Ffestiniog Railway Gala???

I have looked on the Ffestiniog's website but there is no mention of an autumn gala. Will there be one?

Regards

 

They haven't run galas for years.

 

The last proper gala was the excellent 2005 'Pushing The Boat Out' vintage weekend. Galas and vintage weekends were usually arranged by volunteers, unfortunately encouragement to do this has been somewhat lacking from the company in recent years so events have been rather low key and well......rubbish.

It's a shame really how many railways can showcase 50+ wagon freight trains, boats on rails, ever expanding vintage sets from two eras and 2 of the oldest working steam locos in the world.

 

I think I'll drive back home from the Llangollen gala via Portmadog!

Thanks for the responses.

Regards

 

I agree. For a while after they reached BF the FR seemed to be less keen on the heritage side than on being a modern steam hauled transport system in a push for efficiency etc. I have no problem with them making money on the latter but the heritage seemed a bit lacking. Over more recent years though they seemed to have a change in attitude and especially on their vintage coaching stock have done a suberb job. I reckon it is probably some of the best in the UK.

I enjoyed the gals as you knew all this came out to play where as understadably most of the time they are going to used there most modern and efficient stock for the transport of the masses.

Hopefully when WHR is complete and they have a bit less on their plare they might make a reappearance. I have to admit a WHR gala from say Port To Beddgelert combined with a FR gala from say Port to TyB would be very appealing especially if there was a loop at Pont Coesoer

 

hmm, maybe they did not call them gala but there was a gala type event both last year and the year before around the first may bank holiday. I was there for both, they had extra engines and short runs at both end of the line, and boston lodge was open to the public last year, I spent most of the day there. Nothing this year, first thing I checked when booking my may holoday was would we have a repeat this year.

Speaking of which, I will be releasing 3 films shortly from this years footage in may and I may well be there again next week.

 

I was last there on 8/8/08 and there was a pretty intensive steam operation with five locos in steam, one of which was hauling the vintage train. I suppose that all managerial effort is going into the joint FR/WHR effort. All to the good perhaps although I have my doubts about the WHR. Perhaps I'm just too cautious by nature!

Regards

 

Correct. They haven't done a proper gala since 2005 Vintage Weekend. They did however organise Interactive weekend during the first weekend of May, where people could book themselves on to do various jobs. Engine driver, guard, signalman etc. But they last did that in 2007.

Think it's been more of a case of getting the Welsh Highland sorted instead of organising galas.