Welsh Highland Railway
Encyclopedia
The Welsh Highland Railway (WHR) is a 25 miles (40.2 km) long restored narrow gauge heritage railway
in North Wales
, operating from Caernarfon
to Porthmadog
, and passing through a number of popular tourist destinations including Beddgelert
and the Aberglaslyn Pass
. At Porthmadog it connects with the Ffestiniog Railway
and to the short Welsh Highland Heritage Railway. In Porthmadog it uses the United Kingdom
's only mixed gauge flat rail crossing
.
The restoration, which was mainly performed by volunteers, received a number of awards. Originally running from Dinas
near Caernarfon
to Porthmadog
, the current line includes an additional section from Dinas to Caernarfon. The original line also had branches to Bryngwyn and the slate quarries
at Moel Tryfan
, which have not been restored.
There is also the 0.75 miles (1.2 km) long Welsh Highland Heritage Railway which runs from Porthmadog
along the trackbed of the former Cambrian Railway exchange siding and connects to the WHR main line at Pen-y-Mount junction.
(NWNGR) and the Portmadoc, Beddgelert and South Snowdon Railway
(PBSSR), successor to the Portmadoc, Croesor and Beddgelert Tram Railway
. Unfortunately, it was never a commercial success.
had run from Portmadoc since 1863 up into the Croesor Valley and the slate quarries in this area. This was a horse-worked line laid to a nominal 2 foot gauge.
The NWNGR had originally built a gauge line from a junction with the standard gauge London and North Western Railway
line at Dinas
to Bryngwyn with a branch from Tryfan Junction via Waunfawr
to Llyn Cwellyn
(Snowdon Ranger
). The line was opened in 1877 and was extended to South Snowdon (Rhyd Ddu
) in 1881, a total of 9 miles. This closed to passengers in 1916 but goods traffic continued up to its absorption by the WHR in 1922.
In 1902, the newly-formed PBSSR took over the failed Portmadoc, Croesor and Beddgelert Tram Railway with the aim of extending it to South Snowdon slate quarry in the Nant Gwynant
Pass. Work was abandoned by the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, although the tunnels through the Aberglaslyn Pass
were mostly completed.
The LRO was passed in 1922, following a public enquiry. The budget was £75,000 and much of the funding was borrowed from the Ministry of Transport
and local authorities. According to the historian Peter Johnson, this would become a burden as the railway needed to generate the unlikely sum of £3,750 profit each year to service the debt.
Two further LROs enabled improvements to the railway's alignment at Beddgelert
, a new station site in Porthmadog and a link to the Festiniog Railway. McAlpine & Sons
were contracted to refurbish the existing lines and complete the link between Rhyd Ddu
and Croesor Junction, thus creating a railway that ran from Dinas to join the Festiniog Railway at Porthmadog. Like the modern day WHR, the railway was opened in stages. The former NWNGR section re-opened on 31 July 1922 and the remainder on 1 June 1923.
over the costs of the crossing over its line at Porthmadog also caused problems, despite the crossing having been used since 1867 without any charges or problems. The railway even had to resort to escorting passengers across the crossing on foot.
After 1923, it was unable to pay debenture interest and, in 1927, the county council sued and put the railway into receivership. Services continued and, by 1933, it was run down and the local authorities decided to close it.
The FR Co. attempted to change the line's fortunes by re-focusing on the tourist market. This included painting the carriages bright colours, including yellow and blue, and promoting the Aberglaslyn Pass
as a destination by renaming Nantmor station as Aberglaslyn. They also tried to promote round trip (return) journeys, with passengers taking the standard gauge line to Dinas
, travelling on the WHR and the Festiniog Railway to Blaenau Ffestiniog
and then changing again to take the standard gauge railway to their original starting point.
Despite these attempts, the FR Co. were unsuccessful and the last passenger train ran in 1937. The early tourist industry did not provide sufficient visitors to make the railway pay, especially during the Depression
. Competition from buses which ran a faster and more regular service from Caernarfon
and Beddgelert
also played a part. The last passenger train ran on 5 September 1936 and, in February 1937, the FR decided not to run the WHR again.
. Much of the rolling stock was sold off and most of the track was demolished. The Croesor tramway section was left intact in case the slate quarries re-opened and was finally demolished in 1948.
In 1943, the FR surrendered its lease and, in exchange for £550 compensation, it was allowed to keep 'Single Fairlie' Moel Tryfan (although it only paid £150).
Various legal manoeuvres followed this, including a serious application to turn the route into a long-distance footpath. Although these plans were ultimately unfruitful, they ensured that the trackbed was kept mainly intact, rather than sold off bit by bit, which would have made restoration much more difficult and potentially expensive. However, some parts such as the sites of Rhyd Ddu and Dinas stations were sold off.
