2009 - A difficult year for the WHHR?

There is a lot of serious work going on about removing slate waste from Bl. Ffest. by standard gauge -- to the accompaniment, naturally, of local controversy. It seems that when you do the math the maximum capacity of the standard gauge is just about enough to absorb the new slate waste being generated by the still operative quarries; there's little prospect of reducing the present slate tips at least in the forseeable future.

The economics of the whole operation are finely balanced and depend upon drawback of landfill duty -- IMHO narrow gauge is going to be more expensive and unable to make a contribution unless all passenger services cease and there is no Winter maintenance.

 

I wasn`t trying to say narrow gauge could compete with standard gauge. If the bypass does happen there will be a unique, though short term, oppurtunity to make an environmental and financial contribution to both the local area and the WHR/FR coffers.

 

The WHR/FR could not compete with road hauliers on price even if it was practical let alone desirable. The only alternative would be the standard gauge via the Cambrian Coast, but then i dont think that would be too popular with NR either as the only locos with ERTMS would be their 37's. Sometimes there are viable alternatives to road use, but this isnt one of them.

Chris

 

Eek! 8-[ Reading stuff like that doesn't exactly make me rush to post anything, but...... rest assured that the issue is still in hand. We're also busy with other things at Gelerts Farm, where the new museum now has a completed floor and the original WHR Buffet Car is being painted:
- http://whr.fotopic.net/

CHRIS

 

Oops! 8-[
Thanks for the update and well done with the GF progress.