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Britatin's Longest Heritage Railway - Now Running!

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by SillyBilly, May 23, 2010.

  1. SillyBilly

    SillyBilly Member

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    I thought I might draw your attention that trains on the Welsh Highland Railway began operating to Pont Croesor yesterday, makeing it Britain's longest Heritage Railway. Check out www.festrail.co.uk for details.
    [​IMG]
    www.youtube.com/watch?v=996VPNO8yPo

    It'll be all the better when it's running through to Britain's finest heritage railway whenever that may be.
     
  2. sche

    sche New Member

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    Congratulations to all who have worked on this, its a massive achievement! But can this be classed as a Heritage railway?
     
  3. SillyBilly

    SillyBilly Member

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    Well the Heritage Railway Association think so.
     
  4. Hunslets Finest

    Hunslets Finest Well-Known Member

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    Heritage maybe...preserved certainly not.
     
  5. Jark91

    Jark91 Member

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    Why not, exactly? For the great majority of its course it uses the same route as the original WHR. I don't see how that doesn't qualify it for preserved railway status?
     
  6. Christopher125

    Christopher125 Part of the furniture

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    As far as im aware there is no definitive answer as to what is or isnt a heritage/preserved railway. At the most basic level, with the help of volunteers and public appeals it has preserved what arguably was the line's biggest asset, its route through Snowdonia, and uses a traditional form of traction; steam.

    Like many new-generation and narrow gauge lines with little suitable historical infrastructure (such as the WLLR) it doesnt depict a historical recreation of the original railway but just like the FR after the push to Blaenau, its hard not to see volunteers bringing back at least some of the 'flavour' of the original line as time goes on even if Garratts, 12 carriage platforms and the SNPA's dislike of crinkly tin are here to stay.

    Chris
     

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