The origins of the WHRL restoration efforts, tentatively began in 1961 when disagreements within the volunteers of the Festiniog Railway and a group of like-minded railway enthusiasts
, joined to form The Welsh Highland Railway Society. This group is the precursor of what eventually became WHR Ltd., which owns and operates the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway (WHHR). Legal problems meant they were unable to take over the old company so, in the 1970s, the group purchased the former standard gauge exchange sidings (the Beddgelert Siding) near Tremadog Road, Portmadog, from British Railways to use as a base. In 1980, they began running passenger services over the line that is now known as the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway. They also acquired an original WHR locomotive Russell, which began working passenger services in 1987.
In the mid 1980s, a number of FR Co. employees became concerned about impact of possible competition from a rebuilt WHR and passed this view on to the FR management. In 1987, this resulted in a confidential offer to buy the WHR track bed from the official receiver for £16,000 in order to prevent the WHR being developed. In 1989, the offer became public, causing a backlash against the FR Co.
In 1990, a change of directors resulted in the FR Co.'s decision to take over the restoration of the WHR. After a long legal battle between the two companies, the FR Co. won control of the WHR track bed and it re-opened the railway in stages, starting in 1997. The line was completed in 2011.
. It is longer than the original line and starts from Caernarfon rather than Dinas. The extension was built on the trackbed of the former standard gauge Railway. Dinas station
is also built on the standard gauge railway rather than the original narrow gauge site, with the line moving onto the original WHR alignment just south of the station.
It is marketed by the FR Co. as The Welsh Highland Railway and Rheilffordd Eryri (Welsh
language for 'Snowdonia Railway'). The WHR's connection to the Ffestiniog Railway
means that the FR Co. controls almost 40 miles of narrow gauge railway and it often promotes both lines jointly as the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways.
:Rheilffordd Ucheldir Cymru) is a 1-mile (1.6 km) long heritage narrow gauge railway that is owned and operated by Welsh Highland Railway Ltd. (WHR Ltd.). It operates from its main station at Tremadog Road, Porthmadog to its terminus at Pen-y-Mount, where it connects to the FR Co. owned WHR main line.
WHR Ltd's primary focus is on recreating the atmosphere of the original Welsh Highland Railway. This includes replicas of original buildings, using original and replica carriages and rolling stock and the staff wearing period costume. It also has a museum at its Gelert's Farm Works
and every train halts there on the return journey to allow passengers to visit it. There is also a miniature railway and a tea room at its main Porthmadog station.
In 1998, both companies signed a memorandum of understanding, commonly known as the '98 agreement' and, in return, WHR Ltd. dropped its objections to the FR Co's application to restore the railway. This legally binding agreement gave each railway a number of rights and responsibilities, some of which related to the restoration work and some to its future operation.
The Welsh Highland Heritage railway is a 1-mile (1.6 km) long heritage railway which runs from Porthmadog and connects to the WHR main line at Pen-y-Mount junction. It is owned and operated by Welsh Highland Railway Ltd. (WHR Ltd.). This including the right to run services over the entire WHR once the line was completed (subject to a number of caveats). The exact nature of these rights are still under discussion.
Another key part of the agreement defined the names of the two companies' operations during the period that the line was restored. The FR Co. promoted their section as The Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarvon) (WHR C) and WHR Ltd. changed its operational name from The Welsh Highland Railway to The Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog) (WHR P). When the two sections were connected in 2008, WHR Ltd. changed its operational name to The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway and the FR Co. started to promote their operation as The Welsh Highland Railway.
translation of its name, despite the fact that North Wales has always been a heartland for the Welsh language. Local people tended to refer to it by informal names such as Y Lein Bach or Lein Bach Beddgelert (the little Beddgelert
railway).
In contrast, the restored line is known as both Rheilffordd Ucheldir Cymru and Rheilffordd Eryri. Rheilffordd Ucheldir Cymru (Welsh Highland Railway) has been used since 1980 by WHR Ltd. and Rheilffordd Eryri (literally Snowdonia Railway) is the Welsh title used by the FR Co for its WHR operations.
and Russell. When these proved insufficient, Baldwin 590 was acquired by H.F. Stephens and several Festiniog Railway locomotives saw regular use on the Welsh Highland Railway throughout its entire pre-closure existence from 1923 to 1937. 590 was planned to be part of a larger fleet to replace Moel Tryfan and Russell but it gained so little popularity that Stephens never bought another. By 1936 Moel Tryfan was out of use at Boston Lodge
. When Russell and 590 were withdrawn the following year, they were placed in Dinas shed, but when the Second World War broke out, the Ministry of War came to see about appropriating them for the war effort. After some examination of the engines and questionning of those who had worked them, Russell (regarded as a good engine) was removed for further use, and 590 (seen as an unreliable, rough rider with difficult controls and inadequate adhesion) was broken up at Dinas. Despite the unpopularity of 590, the WHR (Porthmadoc) is currently refurbishing a similar Baldwin to act as a replica.
