Bala Lake Railway boosted by lottery funding

Paid them a visit a few days ago and good to see the new shed going up. They also seem to be making headway with their plans to extend into Bala town itself which should be a real game changer.
I wonder what locomotives they would run over the new extension?

 

I'm waiting for the Corwen extension ....

 

I'm going to take a wild guess and say Holy War, Maid Marian, Winifred, George B, and Diana. There will probably be some diesels too.

Tim

 

Blaenau Ffestiniog would make more sense.

 

I'd take a guess any or all of "Britomart" "Lilla" and "Hugh Napier" might pay a friendly visit too.

 

The Llyn Tryweryn deviation necessary would be impressive!

 

A viaduct would be more impressive still! Shame I can't see it happening. "Merddin Emrys" or the Soup Dragon pulling into Llanuwchllyn with a train from Caernarfon does have a certain appeal. An overnight sleeper service, perhaps?

 

Was also reported in Dec/Jan's Narrow Gauge World that the Bala Lake folks have come to an agreement with a farmer and the rugby club, both of whom were "very supportive" in the sale of a strip of land letting them get closer and closer to that lovely new town station. It seems with the WHR proving to be such a massive boon to the local economy a lot of potential opposition is melting in Wales.

 

Always been fascinated by the prospect of an extension to Corwen or Blaenau. Not as impossible as some suggest, but exceedingly difficult and some would argue fundamentally pointless.

 

think Corwen would be more worth while of the two but still a lot of track through open countryside before you reach anywhere of significance!

 

And, of course, it'd all have to be dual gauge

 

Update time. Here's where some of that funding has been used (don't panic ... no log-in needed):
https://m.facebook.com/BalaLakeRail...882101405156764/?type=3&source=49&__tn__=EH-R