The WHR, success or flop ?

If we'd wanted to provide a commuter service, we'd have bought a fleet of buses, not rebuilt the railway.

 

I'd have to agree with Andrews points. Being involved myself (be it in a small capacity) was one of the best things I've done so far. My only regret was not being able to be involved sooner and the time to get up there more often. Hoping where time allows to be there this winter.

Regarding railcars its probably best to look at the welsh highland free forums page as there was quite a detailed discussion on there from converted b wagons to diesel and carriages and everything in between!

Regards
Duncan

 

I really dont see why you need a railcar to solve either of those issues - if anything, the WHR's gradients and the limitations on the size and weight of the railcar engine might well make it slower than a diesel-hauled equivalent, plus all the issues of noise and flexibility that you get combining the motive power with the carriage.

Of course it will be great to see the Launceston-based one used on the WHR when finished, but unless its got a seriously meaty motor i'd be amazed if it saw regular service up the 1 in 40 with its various speed restrictions and station stops.

Chris

 

Where did I mention commuting. THE WHR has the potential to get alot of walkers/ramblers of all levels into the heart of Snowdonia by train and to leave their cars off the congested roads. That potential is there all year round. I think that in early grant applications that was fairly heavily pushed as a potential benefit. Fine the WHR may not want to service that market but as I am sure you are aware there is a huge and growing market out there of people who will use the train as part of their day out combined with a walk, lunch, whatever.

OK maybe I am being selfish but me and my family are part of that market and very year I look at the WHR and think can we incorporate that into X Y or Z and every year the answer has been no.

 

I am realistic enough to accept you are right as I think it is totally impracticable to build and run in a way that would be different to the way the WHR currently runs trains. E.g even if there was a vehicle that could hypothetically run at say 40mph to do so would I presume require a complete change in regulations and associated infrastructure.

This is not a dig at the FR/WHR and may have been totally fanciful thinking but I would have loved WAG to have rebuilt the line and infrastructure and then allowed "operating" companies run trains on the line. You could have had the FR running the steam/heritage trains and A N Other running faster public transport type services.

As I said it is/was totally fanciful thinking but I just thought there was potential for a bit of lateral thought and to have tried something different from a narrow gauge train just plodding back and forth. Basically having brought trams back to the cities I thought it was a great chance to trial a modern narrow gauge railway in the coutryside that could also be used for the traditional steam hauled services. If it worked it could have been a model for looking at opening up other old lines as I have never understood the UK's idea that narrow gauge means tourist railway and if you want any other sort of train service it must be standard gauge.

That though is really a bit off topic but I really would love to see somewhere in the UK a modern narrow gauge system trialled

 

Why on earth would you not be able to incorporate a ride on the WHR into that? It's perfectly possible to ride from Port to Snowdon Ranger, alight to walk up Snowdon and back again, similarly possible to ride from Caernarfon to Beddgelert and stop for lunch at the Royal Goat. It sounds like you're thinking up vague criticisms on the spot.

 

Oh crikey, this sounds suspiciously like the 'North Wales Tramway' fantasy peddled by our dear old multiple-account using friend renovator. The thread was probably deleted but the conclusions were clear, werent you around back then?

(im getting a nasty feeling of déja vu...)

Chris

 

...ok, i've just gone back and found the relevant thread (beginning page 45) where railcars and a public transport service were discussed. The same arguments against both apply just as much two years later.

 

Sorry about that. I live in the IoM where the Steam Railway line was relaid a few years ago and designed to be able to cope with rail cars ar 40mph +. Due to lack of funds that is something that has never happened but it has always made me wonder and from time to time the issue raises its head

Ignoring Renovators "North Wales Tramway" fantasy I do wonder if in the future that just as trams have made there way back into cities there might be a role for a narow gauge light railway system in some of our busier rural areas.

I also did say that I recognised it was fantasy thinking but as I said not for this thread.

 

On my own I could but with my family It useful to have a bit of flexibility. I would love to travel from Port or P/C to Beddgelert for lunch. The train basically gets me there so I could book for 1:15 but I can not return for another 3 and a half hours. Maybe great on a fine day but on a pissing wet day with kids not great.

As I said I live on the IoM and have a railway on my doorstep which as a family we and others would love to use more often but the infrequency of services makes it a pain in the backside. You either have to rush off when you are enjoying yourself or risk hanging around with board kids for ages if you stay a bit longer.

I apologising if I am tarring the WHR with the same brush but if I am looking for a relaxing day out with the family a train every few hours is not part of the recipe. If kids are wet and cold there is a certain amount of time you can distract them with a drink and a cake etc but anything above an hour is a struggle.

This is only my opinion and you are perfectly entitled to think it is rubbish, but as a family although our school holidays in the ioM are different to the UK's we do try and ensure we have a family holiday at the peak times just so that when we use the railways we can have a day out knowing that we do not have to keep a careful watch of the clock

 

I would like to know more about this tramway idea where is it ?

 

Ok, i have found it, the thread is called ''North wales transit'', i am now going to find all i can on this.

 

It was suggested by a troll who was banned shortly afterwards along with (at least some) of his alter-ego's, i dont think he was being serious...

Chris

 

It was a pleasant flight of fancy but of little or no substance. If he was serious he was ill-informed and misguided.

Ian King

 

Right, Mr Renovater is one of the project managers for the tramway of Brest in France, he is at present involved in the planning of extension line 2. Not only is he serious but he is evidently a friendly guy. His plans for the tramway in north Wales is still actuality. He was banned from here for no reason. He can be found on ''the works'' forum plus several others, he is very easy to contact. I think this forum owes him a big apology and that he should be reinstated straight away, from what i've just read many of you who are still on here should really be ashamed for ganging up on him. It would of been good to see what he has to offer in the way of ideas, even more so as he is in the business !!

 

Welcome back Mr Renovater... (!)

Rich

 

No doubt in time there will be an improved service. You can't have everything all at once, and if in the meantime some people get bored waiting there is s__ all you can do. The fact is that the line currently is a roaring success within what it has the equipment to offer, and the challenge is to build on that for the future. Same as with any other successful line. Success in business isn't a goal you reach and then you can fold your arms and relax, it has to be constantly fought for.

Some of the replies on here are definitly along the lines of 'if it doesn't fulfil my personal fantasy its a failure' - nothing that can be done about them either, I'm afraid. These are the people who wouldn't go to see the first steaming of their favourite loco if it was painted the 'wrong' colour.

 

........and i thought that was supposed to be me, LOL