During the ownership of the WHR by the Festiniog Railway Company, Moel Tryfan and Russell were cut down to allow them to traverse the Festiniog Railway to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Moel Tryfan proved suitable, but Russell, even in cut down form, was not low or narrow enough to fit the FR's highly restrictive loading gauge
. Russell is now owned by WHR Ltd and has been restored to its original profile.590 notably retained its original form until its demise.
The railway is a single track
line with passing loop
s at , , , and halt. There is also a loop at , which is normally locked out of use as a stabling point for engineering trains and as a passing loop for special trains.
As with any single track railway, there are strict rules managing the movement of trains to prevent more than one entering a section. The line is managed from a single 'Control
' office at Porthmadog Harbour Station
, which also performs the same task for the Ffestiniog Railway
. Control is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of trains, logs train movements on a train graph and acts as a single point of contact in emergencies. A system of tokens
is used to control train access to single line sections.
Communication between train crew and Control always occurs using a landline at stations. There is no in-cab radio system, and current regulations forbid use of such whilst in motion. As a backup system only, the guard carries a company mobile telephone for use in an emergency. This is not a primary system as cellular coverage is intermittent over the length of the line. HMRI insist on landlines as the main form of safety critical communication.
In order to enter any section of line, the train crew must obtain permission from Control and the relevant token
. Each section of line is a token block section. The WHR uses the traditional Staff and Ticket system in which trains can either be issued with the section token staff or a numbered ticket. Tickets allow multiple trains to pass one-at-a-time through a section in one directiion. The Controller advises the train crew which method they will be using. Tickets are kept in a locked box opened by a key on the token staff. This means the last train must use the token staff to pass through the section, so it can be used for trains to travel in the opposite direction. For additional protection, both the footplate crew and the guard must see the token or ticket before the train can depart.
At some stations an additional 'Shunt' token is used to allow shunting to take place (such as a locomotive 'running round' a train). They are provided at Dinas, Rhyd Ddu, Beddgelert, and at Pont Croesor. The shunt token can only be withdrawn with permission from Control and if there are no trains approaching the station in the adjacent single line sections. Withdrawing the token causes two yellow lights to go out on a warning board on the line approaching the station, preventing other trains from entering the station.
The majority of the points at passing loops are operated automatically using the Automatic Train Operated Trailable (ATOTP) system, rather than a manually operated lever or point motor. There are also no signals
to indicate that a train can enter a section. A 'Stop' board at the end of the platform orders the train to stop until the train crew have obtained permission to proceed from control and a token. At the end of the section, the train can proceed into the platform provided the lights are lit on the shunt token warning board and the relevant platform is clear.
ETS has been used on the Ffestiniog Railway
for many years and the FR Co were anxious to obtain enough ETS instruments to equip the WHR. After a long search, sufficient ETS equipment to operate the entire railway has been obtained from the Irish
railway company Iarnród Éireann
. The equipment became redundant after Iarnród Éireann recently modernised its signalling systems.
As the WHR has no telephone cabling to connect the system, the FR Co is developing a more modern alternative method of connecting the ETS machines. Until the system is finished, the WHR will continue using its current token systems.
-owned Cambrian coast line
using a flat crossing
. It existed on the old Welsh Highland Railway and was the source of much conflict between the old company and the Great Western Railway
over the cost of WHR trains using the crossing. On the modern WHR, the crossing is called Cae Pawb.
The crossing is constructed from a continuous cast lump of manganese steel
. Continuous 113 lb/yd rail is used for the standard gauge
section, with notches cut out to allow narrow gauge trains to cross. The WHR section is cast in 80 lb/yd rail as opposed to the WHR standard 60 lb/yd flat rail, which connects the crossing to the WHR narrow gauge lines either side.
Cae Pawb is at the north-western end of the Network Rail Harlech
to Porthmadog
signalling section, which is controlled from Machynlleth Control Centre
. Standard gauge trains are protected by signals and wide-to-gauge trap points on the WHR line, which are interlocked with the standard gauge ERTMS signalling. The crossing is activated locally and ERTMS automatically gives permission for WHR trains to cross provided the standard gauge section is available. A crossing controller operates the crossing when passenger trains are running, with operation at other times being carried out by the train crew.
