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Welsh Highland open to Hafod-y-Llyn.

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by 45669, May 24, 2009.

  1. Alun Evans

    Alun Evans Guest

    Hi all,

    I've just uploaded some pics of the WHR ride to Hafod y Llyn on to http://alunsphotos.fotopic.net/ .

    Regards,

    Alun
     
  2. Christopher125

    Christopher125 Part of the furniture

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    In case anyone is alarmed by the captions in Alun's gallery, it seems 4 years was suggested as the time that the railway will be 'completed' - opening to Port, if the encouraging noises about pledges of money are right still looks good, in my opinion, for easter next year at the latest; or perhaps even this year. Here's hoping :)

    Chris
     
  3. Meiriongwril

    Meiriongwril Member

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    Yes, I gather that complete here includes a new station at Caernarfon, full facilities at Beddgelert etc, and should probably also include locos and carriages etc. I gather we can still look forward to running thru to Porthmadog later this year. =D>
     
  4. D1059

    D1059 Member

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  5. odc

    odc Member

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  6. SillyBilly

    SillyBilly Member

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    I doubt it includes locos & carriages, as that's quite a different mountain, one of the main things that springs to my mind with the word complete is getting the whole railway C'fon to Port fettled as some sections on the first 3 Phases still aren't finished really, with work I've heared you could probably get the speed up on some of these sections as its still quite slow really. 4 years is with money, I'd expect it will quite a bit longer than 4 years without money. Porthmadog this year I think looks unlikely, its even been put like this on some of the TV press from what I remember, but you never know miracles do happen!
     
  7. railwayduncan2

    railwayduncan2 New Member

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    Hi,

    I agree there is still a lot to do. track fettling wise the areas of phase 4 open are pretty much complete but fettling will be required as the track beds in over time. The first priority is getting the rest of phase 4 to an equal standard of the sections openned. last time I was there some sections were lacking any ballast! From what I gather with funds once the Welsh Highland is paid back the money the council owe them this should cover the cross town link costs. Because of the scale of the project things have been learnt going on. A good example is the jim crowing and staggered joints which the results have given much smoother running. From what I gather as someone on the trackgangs work has been done already at salem on phase 3. Although I was unable to attend I gather the track was quite bad and is now significantly better. I gather attention will be to caernarfon to Dinas once the phase 4 track is done as areas will need attention after 10 years running.

    As timescales go end of the year if the funds go through for the signalling to get the track and signals in order to open. AS far as dates 2010 etc I think a lot will depend on how much needs to be done on the cross town link. Getting to the cross town link by the end of the year should be feasible. Being optimistic I'd like it to done and open by the end of the year as this would allow the trackgangs to focus attention on the Dinas section in the Winter maintenance section. On the loco front 143s tickets expires soon unless they are able to get an extension on its boiler ticket so the priority will be to get 138 in steam asap followed by 143s overhaul. Stations wise I agree both stations mentioned need improvement but I suspect that so long as the basics such as toilets and ticket offices are in place the rest will happen as funds are avaliable.

    Anyway just a few of my thoughts on it all.
     
  8. TonyW

    TonyW New Member

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    Since this programme of work was announced, it has puzzled me as to why the track was not laid using this methodology in the first place. It would surely have been quicker to have done it then, rather than go back and rectify the situation and faults afterwards.

    Or was it just a case of getting the track panels laid as quickly as possible, no matter how good or bad the finished result was. Rivalry between the two track gangs perhaps?
     
  9. Christopher125

    Christopher125 Part of the furniture

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    Correct me if im wrong, but i think staggered joints (and pre-curved rails) were put in during phase 4 tracklaying, with jim crowing/stronger fishplates only done when it was discovered how works trains were straightening the curves above Beddgelert by which time the track gangs had progressed to the straighter sections. Its a shame this wasnt done on the earlier phases, my only guess is that the piecemeal tracklaying meant there wasnt the same lengthy period of heavy works trains as on phase 4 to flag up the problem before opening?

    Chris
     
  10. TonyW

    TonyW New Member

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    I don't know about all cases, but I found this at http://whr.bangor.ac.uk/phase4/pcg-ruffydd.htm, penultimate paragraph:

    The Black Hand Gang relaid part of the track through the crossing at Hafod Ruffydd over the weekend of June 21st-22nd 2008. This was done to put staggered rail joints into the curve at this location, which had been problematic since it was first laid, and create a smooth curve. The job involved first moving rail either north or south to achieve the stagger, which was done on the Saturday in an almost continuous downpour. On the Sunday, which was dry, the sleepers were repositioned to give the required support at the newly positioned rail joints, and achieve the 26 sleepers specified for lengths of track with staggered rail joints. This work also involved introducing new sleepers into each section.
     
  11. D1059

    D1059 Member

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  12. SillyBilly

    SillyBilly Member

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    Nice photos, allthough you've got the driver and the fireman the wrong way round!
     
  13. D1059

    D1059 Member

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    Damm, it was a 50-50 chance and I got it wrong #-o . Thanks - I will amend the captions in due course

    STEVE
     
  14. Christopher125

    Christopher125 Part of the furniture

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  15. Achar2001

    Achar2001 New Member

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  16. the-gog

    the-gog Member

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    Article also in the new issue of Heritage Railway.
     
  17. Sheff

    Sheff Resident of Nat Pres

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    Some more good news from http://www.isengard.co.uk/......

    "With Summer High season approaching fast the decision has been taken to send another two coaches from the FR's fleet to improve capacity. Presumably these will transfer via the CTRL. Although the preferred option was Nos.22/26, they have the wrong kind of electrical connectors so Nos.119-120 are to be sent north. They will normally be marshalled next to the lock up coaches Nos.23/24 at the bike wagon end of the train. The transfer is expected within a week and the new 9 coach trains should be in use by late June".
     
  18. Smalllittlepuppy

    Smalllittlepuppy New Member

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    Oh dear, I'm sure this will upset the usual suspects on the FR!
     
  19. meeee

    meeee Member

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    Not really they can have as many of those horrible tin cans as they want. Also 22/26 don't have the wrong connectors in fact they have the right ones. They are used to translate between the new electrics on the corridor coaches and the old style electrics on the vintage coaches. I think 12 or whatever number it has this week also does this.

    Tim
     
  20. Christopher125

    Christopher125 Part of the furniture

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    A fantastic on-board video of VoF heading through the pass in perfect weather conditions, well worth a look.

    Click Here

    Chris
     

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