HANDS ACROSS THE SEA - much more than a token gesture..!

Hopefully the moderators will forgive this dual-posting - but I've only just been admitted to the 'News Group', and I'd like to pass this news on to a wider audience than just the narrow [gauge] minded... ;-)

Following the successful conclusion of negotiations between the FRCo and Iarnród Éireann, we are pleased to publicly announce the acquisition of sufficient token instruments to equip the full length of the RhE/WHR…

A five-year quest that stretched across the globe has been brought to a successful end thanks to Celtic camaraderie and the generosity of Iarnród Éireann, the state-owned railway network of the Irish Republic.

The Ffestiniog Railway Company had been searching for extremely rare Single Line Token Instruments for half a decade, with fruitless leads as far away as South America - with ‘Plan B’ including South Africa and India!

But hearing of their plight, Iarnród Éireann decided to assist their Celtic cousins and ensure the Rheilffordd Eryri / Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarfon) has the essential equipment ready for its grand-opening in 2009.

(In an act of great generosity, Iarnród Éireann has sold 17 Single Line Token Instruments at discount price.)

Paul Lewin, General Manager of the Ffestiniog Railway Company, said: “The safety of Ffestiniog Railway Operations has been ensured for over 100 years by use of the Electric Token System. Understandably, we were very keen to use the same system for the new WHR (C).

“However, at one stage this was looking to be almost impossible as no equipment could be found. But hearing of our plight, Iarnród Éireann worked very hard to release suitable equipment and we are immensely grateful to them.”

A spokesman for Iarnród Éireann said: “We were approached through the company’s Heritage Officer Gregg Ryan to see if we could help, and disused equipment displaced from our network during the recent nationwide rail modernisation programme was identified as suitable.”

“We were delighted to find a home for this equipment, in the setting of an operating railway where it will continue to have a useful working life into the future.”

The token instruments were collected from Inchicore Works, and transported to North Wales, on Thursday 28th August. They were transferred to secure storage yesterday. There will be an official presentation and handover of the Token Instruments at Harbour Station on Monday 1st September, starting at 10.45am…

Photographs:

The newly arrived token instruments await unloading at Boston Lodge...





Martin Duncan (FRCo S&T Manager) and John Maxey (FRCo S&T Technician) looking very happy with the collection of new toys they have to play with!!