A set of replica white wooden crossing gates separate the narrow gauge line from the standard gauge track and continue the Network Rail boundary fencing. They are left open when a crossing controller is present. The gates open inwards to prevent them blocking the standard gauge line. The WHR also hopes to install a replica signal box at some point in the future, though initially a small hut has been provided.
trains move direct to Porthmadog Harbour, where passengers alight. Currently the train pulls onto the Cob. A "pilot" loco then attaches to the rear and pulls the train into the Harbour Platform. At departure time, the pilot pulls the train onto the Cob to enable the train locomotive to be at the Caernarfon end of the train.
For the 2009 timetable operation, a "two set" operation was employed, with rolling stock being based at Dinas. During the year, operations were extended from Rhyd Ddu, first to Beddgelert on 7 April 2009, and then to Hafod y Llyn on 21 May 2009, site of a small halt on the original line. Although passengers could only board and alight at Hafod-y-Llyn, its remote location means that it can only be accessed by self-sufficient walkers and cyclists as there are no parking or other facilities at the halt and the platform is very short. It closed when was opened in 2010.
The Festiniog Railway Company had, at one point, planned to open the entire railway in 2007. Delays and funding restrictions meant that the opening was repeatedly delayed, with the full opening not happening until 2011. From the end of May 2010, the line was extended a further 3 miles (4.8 km) to . Shortly here-after the railway announced that it would finish, and as it had approval for service by the Safety Directorate of the Office of Rail Regulation
(ORR), the remaining section would be completed before the end of September 2010. The cause of this sudden rush was the ROTS to ROGS transition. This should have happened in 2006, but heritage railways gained an extension of the transition period to 1 October 2010. It was foreseen that this change in regime would bring high additional costs to the railway, so it was decided to finish before that date. A minor delay was incurred by the necessity to build a new culvert at the location where the new Porthmadog diversion road is being built.
Following the visit from the ORR on 15 October 2010, approval was given for passenger operation. On 30 October 2010 the first passenger trains, departing from Caernarfon to Porthmadog and return, were operated for the benefit of sponsors of the project. The commissioning of ERTMS on the Cambrian Line
was completed during a possession between Harlech and Pwllheli between 24 and 27 October.
As a result of the Porthmadog bypass works, the Ffestiniog Railway was severed just east of Minffordd station from 3 January to 16 February 2011 to build a new bridge. Therefore the regular Winter FR trains were scheduled to operate from Porthmadog to . The first through services between Caernarfon and Porthmadog Harbour station began on 19 February 2011, with regular services recommencing from 27 March 2011.
than the Ffestiniog railway and, therefore, through trains would, of necessity, be FR stock.
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
in North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
, operating from Caernarfon
Caernarfon
Caernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
to Porthmadog
Porthmadog
Porthmadog , known locally as "Port", and historically rendered into English as Portmadoc, is a small coastal town and community in the Eifionydd area of Gwynedd, in Wales. Prior to the Local Government Act 1972 it was in the administrative county of Caernarfonshire. The town lies east of...
, and passing through a number of popular tourist destinations including Beddgelert
Beddgelert
Beddgelert, or in older English spelling often Bedgellert, is a village and community in the Snowdonia area of Gwynedd, Wales. It is reputed to be named after the legendary hound Gelert. Population 617.- History:...
and the Aberglaslyn Pass
Aberglaslyn Pass
The Aberglaslyn Pass is a narrow gorge of considerable beauty in Snowdonia, Gwynedd, north Wales. The A498 road/A4085 road follows a relatively level route along the Afon Glaslyn through the pass from Beddgelert to Prenteg and then continues at the edge of the Traeth Mawr via Tremadog to...
. At Porthmadog it connects with the Ffestiniog Railway
Ffestiniog Railway
The Ffestiniog Railway is a narrow gauge heritage railway, located in Gwynedd, Wales. It is a major tourist attraction located mainly within the Snowdonia National Park....
and to the short Welsh Highland Heritage Railway. In Porthmadog it uses the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's only mixed gauge flat rail crossing
Porthmadog cross town link
The Porthmadog cross town link is a section of the Welsh Highland Railway, specifically built to link with the Ffestiniog Railway in Porthmadog, and runs along partly what was called the Junction Railway, previously existing as part of the original Welsh Highland Railway...
.
The restoration, which was mainly performed by volunteers, received a number of awards. Originally running from Dinas
Dinas, Gwynedd
Dinas is a large hamlet near Bontnewydd, Caernarfon, in Gwynedd, north-west Wales.It is in the ancient parish and modern community of Llanwnda and is served by the parish church of St...
near Caernarfon
Caernarfon
Caernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
to Porthmadog
Porthmadog
Porthmadog , known locally as "Port", and historically rendered into English as Portmadoc, is a small coastal town and community in the Eifionydd area of Gwynedd, in Wales. Prior to the Local Government Act 1972 it was in the administrative county of Caernarfonshire. The town lies east of...
