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FR & WHR & WHHR News

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by AndrewT, Jul 17, 2012.

  1. James Hewett

    James Hewett New Member

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    Agreed, and ditto! (WHHR Members get the same discount) Ticket prices are not really unreasonable, considering the underlying costs.
    Both Russell and "590" - with both WHR Ltd. stock and the FR's heritage stock, alternately - brilliant stuff.
    Understandable that only Russell will go north through the forest to Rhyd-Ddu this time - the Baldwin won't have had the time to be thoroughly tested on that section - and we all know what happened last time out to the identical Baldwin based at the Lodge!
    I can see the Sunday afternoon Russell/Lyd all-line train being very full, even though it's probably a long WHR or FR set, with Lyd doing the braking - so grab your seats fast on the day.....

    Seems to be pretty-well everything that enthusiasts have asked for. If it's as successful as Past Present and Future in 2019, and last year's WHR100 Part 1, then let's hope something like this becomes a yearly event (in some suitable form) - it might fit nicely with either the Bygones or Superpower concepts James
     
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  2. jamesd

    jamesd Member

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    Without seeing the full timetable it's difficult to fully assess how much travelling one could actually do. Based on the limited info on the website it looks like a trip to Rhyd Ddu with Russell and then a trip to Beddgelert with 590 would be possible on the Saturday. On the Sunday if you did the double headed trip with Lyd and Russell in the afternoon, you could probably fit an early morning trip to Beddgelert in with 590. Both of these would be pleasant days but £75 does seem rather steep. Presumably the high cost is down to the FR having to effectively hire a train set from the WHHR as there are no road transport costs involved like other galas events?
     
  3. LittleRedTrain

    LittleRedTrain Member

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    I do wonder if the price also has an element of trying to limit demand. I can imagine some of the Russell trips otherwise getting very busy and people having to be turned away if the train is too full.
    I don't think the FR have said whether they're actually going to stop selling tickets if it becomes obvious that capacity is going to be an issue.
    Booked mine this afternoon anyway! (Top tip, you don't have to pay the booking fee if you call the booking office rather than do it online... seems a bit perverse to me but is the case with a lot of the companies that use the FareHarbor system).
     
  4. NGChrisW

    NGChrisW New Member

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    Whilst it is a little dissappointing to see FR members benefits being further eroded, I 'd agree that the cost of the 3 day ticket is not that unreasonable for whats being offered as long as everything promised materialises - I don't think it is totally unfair to say that there have been some loco attendances promised for FR events in the past that ultimately proved to have been somewhat on the "optomistic" side. Fingers crossed.

    I do however definitely think that the additional booking fee being charged for online booking is somewhat of a rip-off.
    Couple of quid maybe, but £7.20 to use an automated service. Really? (thats for a members 3 day ticket)

    Chris
     
  5. RedDragonofLondon

    RedDragonofLondon New Member

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    FR & WHR membership benefits are being reduced this year across the board, although to be fair they have been extremely generous compared to most railways.
     
  6. Nexuas

    Nexuas Well-Known Member

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    There are plenty of chances for high mileage. A lot of trains are running.

    Sat
    It is possible to take a trip to BG behind an England, BG behind 590 and RhD behind Russell

    Or

    590 Minffordd shuttle, Russell to RhD, change at PC on return and taken England to BG then 590 BG.

    Sunday
    Either 590 BG or England to RhD (or change at BG to sample both) and then full line Russell and Lyd in the afternoon. This ignores the double headed NGG16’s and MASSIVE mixed train which you could also sample if you forego some of Russell and Lyd’s outward journey and change further up the line.

    Everyday it is possible to exceed what would cost you more than £75 in standard tickets. I.e 3x £37.50 or a £62 + £37.50

    This is not to mention access to WHHR site and museum with models, artists, sales stands, live steam 16mm, 3 1/2”, 5” and 7 1/4”. Visiting FR locos running Port to Pen-Y-Mount. Gelert paired with some geographically suitable stock never before seen on the WHHR.

    Do not underestimate this is a BIG EVENT. Miss it at you peril.
     
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  7. Mrcow

    Mrcow Member

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    £75 is 100% reasonable - a trip for two to the cinema with food and drinks can knock on the door of £60, and I know what I'd rather do.
     
  8. mdewell

    mdewell Well-Known Member Friend

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    Smuggle in your own drinks and snacks?
     
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  9. steamingyorkshire

    steamingyorkshire Well-Known Member

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    A few clips from the Easter weekend featuring 'Merddin Emrys', 'Blanche' and 'Welsh Pony'. Filmed on the 8th April 2023.

    Video Available Here

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
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  10. meeee

    meeee Member

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  11. Taliesin

    Taliesin New Member

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    Can anyone confirm if Eigiau and Jenny are running at all on the Saturday and Sunday of the AGM weekend?
     
  12. meeee

    meeee Member

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    Yes they are rostered all weekend. Not sure what they are doing though.
     
