WHR General Discussion.

Even the original VofR locos were far too wide for the FR and probably the WHR as well thats why that never happend, also the FR had loads of locos. It's rumored that the WHR tried to buy one of the original VofR locos when the GWR replaced them in the 20s but wisely decided against it.

Tim

 

But I guess that's down to the locomotives being used, rather than the railway? When some of the smaller FR/WHR locos are used in future, in "off peak" trains, or heritage special trains etc, I'm sure they will display more "noise and thrash". It will be great to see the likes of Taliesin, Russell, Linda, Blanche, Prince + Palmerston, etc, storm up the line.

In the meantime, the fact that the "regular locos" - i.e. the Garratts - don't disturb the peace and tranquility of the Snowdonia National Park too much (and Wildlife, which in future will include the Osprey nesting site when the running line extends to, and beyond, Pont Croesor), is probably seen as quite a good thing by many people!

 

The main problem as far as the VofR is concerned (this came from one of the VofR people) is that the GWR gave the locos their standard wheel profile, so they have big flanges, ect, and I've heared that it's highly unlikely that they'd cope with the points in that respect.

 

I am sure those responsible for maintenance also find it preferable that the engines are working well within their capabilities that worling at or near their limits.

 

The SMR? It's not a railway, it's a bloody escalator.

 

And a bloomin' expensive one (unless the prices have come down recently...!)

 

Just about the same as the WHR actually!!!

 

If you travel alone... However, for a family of 2 Adults and 2 Children, for example - WHR £50... SMR £82...

 

Yeah; right. I know several escalator enthusiasts that would take exception to that!

 

They are both too much

 

Simple then, do the only thing that really makes sense(unless the boat's out, which will just remind you what life's all about), go on the world's finest railway, tickets for a typical 2+2 situation on the Ffestiniog Railway is £36.90, you can do two trips for that, or break it at Tan-Y-Bwlch and go for a lovely walk and catch a later train.

 

From a commercial viewpoint they seem to have got them just right given the success at filling trains this year. Of course, if you really cant afford full whack you can always do Waunfawr or Beddgelert to HyL instead.

Chris

 

Ticket to ride

Indeed. The whole point of the WHR is that it can be used as a proper railway that serves a number of places. It's not just a ride to the end of the line and back.

Does everyone who uses the East Coast Main Line go from London to Edinburgh and back?

 

No, but but they should think about mortgaging their houses to find out!

 

But then we go full circle to the railway having a the speed, frequency and cost of service to enable it to be used by the punter as a means of transport.

 

Serving a range of destinations is not the same as being a 'means of transport', as we've established in this thread many times before the WHR is completely unsuitable for such a service.

Chris

 

It was stated that "it can be used as a proper railway that serves a number of places". It was that sentenance I was replying to.

I accept that that the WHR is completely unsuitable to be used as a means of transport as you state in which case it is hard to consider that it can be used as a proper railway serving a number of destinations. I see that as meaning it can be used as a means of transport as that is what in general railways are used for. That is why I stated we have gone full circle, i.e back to the original starting point of it being used as ameans of transport!

 

Is not the issue here simply speed? For a satisfactory general purpose public transport system it needs to be a fast as possible. On the other hand, for a system moving tourists around to wherever they want to go, speed is not an issue. If it is too fast they will not be able to admire the scenery satisfactorily or feel thety have had value for money.

 

I thought that was part of the whole ethos behind re-opening of the railway with so much public money. ie to get tourists cars off the roads and I would have thought by definition that would mean it is providing a "means of transport"

 

I'd argue that there's a difference between a tourist attraction which can, when finished, take cars and coaches off the road, and a railway operating as a 'means of transport' i.e deliberately setting out to fulfill a public transport role.

Hopefully the WHR will remove some of the cars and coaches as a side-effect of allowing the people who travel not only to enjoy a leisurely and scenic train ride to combine it with a visit to Beddgelert and the pass as well, so that they dont then visit it with their cars or on their coach - to do this though you need to make the line attractive to casual visitors, and thats why the line runs steam and heritage-type carriages rather than diesels and trams.

Chris