WHR(P) Extension Opening and Other News

Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog) Spring Newsletter

** Extension Opening Date Confirmed

We are pleased to announce that the Welsh Highland Railway from Pen-y-Mount to Traeth Mawr Loop will officially open on Friday 23rd March 2007.

Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas AM, Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales will inaugurate the latest section of the line in the presence of volunteers, supporters and members of the local community.

The building work on this section has been entirely funded and undertaken by the volunteers of the Welsh Highland Railway Limited, using track materials supplied by Welsh Highland Railway Construction Limited, a subsidiary of the Festiniog Railway Company. The WHR Ltd currently operates the southern end of the line from its station in Porthmadog to Pen-y-Mount.

This new section forms part of the project to restore the railway in its entirety from Caernarfon to Porthmadog Harbour, by the Ffestiniog Railway, with the support of grants from The Welsh Assembly Government and the European Regional Development Fund, and also supported by private donations large and small from a great many people as well as much direct voluntary work.

James Hewett, Chairman of the Welsh Highland Railway Limited, said: "the completion of this short extension is a great achievement for the members and supporters of the company who have waited over forty years to see this happen in some cases. This section is the only part of the final phase of the Welsh Highland which has been completely built by volunteers, so we’re rightly proud of their achievement."

John Prideaux, Chairman of the Festiniog Railway Company, said : "the opening is another step closer towards our dream of seeing the Welsh Highland Railway restored in full. Work is progressing apace on completing the railway right through from Caernarfon to Porthmadog, due to open in 2009."

The opening ceremony will be followed by a series of inaugural trains for WHR Ltd Members and subscribers to the WHR Phase Four Appeal Fund before public trains commence on 1st April 2007.

** "Royal" Visitor For Extension Opening

The historic Ffestiniog Railway locomotive, "Prince", is to visit the Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog) over the weekend 23rd-25th March for the opening of the Welsh Highland from Pen-y-Mount to Traeth Mawr loop.

"Prince", which was built by George England in 1863, is the oldest working narrow gauge engine in Britain. It also has a long historic connection with the Welsh Highland, hauling the first train from Dinas to Porthmadog in 1923, and being a regular performer on the line in the 1920s and 1930s.

"Prince" will double head the opening train, and a series of inaugural specials for members with WHR(P) resident Bagnall 0-4-2T "Gelert" (3050 of 1953).

James Hewett, Chairman of the Welsh Highland Railway Ltd, said: "we're delighted to welcome this historic loco for its first visit to the WHR(P). The double headed train is symbolic of the partnership between the two organisations in making the Welsh Highland a world-class project."

John Prideaux, Chairman of the Festiniog Railway Company, said: "it is fitting that "Prince" should be present at the opening of this latest section of the Welsh Highland. This loco has been present at many key moments in the line’s history, including the visit by Prince Charles in 2003."

Members of the WHR(P) and contributors to the Ffestiniog Railway's Phase Four appeal fund will be able to ride on the new extension over the weekend 23rd-25th March 2007. Public passenger trains on the new stretch of line will begin on Sunday 1st April.

** Historic Industrial Visitor at May Bank Holiday Gala

Quarry Hunslet "Alice" (780 of 1902) is to visit the Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog) for its Narrow Gauge & Industrial Gala, 5th – 7th May 2007.

"Alice", which is based at the Bala Lake Railway in North Wales, will be hauling demonstration trains of slate wagons as well as passenger trains during the three day event.

Built originally for the Dinorwic Quarry near Llanberis, "Alice" worked there until about 1960. She finished her days being used for spare parts at the quarry, eventually returning to steam in 1994.

"Alice" has given her name to the Alice class of similar locomotives, and retains the traditional form of many Quarry Hunslets in not having a cab.

"Alice" is just one of the attractions at the WHR(P) May Bank Holiday gala, which is being staged jointly with the annual Porthmadog Model Railway Show. Both events have a narrow gauge and industrial theme.

Many of the WHR(P) collection of small industrial diesels will be in service during the weekend, including Simplex, Ruston and Barclay. It's hoped to run these locomotives with the sort of freight wagons that they would have been seen hauling during their working lives.

A regular passenger service will also be operating, using the WHR(P) rake of heritage carriages, hauled by resident Bagnall 0-4-2T "Gelert" itself a former industrial loco from a platinum mine in South Africa.

The Porthmadog Model Railway Show takes place on the Saturday and Sunday of the May Bank Holiday weekend at the Glaslyn Leisure Centre, directly opposite the WHR(P) station in Porthmadog. For directions visit http://www.whr.co.uk/WHR-Ltd/directions