FR, Quirks and Curiosities 30th april - 3rd May 2010

Bored of seeing the same old black engine and maroon coach combination at galas? Then the Festiniog Railway has the answer. From sailing boats on rails to WW1 speeders the railway will be trying to attract as many weird and wonderful 2ft gauge contraptions as it possibly can as well as showing off its own collection of narrow gauge oddities. Not only that it will hopefully be the first chance to see Britain's newest loco L&B replica Lyd in steam and the last chance to see one of the worlds oldest working locos Prince before it's 10 year overhaul.

More details will be added nearer the time but for now visit
http://cms.pro-action.co.uk/index.p...s-and-curiosities-2010&catid=3:news&Itemid=50
For more info and an appeal to anyone who wants to bring some unusual rolling stock to the party.

Tim

 

Now THAT's more like it!

 

When was the last time Ffestiniog held such a Big gala??

I only remember last year's Bank Holiday which they sort of did to gala standards....That was until Prince derailed near Tan-y-Bwlch.

 

The F and WHR last gala I guess was the WHR Garratt 50 event. As far as the Ffestiniog Specifically I'm not too sure. The event looks interesting and it will be good to have more focus on the FR side in 2010.

I didn't know about Prince's derailment but I was there last May Bank holiday and remember the triple header at Porthmadog later in the day. Managed to see Boston Lodge early before we all headed to work on the WHR near Hafod-Y-Llyn.

Picture attached.

Be interesting to see the gala next year.

Regards

Duncan

 

picture I forgot..

regards

Duncan

 

Sound's good, been a while since the Festiniog has done a proper gala...

 

This looks very good indeed.

Why not get hold of Rich Morris at Blaenau - perhaps he could be convinced to let out RailTaxi, the Wickham or the steam tram for a couple of days? They haven't been seen on a public line for very many years.

 

Are there any announcements on visiting stock due soon?

 

Nothing offical yet and i don't want to spoil it for the organisers. For the moment here is a taster of the kind of thing you can expect.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCGFqi7e8yk

Tim

 

Generally for the past couple of years its just been the high summer timetable with a couple of little specials pasted in with very few side attractions, which is fine because the FR high summer timetable is intense. So it does get much better.

The Rail Taxi & the Steam Tram are both nackered and as Rich hasn't been too well recently he's not too keen about takeing un-operational stuff. I'm still working on the convincing for other pieces.

The currently confirmed attractions list is now out at www.ffestiniograilway.co.uk/qc .
Check out the gallery page for a photo of Leary, probably the first time this has appeared publically on the web.
Travel on trains for members of the Ffestiniog Railway Society is free at this event, so it's well worth getting on the society website and joining up www.ffestiniograilway.org.uk .

 

Looking forward to this event!
There will be plenty to do and see.

 

The latest update on the Ffestiniog Railway Society website provides a round up of what will be happening at the May Day Quirks & Cuiriosities event on the railway.
http://www.ffestiniograilway.org.uk...quirks-and-curiosities&catid=3:news&Itemid=50

As you can tell it's THE event to be at, it will certainly not bore you as there are many diverse attractions, and a variety of different trains which won't be running in the same pattern all day.

 

Britain's newest steam loco became the first Quirk to arrive at the weekend.
http://www.ffestiniograilway.org.uk...4:quirks-leary-arrives&catid=3:news&Itemid=50

 

Well it promised to be THE railway event of the year, and was nothing short of that, the platform at Port was busy with spectators from Saturday morning right the way through to Monday afternoon, and there was plenty of interest constantly happening, who knew what would appear accross the cob next?!? It also happend to be an event anyone could enjoy, not just the gricers, who doesn't want to be watching the Boat silently sail in to the platform road at Port.
FR Galas over the past few years haven't been up to previous standards, but this really showed that the FR is still keeping a firm grip on the top.

Gravity Train at the Summit

Verticals at Penrhyn

Slate Train heads up through the woods

Busy yard at Boston Lodge

Prince rounds the curve with the Victorian train

Landy flanked by Moel-Y-Gest

Gherkin head for Tan-Y-Bwlch

 

Rail-Cycle WOWs the crowds as it takes its place in the cavalcade

MONSTER brings the world’s newest steam loco in to Harbour Station