Rare Nameplate Sale...... and other news from the WHR(P)

Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog)

November 2007

** RARE NAMEPLATE AUCTION – A replica of the nameplate carried by the historic WHR steam locomotive “Russell” during its days in industrial service has gone on sale. The nameplate is an exact copy of the plate carried by the Hunslet 2-6-2T from 1942 – 1953, when working in Oxfordshire and Dorset, and has been hand finished by one of the team restoring Russell.

This type of nameplate has not been offered for sale before, and is the final numbered copy in a one-off series of five. The live auction is here - http://tinyurl.com/2k7azg

More on Russell’s nameplates can be found here - http://www.russell2009.fr/nameplate.html

** SHOP & TEA ROOM OPEN – The WHR(P) Railway Bookshop is open throughout the winter season. As ever, we've one of the best selections of railway books in Wales. If you're in the area, do call in and see us - we're opposite Porthmadog Network Rail station.

Some titles now in stock……
- The Llandudno and Colwyn Bay Electric Railway
by Keith Turner - £11.95
- Branch Lines around Cleobury Mortimer
by Vic Mitchell and Keith Smith - £14.95
- St. John’s Lewisham – 50 Years on,
by Peter Tatlow - £12.95

The WHR(P) station tea room is also open, serving late breakfasts, light lunches and home made cakes through the winter season. Traditional Sunday Lunch is also served from 12:00-14:30 (on Sundays of course)……

Shop opening times: Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday; 10:00-16:00
Tea room opening times: Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday; 10:00-16:00

** THANK YOU! The Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog) has had a record-breaking season. Passenger numbers are up by almost 11% to their highest total for over ten years. Almost forty thousand return journeys were made during 2007, with everyone from a lady of 99 to the Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales visiting the line. As ever, visitors also had chance to tour the engine sheds during their journey, with the newly extended miniature railway proving a particular success during the year.

James Hewett, Chairman of the Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog) said: “2007 has been an exceeded all our expectations. Thanks go to everyone who has visited us during the year, and particularly to our own volunteers, who’ve turned out in all weathers to keep the railway running.”

** WEBCAM – A new webcam showing part of the WHR construction site is now on test. It’s been installed overlooking the Cross Town Rail Link, the section of line which links the existing WHR(P) at Pen-y-Mount with the Ffestiniog Railway’s Harbour Station. The new webcam shows the view northwards as the new section of line passes the WHR(P) Gelerts Farm Works, and has been set up in response to a number of requests from enthusiasts, keen for chance to see the construction site from the comfort of their computer chair. http://webcam.whr.co.uk/harbourbranch

** AND NEXT YEAR? The 2008 season kicks off on 15th March 2008, with trains running every day (almost) until 2nd November. See you there……