, the current line includes an additional section from Dinas to Caernarfon. The original line also had branches to Bryngwyn and the slate quarries
Slate industry in Wales
The slate industry in Wales began during the Roman period when slate was used to roof the fort at Segontium, now Caernarfon. The slate industry grew slowly until the early 18th century, then expanded rapidly until the late 19th century, at which time the most important slate producing areas were in...
at Moel Tryfan
Moel Tryfan
Moel Tryfan is a small mountain near the villages of Rhosgadfan, Y Fron and Betws Garmon, in northern Gwynedd. The higher and more famous peak of Tryfan above Dyffryn Ogwen has also sometimes been referred to as "Moel Tryfan" in the past....
, which have not been restored.
There is also the 0.75 miles (1.2 km) long Welsh Highland Heritage Railway which runs from Porthmadog
Porthmadog (WHR) railway station
Porthmadog railway station is the southern terminus of the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway and serves the western end of the town of Porthmadog in Gwynedd, Wales. It is situated opposite the Porthmadog National Rail station. The station opened on 2 August 1980 and was originally a simple wooden...
along the trackbed of the former Cambrian Railway exchange siding and connects to the WHR main line at Pen-y-Mount junction.
History
The original Welsh Highland Railway was formed in 1922 from the merger of two companies - the North Wales Narrow Gauge RailwaysNorth Wales Narrow Gauge Railways
The North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways was a gauge railway running from Dinas to Bryngwyn, Wales, which was authorised by Act of Parliament 1872. The same act authorised a branch from Tryfan Junction to South Snowdon...
(NWNGR) and the Portmadoc, Beddgelert and South Snowdon Railway
Portmadoc, Beddgelert and South Snowdon Railway
The Porthmadog, Beddgelert and South Snowdon Railway was a narrow gauge railway intended to connect Porthmadog with the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways link terminus at Rhyd Ddu...
(PBSSR), successor to the Portmadoc, Croesor and Beddgelert Tram Railway
Croesor Tramway
The Croesor Tramway was a Welsh narrow gauge railway line built to carry slate from the Croesor slate mines to Porthmadog. It was built in 1864 without an Act of Parliament and was operated using horse power....
. Unfortunately, it was never a commercial success.
Forerunners: 1863–1921
The Croesor TramwayCroesor Tramway
The Croesor Tramway was a Welsh narrow gauge railway line built to carry slate from the Croesor slate mines to Porthmadog. It was built in 1864 without an Act of Parliament and was operated using horse power....
had run from Portmadoc since 1863 up into the Croesor Valley and the slate quarries in this area. This was a horse-worked line laid to a nominal 2 foot gauge.
The NWNGR had originally built a gauge line from a junction with the standard gauge London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
line at Dinas
Dinas, Gwynedd
Dinas is a large hamlet near Bontnewydd, Caernarfon, in Gwynedd, north-west Wales.It is in the ancient parish and modern community of Llanwnda and is served by the parish church of St...
to Bryngwyn with a branch from Tryfan Junction via Waunfawr
Waunfawr
Waunfawr is a large village on the outskirts of the Snowdonia National Park, Gwynedd, in North Wales, south of Llanrug. Its population is roughly 1,500...
to Llyn Cwellyn
Llyn Cwellyn
Llyn Cwellyn is a reservoir in North Wales which supplies drinking water to parts of Gwynedd and Anglesey. It lies on the Afon Gwyrfai in Nant y Betws between the Snowdon Massif and Mynydd Mawr in the northern part of Snowdonia National Park. It has an area of , and is over deep...
(Snowdon Ranger
Snowdon Ranger railway station
Snowdon Ranger is a station on the narrow gauge Welsh Highland Railway, which was built in 1878 as the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways Moel Tryfan Undertaking to carry dressed slate to Dinas Junction on the LNWR....
). The line was opened in 1877 and was extended to South Snowdon (Rhyd Ddu
Rhyd Ddu railway station
Rhyd Ddu is a station on the narrow gauge Welsh Highland Railway, which was built in 1881 as the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways Moel Tryfan Undertaking to carry dressed slate to Dinas Junction on the LNWR. The railway was extended southwards to Beddgelert and Porthmadog in 1923, and in its...
) in 1881, a total of 9 miles. This closed to passengers in 1916 but goods traffic continued up to its absorption by the WHR in 1922.
