FR & WHR & WHHR News

We've got a hotel booked for the event but went ouch when we saw the price of the rover tickets. I've just payed less than £100 for 2 x 3 day rover tickets for the G&WR event, very good value by comparison.

 

While expensive, one would think one major factor is the limited seating on all trains, make tickets cheaper and you'd think that you may need to make all trains reservation only.

 

Perfectly fair point, however I wonder whether a similar system to before with a lower price and then a supplement for the expected most popular trains (no doubt Russell through the pass) would have been a good bet. To me not an issue as a life member, but if I were going for the weekend and found that to ride up the FR, on the gala trains and along the full WHR I’d need to shell out well over £100 I might be a bit annoyed!

 

A small premium on normal fares I can understand but in events such I am not sure that it is just riding the trains that is the appeal. The challenge on these events generally is getting decent contributions from those who want to watch, take pictures and enjoy the ambience rather than from those who want to travel.

I am sure the FR know what they are doing though and with limited capacity on many of the trains then smaller numbers at higher prices is what the limited number of seats may dictate is best

 

I would hope that the WHHR will get a cut of the money from the weekend.

With everything that has gone down over the years it has been a long time coming and who knows when it might be repeated. I mean the last time Russell ran on FR metals was 25 years ago.

 

It is a joint event with both parties working together. That is all I need to say.

 

The ticket also gives full access to WHHR Trains on the days your rover is valid.

I am currently trying to write a WHHR timetable which will give cross platform changes to all Port- Beddgelert trains allowing people to maximise travel across both railways.

 

Out of curiosity (i've already sent off for a weekend rover) is the WHHR only going to be valid with a full gala rover or are separate WHHR only tickets going to be available?

 

My wife and I travelled on both the FR and the WHR earlier this week. On both railways the locomotives had to stop for blow ups - extended station stops on the FR which meant that we were 30 minutes late arriving at Bleanau and in mid section on the WHR.

Are there problems with the coal currently being burned?

 

I assume separate WHHR tickets will be available, have asked the question of someone higher up.

If you want to ride on the only trains to Beddgelert that Russell will haul solo (Friday and Saturday evening) you need a separate ticket which is only available from WHHR.

 

Think we miss three RhE trains over the three days with direct cross platform exchanges, assuming all trains run to time.

 

My source confirms that separate WHHR only tickets will be available and there are a very limited number of tickets left for the Friday evening Russell hauled train to Beddgelert.

 

Russell ventured back to Beddgelert again this evening with a few more carriages on the hook. Reports suggest that all went well.

Can’t wait for June.

 

A few videos from the test train at:















Drone shot taken with prior permission:

 

Are you quite sure about that? Looking back at the delay reports for that week there is nothing around the dates you have suggested.

 

Hi Phil - it was the 1335 on the FR (very full with 3 coach parties) on the 13th May and the 0940 on the WHR on the 14th May. The WHR stop was between the Caravan Site halt and Rhyd- Ddu for about 10 minutes, but it made up the time so that we arrived in Caernarvon right time.

 

13:35 on the 13th May arrived Blaenau 14:56 which is only 8 late on the working time or 11 on Public which is a little different to 30 minutes you're suggesting (there's a bit of fudge with public / working at this point so that it shows in various searches for connecting with tfw). WHR on the 14th is showing as on time arrive as you suggest.

The first Bank Holiday was a bit hit and miss. Due to various charters / specials a lot of the engines were coaled at Boston Lodge using the spare supply. This then mixed with the last delivery to which nothing really wanted to perform apart from Lyd (which seems to delight in burning stuff that nobody wants). Other than that the coal seems to have been alright.

 

My wife and I would both disagree with that Blaenau arrival time - and the guard was very apologetic for the very late arrival time - but as a matter of interest what time did the Guard show as the departure time from Blaenau Never mind, it doesn't matter over much in the great scheme of things. It was that rare event - a sunny day in Blaenau. One of the 3 coach parties was full of very large Americans who found the door to the gents there somewhat narrow!

 

15:13 according to the report (would have been reported as leaving by the Booking Office and seen on CCTV) with an on time recorded (so within 5) at Porthmadog. Train was reported as very heavy according to the log which would account for your comment above! Generally the 13:35 is heavy - everybody has just been for lunch (you'd be surprised the difference it makes!)

 

I have been anticipating the upcoming gala for a long while, booked up my B&B months ago, so I was very disappointed at the price. My main aim was to see and travel behind the Baldwin, but at £50, I can't justify the cost so very, very reluctantly I will be an observer rather than a participant. However I am sure it will still be a financial success, so they can charge almost what they want.