Welsh Highland latest

[Phil Raynes]

Since the links (on the old messages) have disappeared with the old board, here are the links to current updates on the Welsh Highland Rwy:
Latest news: http://whr.bangor.ac.uk/whlatest.htm
Changelog, with the REALLY latest news(!): http://whr.bangor.ac.uk/changelog.htm

To bring you up to date, most of the summer has been spent (1) installing the railroad crossing and base for new passing siding at Pont Croesor, (2) building 2 farm field access bridges (basically two huge pipes!), (3) installing a continuously welded rail tramway (in-road "trolley" tracks) near the standard gauge crossing, and (4) installing the track across the highway bridge/railroad crossing (more tramway) into the Ffestiniog station at Porthmadog.  These are all nearing completion, and volunteers will soon (August?) be completing the tracklaying to connect them all together.  When complete, at least one new coach (possibly two or three) and Garratt 2-6-2+2-6-2 #89 (also being rebuilt) will be some of the first equipment to use it, being moved onto the WHRwy for placing into service.

Phil

[Bill Sample]

Thanks for the report, Phil.   I take it the equipment is getting rebuilt at the Boston Lodge Works and that there is no loading gauge problem over the Cobh on the FR.  I'm looking forward to my next visit - my previous time there was back in the 80s.  I saw some of the WHR then - it was kind of like looking at the WW&F up beyond Whitefield these days.  It will be nice to see and ride the entire line.

[Phil Raynes]

Hi Bill,

You are correct, there is no loading gauge problem for the larger WHRwy equipment from the Boston Lodge works to the Ffestiniiog/Welsh Highland Station at Porthmadog.  Just beyond Boston Lodge, there is a highway bridge that blocks WHRwy coaches and locomotives, although the Ffestiniog does have at least one of the large South African gondolas which they can use throughout the Ffestiniog system (I believe they use it for coal deliveries).

By the way, in an unrelated note, the Ffestiniog has run several STEAM lumber trains this year.  There is an area alongside the Ffestiniog which is having lumber removed, and they used one of the Fairlies to haul the lumber train to the unloading location - quite an interesting series of photos!

Phil

[James Patten]

Per the Isengard website http://www.isengard.co.uk/ the head of steel of the southward expansion of the WHR(C) is within 1000 feet of the northerly extension of the WHR(P).  They should connect up tomorrow!

There's still 3 or 4 gaps left after this one, but I'd guess they'll close pretty fast.

[John L Dobson]

There's an even more extensive photo archive of the track laying carried out on the WHR during the last few days at:

http://whr.bangor.ac.uk/

Click on 'Changelog' and take it from there

[John L Dobson]

The WHR(C) gang laying the final lengths of track from Pont Croesor finally met up with the end of the track already laid out from Porthmadog [the bit already being used by WHR(P)] at around 4.30pm this afternoon. An impromptu 'golden (painted) Pandrol clip' ceremony was held, although there are various short stretches of track in Porthmadog remaining to be laid (and a lot of lining and levelling) before a complete 40-mile line connecting Blaenau Ffestiniog with Caernarfon is achieved.

Photos at http://whr.bangor.ac.uk/

[Glenn Christensen]

The WHR(C) gang laying the final lengths of track from Pont Croesor finally met up with the end of the track already laid out from Porthmadog [the bit already being used by WHR(P)] at around 4.30pm this afternoon.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!

I've been avidly following the progress of the project since the early nineties. Everyone involved has shown tremendous determination and dedication over the ensuing 16 years (and some since 1964!)  This has truly been an incredible and hard-won undertaking and its continuing progress does you all tremendous credit.  Your experiences and continuing success are an immense inspiration over here!

I hope to experience the complete work for myself in the next year or so!


Sincerely,
Glenn