Blaenau branch

They are light enough to be lifted off the rails. Apparently on the continent common etiquette decrees that the greater number should be allowed to pass. In the case of one on one, whichever is going up the gradient is allowed to continue. On the flat...well, brush up your angry French! Or Welsh in this case of course...

 

I don't see it getting past the H&S police. Remember when they tried to demonstrate the importance of seatbelts by having a demonstrator in the form of of a chair that slid sownhill to a jerk stop at about 7mph. Unless these have a speed limiter (difficult but) then this will end in tears and litigation.

Publicity stunt?

 

You can get around most things with a disclaimer of liability and a safety briefing. I recently spent a pleasant afternoon 'going ape' in Haldon Forest. It was totally within my control to attach the safety lines or not, so was either safe, or flippin dangerous. if that can operate, then bikes on rails should be no problem (I hope anyway. Sounds like a great hoot!)

 

It probably wont come as a huge surprise to hear that Colin Dale, who planned to reopen the Trawsfynydd Branch, has vanished - to quote the C&D Herald, "Mr Dale stated the not-for-profit venture could create up to 20 jobs locally, but now, two years on, Mr Dale appears to have vanished, leaving a trail of creditors and dashed hopes".

http://www.caernarfonherald.co.uk/c...ed-to-revive-railway-vanishes-88817-29545826/

Chris

 

No surprise at all. What did surprise me is that anyone took himseriously in the first place.

Meic

 

I wonder if Colin Dale was his real name .It sounds like Colindale which is in north London.

 

My mother actually met and spoke with Colin at the café he owned on the edge of Trawsfynydd reservoir earlier in the Summer. Apparently he was hopeful about the railway then. My mother spoke to him for the best part of an hour and got the impression he was being bankrolled by a co-investor so perhaps that's the person speaking in the article. The café was always empty apparently which was no surprise given its location.

 

There are actually 3 interesting rail related stories in the exciting Caerarfon Herald. Gwynedd news - Caernarfon, the Llyn Peninsula, Eifionydd, Meirionnydd, Dyffryn Nantlle and Dyffryn Peris

Two relate to this story:
Colin Dale appears to have fallen out with his landlords. Businessman slams landlords as they seek to evict him from Trawsfynydd cafe - Caernarfon Herald . All as clear as mud.

The velorail will be doing a demo on all of 215m (that's metres)... Trial run for velorail project - Caernarfon Herald

The third (off topic) is a local town councillor making misguided trouble again for the FR.

I walked along the northern part of the line over the new year and I guess that 215m is about as far as you could get a Velorail before having to tackle some bush clearance. However, it shouldn't be too difficult to run a flail along and the track is in reasonable condition for lightweight use. Not sure how it will go for H&S though as those sleepers are slippy.

 

Ah yes, no doubt much to his annoyance Porthmadog Town Council has been informed that the railway does have the relevant permissions for the cob work - and what was the headline they chose for this article?

'SCORN ON THE COB'

Brilliant!

Chris

 

I wouldn't want to run anything heavier than a Velorail along there. Some of the bridges aren't too hot. A few annoying trees in the way is the least of your worries in reopening this branch.

Tim

 

hahaha! Ahh fantastic. And they say the standard of journalism has gone down...!

 

Incidentally, tracked down Colin Dale.

The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame: Disc-Jockeys D

Home - Colin Dale Radio Sutch

Now running an antiques shop in Llandudno.

 

I believe that Colin Dale has denied he is this Colin Dale.

 

BBC News - Pedal-power velorail trains set for Blaenau Ffestiniog

Will

 

Fantastic. I'm going on it!

 

Just how practicable is this Velorail idea. It surely won't work if it becomes popular! How many Velorail vehicles are intended? One or several?

Imagine there is only one Velorail vehicle. You're still going to have to lift it off to turn it round at the far end. Fine for four strapping railway enthusiasts, but Mum n Dad n Granny and the kids might be less able. If there are two vehicles out, you will meet the other one at least once possibly twice, add in turning and there's potential for three off-track lifts during one out and back trip. Or am I misunderstanding something.

If there are three vehicles in use I make it three to five off-tracks; four vehicles, four to seven. At some point it will cease to be a jolly lark and Mum n Dad will get seriously fed up.

 

There is really no need to get one's underwear in disarray! Such operations are sufficiently widespread in France to suggest there are no real problems.

P.H.

 

There are about 50 routes in use in France with at least 5 different makers of metre and standard bikes, see Rseaux - Velorails de France - Fdration des exploitants de vlos-rail et cyclos-draisines

 

I wondered what happened when you meet another coming the other way. Apparently there is velorail etiquette (or 'veloquette'?) those on the downgrade lift theirs off to allow the party coming up to pass. If on the dead level, then I've no idea. Age before beauty maybe?

 

Typically the bikes would start from one end over a period and relax at half way and then the other end, wait for the group to arrive before returning, to minimise the meets, the emphasis is on family fun rather than competitive racing, a bit like many french tourist trains which might make a single round trip on a sunday afternoon and not the regular service through the day over here.