FR & WHR & WHHR News

IIRC passive provision has been provided for any future extension.

As for the appearance of the station, if this complements how they intend to regenerate the rest of the area then I don't have a problem with it.

 

I doubt an extension to Bangor would occur. it's more likely - and still VERY unlikely - that the WAG would fund a restoration of the SG over that stretch. Either would face formidable problems as north of Velinheli the formation has been obliterated - an NG line would also have to share mixed gauge tracks through the tunnel into Bangor station with all the complications regarding rules, signalling, acceptable braking systems etc. that would then be required. Such a line would have to compete with a frequent and convenient bus service and could not possibly be profitable.

I believe there is a possibility of an extension thorough the Caernarfon tunnel long term, but that would be to a more commodious site for a terminus immediatly north of the town centre. (And handy for where the majority of tourist buses and coaches arrive). The proposed new terminus on the current site I guess would be retained as a through station and possibly a passing loop.

The station design has no doubt - I have no direct knowledge - been designed to win approval from the councils and other bodies involved who are modernist in outlook, and I believe are on record as saying they do not want a pastiche of past styles, be they Victorian or Byzantine (The castle is apparently styled on something in Constantinople in the 12th Century).

All the above is simply my assessment of the situation - It could all be completely wrong!

 

You are correct.

 

Does anyone know when the time table for the gala will be released to the public (11/12/13 September)? We are planning to visit on the Friday as the final day of our holiday to the area. Thanks

 

Timetables are now available on Festrail..

 

Many thanks. Friday looks a bit unbalanced, easy to get to Dinas bit harder to get back! Might have to start at that end rather than Porthmadog

 

That IS the general idea of the weekend... Having the event based at the northern end of the line enables activities to be more focussed - and the site at Dinas is perfect for hosting a variety of activities.

 

Booking Form for 'Super-Power' now available to download at ...
http://www.festrail.co.uk/content/uploads/1/SP15_Booking_Form.pdf

Also contains outline timetable for all passenger trains running during the event...

 

I note that the railway is urging not to drive to Dinas. May I ask given the vast majority of services run from Porthmadog to Dinas, so ideal for a return trip I am a bit at a loss how to access the line. You can't travel from Porthmadog to Dinas and back on the Friday and visit the exhibition at Dinas.

 

Don't know what makes you say that 'the railway is urging not to drive to Dinas'...

Posters for local distribution suggest using the train or bus due to limited parking, but there is nothing in the general publicity that says anything about not driving to Dinas. In fact, if you look at what I put on our Facebook page earlier this evening, you'll find quite the opposite to what you're implying...

Visit www.facebook.com/festrail for a guide to Dinas this weekend...

 

With reference to your second point...

'Welsh Highland: Great & Small ll' has always been billed as concentrating on the northen end of the railway. Dinas Station provides a perfect base for a variety of activities - nowhere else on the F&WHR can match it for this. One of the disadvantages of being the longest heritage railway in the UK is the lack of focus that can arise if events are spread out over the whole 25 mile length of the railway...

Bearing this in mind, you will see from the timetable that the necessary stock moves have been arranged in such a way that, if you start your day in Dinas, you can travel on every one of the the additional trains running during the day - the double-headed 'Ladies', double-headed England and Quarry Hunslet, and the Manning Wardle inspection train... and be back in Dinas in time for the evening social..!

What more do you want..?

 

Thanks the field parking will be great. This means we can travel to Beddgelert in the morning and return via the shuttles at leisure and enjoy the exhibitions at Dinas in the afternoon. Thanks for explaining the rationale behind the timetable structure

 

August Inside Motion newsletter now available at http://www.festrail.co.uk/content/uploads/1/Inside_Motion_August_2015_1.pdf

Screen-readable version of TLC5 now available at http://issuu.com/fwhrmarketing/docs/tlc5_small

 

Great day today thanks for the work put in to bringing it all together

 

A few video clips from Sunday 13th September 2015 during the WHR 'Great and Small II' Gala featuring 'Lyd', 'Linda', 'Blanche', 'Prince' NG/G16 No.87 and NG/G16 No.138.

Video Available Here

 

Latest Inside Motion newsletter now available at http://www.festrail.co.uk/content/uploads/1/Inside_Motion_September_2015.pdf

In other news, a taster from the 2015 Year in the Life DVD and Blu-Ray - a run on the Welsh Highland and Ffestiniog Railways from Caernarfon to Blaenau Ffestiniog at more than 900 mph…

 

Are the FR trips to Rhyd Ddu running on Sundays in November? Got a spare Sunday and tempted for a visit if they are...

 

Nope. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays only.
Here's Linda and Blanche returning to Port in a torrential downpour yesterday.

 

Can anyone recommend decent pubs / restaurants around Port/Blaenau/Rhyd Dhu, as we're visiting soon (including a trip on the WHR). Nice food more important than exact proximity to any of those locations, as we expect to be driving around quite a bit anyway. We've been drawing a bit of a blank on our internet searches, but I'm not sure if that's because there aren't many good places (seems unlikely) or rather they're not that visible to Google.

Thanks in advance!

Simon