In 1902, the newly-formed PBSSR took over the failed Portmadoc, Croesor and Beddgelert Tram Railway with the aim of extending it to South Snowdon slate quarry in the Nant Gwynant
Nant Gwynant
Nant Gwynant is a valley in Snowdonia, Gwynedd, north Wales. The A498 road descends into the valley in about two miles from Pen-y-Gwryd; it follows the Nant Cynnyd, the Afon Glaslyn and alongside Llyn Gwynant, then beside the Nant Gwynant river to Llyn Dinas and passing below Dinas Emrys to...
Pass. Work was abandoned by the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, although the tunnels through the Aberglaslyn Pass
Aberglaslyn Pass
The Aberglaslyn Pass is a narrow gorge of considerable beauty in Snowdonia, Gwynedd, north Wales. The A498 road/A4085 road follows a relatively level route along the Afon Glaslyn through the pass from Beddgelert to Prenteg and then continues at the edge of the Traeth Mawr via Tremadog to...
were mostly completed.
Formation and construction: 1921–1923
The name Welsh Highland Railway first appeared in 1921 when a 1914 Light Railway Order (LRO) was processed. It was originally drawn up by the local Caernarfonshire authorities and aimed to link the PGSSR and NWNGR but had been delayed by The First World War. It was revived by two local politicians and a Scottish distillery owner, Sir John Henderson Stewart. In July 1921, Stewart also obtained control of the Festiniog Railway, in order to obtain extra rolling stock for the WHR.The LRO was passed in 1922, following a public enquiry. The budget was £75,000 and much of the funding was borrowed from the Ministry of Transport
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
and local authorities. According to the historian Peter Johnson, this would become a burden as the railway needed to generate the unlikely sum of £3,750 profit each year to service the debt.
Two further LROs enabled improvements to the railway's alignment at Beddgelert
Beddgelert
Beddgelert, or in older English spelling often Bedgellert, is a village and community in the Snowdonia area of Gwynedd, Wales. It is reputed to be named after the legendary hound Gelert. Population 617.- History:...
, a new station site in Porthmadog and a link to the Festiniog Railway. McAlpine & Sons
Sir Robert McAlpine
Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd. is a private British company headquartered in London. It carries out engineering and construction for the oil and gas, petrochemical, power generation, nuclear, pharmaceutical, defence, chemical, water and mining industries.-History:...
were contracted to refurbish the existing lines and complete the link between Rhyd Ddu
Rhyd Ddu
Rhyd Ddu is small village in Snowdonia, North Wales.Rhyd Ddu is well known as a popular starting point for walks up Snowdon , Moel Hebog, Yr Aran and the Nantlle Ridge....
and Croesor Junction, thus creating a railway that ran from Dinas to join the Festiniog Railway at Porthmadog. Like the modern day WHR, the railway was opened in stages. The former NWNGR section re-opened on 31 July 1922 and the remainder on 1 June 1923.
Fall into receivership: 1923–1933
The WHR venture was not a success and was beset with problems from the start. Indeed, 1923 was its most successful year. Much hoped-for revenue from quarry traffic never materialised as the slate industry had started to decline. Its passenger services were also unsuccessful and could not compete with the local bus services, which often took half the time to complete the same journey. Its rolling stock was out of date, it lacked locomotives and carriages and its marketing was inadequate. In 1924, winter passenger services were discontinued due to poor traffic. A dispute with the Great Western RailwayGreat Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
over the costs of the crossing over its line at Porthmadog also caused problems, despite the crossing having been used since 1867 without any charges or problems. The railway even had to resort to escorting passengers across the crossing on foot.
After 1923, it was unable to pay debenture interest and, in 1927, the county council sued and put the railway into receivership. Services continued and, by 1933, it was run down and the local authorities decided to close it.
Control by the Festiniog Railway Company: 1934-1937
In 1934, the company agreed to lease the line to the Festiniog Railway Company for 42 years. It was a disaster, with the FR forced to pay rent even if the WHR made a loss.The FR Co. attempted to change the line's fortunes by re-focusing on the tourist market. This included painting the carriages bright colours, including yellow and blue, and promoting the Aberglaslyn Pass
Aberglaslyn Pass
The Aberglaslyn Pass is a narrow gorge of considerable beauty in Snowdonia, Gwynedd, north Wales. The A498 road/A4085 road follows a relatively level route along the Afon Glaslyn through the pass from Beddgelert to Prenteg and then continues at the edge of the Traeth Mawr via Tremadog to...
as a destination by renaming Nantmor station as Aberglaslyn. They also tried to promote round trip (return) journeys, with passengers taking the standard gauge line to Dinas
Dinas railway station
Dinas is a station on the narrow gauge Welsh Highland Railway, which was built in 1877 as the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways Moel Tryfan Undertaking to carry dressed slate for trans-shipment to the LNWR. Passenger services ceased on 26 September 1936 until which time Dinas had been a joint...