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  13. James Hewett

    James Hewett New Member

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    We've all done it.
    Anyway, back to WHR 100 - some questions for anyone on here who knows the score.
    • Russell was turned for last year's event, so is now the "wrong way round" for the fierce gradients to Rhyd-Ddu - is it planned to turn him again? Or is historical authenticity more important? (some photos from the 20s and 30s show the loco facing south)
    • Russell has successfully negotiated the curve onto Britannia Bridge - but the Gelert's Farm heritage train has not (well, except the Pickering). It's probably tighter than the curve by Bryn-y-Felin bridge, particularly as constrained by the check rails. Might be worth a test......
    • One part of the released statement of services looks odd - on Saturday at 15.40, I quote: "590 and vintage to Beddgelert, vintage train running from Porthmadog to Rhyd-Ddu" - possibly a misprint? If true, then 590's only trip north of Beddgelert.....
    • Occasionally through the released services statement, it states "...connecting with WHHR at Penymount Junction" - but only on a few trains. Does this mean that all the others will go straight through? I was hoping (and I am probably not the only one) that the original plan (as published in the WHHR Journal ) to stop ALL Event RhE trains at PYM might still happen - because not only is that fun - and flexible - in itself, but would be a good precedent for possible future use of PYM on RhE as a request stop - like Plas-y-Nant or Bontnewydd, but with (quite possibly) more regular traffic.
    Yes of course, I know I should wait until the definitive timetable comes out - but early planning is always enjoyable.....including planning for suitable photo ops.....
    James (purely a personal view as a passenger - no connection with management or operation of any relevant railway)
     
  14. black5

    black5 Well-Known Member

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  15. meeee

    meeee Member

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    The WHR is uphill in both directions. It isn't quite as steep out of Dinas, but it is faster running so still hard work. It doesn't make much difference which way around it is really for a loco like Russell. Facing Porthmadog is how it was when the line opened, it is also the same way Lyd faces.

    There was a specific concern about the pony trucks on Russell and the loco also needed checking though the platform and around Boston Lodge. There is not the same concern about the coaches which are much smaller than standard WHR stock.

    That seems to be a misprint probably for the train above which is Russell plus WHHR stock to Rhyd-Ddu. 590 will be fresh out the box so the middle of an event is probably not the best time to test its limits.
     
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  16. odc

    odc Member

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    It is unfair to compair 590(794) to 608 - One will have been compleatly rebuilt, the other has had an operational conservation!
     
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  17. Jark91

    Jark91 Member

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    I don't live in the UK anymore and it's been a long time since I've been to the FR - I think the last time was on the Earl's last weekend in service, so probably April 2018.

    I've been quite out of touch with everything around the railway in general, but I wondered if anyone could tell me when and why they changed their timetable so drastically? In 2018 it was still six Blaenau trains most days in high summer, and four most other days for a lot of the year. Now it seems to be two round trips from Port and one from Blaenau some days, plus four round trips to Tan-y-Bwlch. What's the logic behind that? I remember three or four the Blaenau trains at peak times being really heavily loaded, surely the demand is still there/people want to travel beyond Tan-y-Bwlch?

    Also, with Merddin the only operational Double Fairlie right now, which engines are seeing the most use these days? Blanche and Lyd? Do either make it to Blaenau with any regularity?

    Sorry for the many questions. I really need to plan a trip.
     
  18. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    Regards the timetable, simple answer Covid. All trips became pre-booked and Tanybwlch became the destination of choice as it could be easily reached in the old compartment stock. This service has proven very popular and gives a good outing with both the smaller locos and heritage stock.
    Post Covid, cost of living & inflation have bitten hard and trains have been reintroduced gradually. Fares have also risen dramatically, this makes the part line service more affordable - the full line fare is now firmly in 'special treat' territory.
    I urge you to watch the clip below where the GM goes into some detail behind the rationale of the decisions made. This channel is also worth a subscribe to help keep you in touch with goings on - its probably the best heritage railway channel out there.

    General Manager’s Update - Spring 2023 - YouTube

    Blanche and Lyd are predominantly on Tanybwlch services, with the Fairlies on full line. Welsh Pony is doing a full line return from Blaenau Ffestiniog on the Quarryman service.
    Similarly, full line services on the Welsh Highland only happen a few times a week, with shorter journeys to Beddgelert more common.
     
  19. meeee

    meeee Member

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    The railway has basically decided to target the upper end of the market on the longer journeys, whilst offering shorter trips for the less affluent. Basically a full line WHR or FR service costs a lot to run so they try to run less of them and make sure they are full. The maximum FR timetable this year would be 2x Port-Bff, 1xBff - Port, and 4x Port-Tyb. Some of these trains only run if there is demand though.

    Personally if you wanted a fun trip I would recommend the Quarryman service. This is currently 5 coaches with Welsh Pony over the whole FR which is quite a load for it.

    On the loco front only Merddin, Blanche, Welsh Pony, and Lyd are available. DLG passed it's steam test last week so will be out again in a few weeks. When that happens, most days the Double engines will work a BFF and Tyb each and swap over at lunch time. So the Tyb trains won't see single engines so much which is less fun.

    Linda and Taliesin will be progressed again once DLG is finished. Linda isn't too far off being finished. James Spooner has been dismantled for final painting. Not that anyone is really excited to see it.
     
  20. MuzTrem

    MuzTrem Member

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    Speak for yourself! I'm thoroughly looking forward to seeing another Victorian-style double Fairlie in action...it'll look so much better than the aesthetic mess that was the Square

    Now, please excuse me while I take cover from the inevitable brickbats...

    Sent from my SM-A125F using Tapatalk
     
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