers walk from one station to the other. Or do you send all trains to New Station 1920s style. There is no easy alternative is there?

 

The Cob was widened on the landward side a few years ago - and all the way across. Was this regarded as heritage vandalism? It's not our fault that it wasn't built wide enough in the first place!!

 

There is always going to be some conflict between preserving the past and producing something that works for now and in the future. I cannot think of any preserved lines that have not had to make significant infrastructure changes to accommodate for example (a) the need to store, maintain, and overhaul locos and stock, (b) carry the much greater number of passengers, (c) the need to feed and service said passengers, park their cars, and so on. Think of Sheffield Park or Bridgnorth for example - they are both very different now to what they were before. Terminal stations are particularly vulnerable in this respect.

The historic Welsh narrow gauge railways have had to make bigger sacrifices than most, simply because most were never designed to do quite what they do today. The Tal-y-Llyn has had to significantly alter Wharf and Abergynolwyn, add passing loops, acquire additional locos and carriages, to say nothing of the extension. Likewise the Ffestiniog. It seems to me that some of these railways (in particular the Ffestiniog) have continued to develop their lines, locos and stock, rather than simply trying to lock them into a time capsule, and in so doing has produced a railway that continues to live and which serves the purpose that the majority of it's passengers expect of it, and I for one find it interesting to see this process going on. It's great to see the efforts now being put into restoring, reproducing and looking after some of the heritage stuff, and making that available for use as well, but some things, like the layout at Port, just aren't fit for purpose as they stand, and so need alteration. Be grateful that the curved platform will still be there (if slightly moved) - it wouldn't have been beyond the realm of possibility that the Ffestiniog side of the station could have ended up straight as well!

Steve B

 

How would this be done?

 

OK, so not a very likely idea and slightly tongue in cheek, but the WHR platform will be straight, and the FR one could have been placed alongside it. The space in front of the buildings could then be used for something else (WHR turntable perhaps? - runs for cover...)

And no, I don't think it's a good idea, so please don't take it seriously (I like Port as it is) - my mind was drifting when I made the original comment!

Steve B

 

Yes - I imagine this would have turned the Cob 'widening' scheme into a massive land reclamation exercise! I believe at one time the FR considered buying the old Co-op building (now Wilkinsons) for a potential joint FR/WHR station complete with ready made car park and big building. But the price was too high. Despite the obvious operational and commercial advantages of this idea I'm kind of glad Harbour Station wasn't by-passed in this way.