, travelling on the WHR and the Festiniog Railway to Blaenau Ffestiniog
Blaenau Ffestiniog
Blaenau Ffestiniog is a town in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. It has a population of 5,000, including Llan Ffestiniog, which makes it the third largest town in Gwynedd, behind Caernarfon & Porthmadog. Although the population reached 12,000 at the peak of the slate industry, the population fell due to...
and then changing again to take the standard gauge railway to their original starting point.
Despite these attempts, the FR Co. were unsuccessful and the last passenger train ran in 1937. The early tourist industry did not provide sufficient visitors to make the railway pay, especially during the Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. Competition from buses which ran a faster and more regular service from Caernarfon
Caernarfon
Caernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
and Beddgelert
Beddgelert
Beddgelert, or in older English spelling often Bedgellert, is a village and community in the Snowdonia area of Gwynedd, Wales. It is reputed to be named after the legendary hound Gelert. Population 617.- History:...
also played a part. The last passenger train ran on 5 September 1936 and, in February 1937, the FR decided not to run the WHR again.
Fall into liquidation 1937-1941
As there was no provision to force the FR to hand back its lease and the WHR was bankrupt, the line became dormant. In 1941, the local authorities decided to resolve the situation by requisitioning the movable assets for use in World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Much of the rolling stock was sold off and most of the track was demolished. The Croesor tramway section was left intact in case the slate quarries re-opened and was finally demolished in 1948.
In 1943, the FR surrendered its lease and, in exchange for £550 compensation, it was allowed to keep 'Single Fairlie' Moel Tryfan (although it only paid £150).
Various legal manoeuvres followed this, including a serious application to turn the route into a long-distance footpath. Although these plans were ultimately unfruitful, they ensured that the trackbed was kept mainly intact, rather than sold off bit by bit, which would have made restoration much more difficult and potentially expensive. However, some parts such as the sites of Rhyd Ddu and Dinas stations were sold off.
Restoration
The WHR's restoration has a long, complicated and controversial history and includes several court cases and public enquiries.The origins of the WHRL restoration efforts, tentatively began in 1961 when disagreements within the volunteers of the Festiniog Railway and a group of like-minded railway enthusiasts
Railfan
A railfan or rail buff , railway enthusiast or railway buff , or trainspotter , is a person interested in a recreational capacity in rail transport...
, joined to form The Welsh Highland Railway Society. This group is the precursor of what eventually became WHR Ltd., which owns and operates the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway (WHHR). Legal problems meant they were unable to take over the old company so, in the 1970s, the group purchased the former standard gauge exchange sidings (the Beddgelert Siding) near Tremadog Road, Portmadog, from British Railways to use as a base. In 1980, they began running passenger services over the line that is now known as the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway. They also acquired an original WHR locomotive Russell, which began working passenger services in 1987.
In the mid 1980s, a number of FR Co. employees became concerned about impact of possible competition from a rebuilt WHR and passed this view on to the FR management. In 1987, this resulted in a confidential offer to buy the WHR track bed from the official receiver for £16,000 in order to prevent the WHR being developed. In 1989, the offer became public, causing a backlash against the FR Co.
In 1990, a change of directors resulted in the FR Co.'s decision to take over the restoration of the WHR. After a long legal battle between the two companies, the FR Co. won control of the WHR track bed and it re-opened the railway in stages, starting in 1997. The line was completed in 2011.
The present day WHR
The modern Welsh Highland Railway is a tourist railway that is owned and operated by the Festiniog Railway CompanyFfestiniog Railway
The Ffestiniog Railway is a narrow gauge heritage railway, located in Gwynedd, Wales. It is a major tourist attraction located mainly within the Snowdonia National Park....
. It is longer than the original line and starts from Caernarfon rather than Dinas. The extension was built on the trackbed of the former standard gauge Railway. Dinas station
Dinas railway station
Dinas is a station on the narrow gauge Welsh Highland Railway, which was built in 1877 as the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways Moel Tryfan Undertaking to carry dressed slate for trans-shipment to the LNWR. Passenger services ceased on 26 September 1936 until which time Dinas had been a joint...
is also built on the standard gauge railway rather than the original narrow gauge site, with the line moving onto the original WHR alignment just south of the station.
It is marketed by the FR Co. as The Welsh Highland Railway and Rheilffordd Eryri (Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
language for 'Snowdonia Railway'). The WHR's connection to the Ffestiniog Railway
Ffestiniog Railway
The Ffestiniog Railway is a narrow gauge heritage railway, located in Gwynedd, Wales. It is a major tourist attraction located mainly within the Snowdonia National Park....
means that the FR Co. controls almost 40 miles of narrow gauge railway and it often promotes both lines jointly as the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways.
The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway
The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway (WelshWelsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
:Rheilffordd Ucheldir Cymru) is a 1-mile (1.6 km) long heritage narrow gauge railway that is owned and operated by Welsh Highland Railway Ltd. (WHR Ltd.). It operates from its main station at Tremadog Road, Porthmadog to its terminus at Pen-y-Mount, where it connects to the FR Co. owned WHR main line.
WHR Ltd's primary focus is on recreating the atmosphere of the original Welsh Highland Railway. This includes replicas of original buildings, using original and replica carriages and rolling stock and the staff wearing period costume. It also has a museum at its Gelert's Farm Works
Gelert's Farm Works
Gelert's Farm Works is the operating centre for the Welsh Highland Railway Limited and the Welsh Highland Railway Preservation Society. It was, as the name suggests, a working farm.-History:...
and every train halts there on the return journey to allow passengers to visit it. There is also a miniature railway and a tea room at its main Porthmadog station.
Relationship with the FR Co.
Although WHR Ltd. lost control of the WHR to the FR Co., they have been involved in its restoration.In 1998, both companies signed a memorandum of understanding, commonly known as the '98 agreement' and, in return, WHR Ltd. dropped its objections to the FR Co's application to restore the railway. This legally binding agreement gave each railway a number of rights and responsibilities, some of which related to the restoration work and some to its future operation.
The Welsh Highland Heritage railway is a 1-mile (1.6 km) long heritage railway which runs from Porthmadog and connects to the WHR main line at Pen-y-Mount junction. It is owned and operated by Welsh Highland Railway Ltd. (WHR Ltd.). This including the right to run services over the entire WHR once the line was completed (subject to a number of caveats). The exact nature of these rights are still under discussion.
Another key part of the agreement defined the names of the two companies' operations during the period that the line was restored. The FR Co. promoted their section as The Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarvon) (WHR C) and WHR Ltd. changed its operational name from The Welsh Highland Railway to The Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog) (WHR P). When the two sections were connected in 2008, WHR Ltd. changed its operational name to The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway and the FR Co. started to promote their operation as The Welsh Highland Railway.
Welsh titles
The original Welsh Highland never had an official WelshWelsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
translation of its name, despite the fact that North Wales has always been a heartland for the Welsh language. Local people tended to refer to it by informal names such as Y Lein Bach or Lein Bach Beddgelert (the little Beddgelert
Beddgelert
Beddgelert, or in older English spelling often Bedgellert, is a village and community in the Snowdonia area of Gwynedd, Wales. It is reputed to be named after the legendary hound Gelert. Population 617.- History:...
railway).
In contrast, the restored line is known as both Rheilffordd Ucheldir Cymru and Rheilffordd Eryri. Rheilffordd Ucheldir Cymru (Welsh Highland Railway) has been used since 1980 by WHR Ltd. and Rheilffordd Eryri (literally Snowdonia Railway) is the Welsh title used by the FR Co for its WHR operations.
Original locomotives
Two locomotives were inherited from the predecessor companies: Moel TryfanMoel Tryfan (locomotive)
Moel Tryfan was a narrow gauge steam locomotive built for use on the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways in 1875. The locomotive was an single Fairlie locomotive built by the Vulcan Foundry near Manchester.Mitchell 1993, page VIII It spent its entire working life on the NWNGRs and its successors...
and Russell. When these proved insufficient, Baldwin 590 was acquired by H.F. Stephens and several Festiniog Railway locomotives saw regular use on the Welsh Highland Railway throughout its entire pre-closure existence from 1923 to 1937. 590 was planned to be part of a larger fleet to replace Moel Tryfan and Russell but it gained so little popularity that Stephens never bought another. By 1936 Moel Tryfan was out of use at Boston Lodge
Boston Lodge
This article is about the locomotive works. For the station see Boston Lodge Halt.Boston Lodge is situated at Penrhyn Isa, Minffordd, Penrhyndeudraeth, on the A487 road about 1 mile SE across the Afon Glaslyn causeway from Porthmadog, Gwynedd in north-west Wales.It has a station on the Ffestiniog...
. When Russell and 590 were withdrawn the following year, they were placed in Dinas shed, but when the Second World War broke out, the Ministry of War came to see about appropriating them for the war effort. After some examination of the engines and questionning of those who had worked them, Russell (regarded as a good engine) was removed for further use, and 590 (seen as an unreliable, rough rider with difficult controls and inadequate adhesion) was broken up at Dinas. Despite the unpopularity of 590, the WHR (Porthmadoc) is currently refurbishing a similar Baldwin to act as a replica.
During the ownership of the WHR by the Festiniog Railway Company, Moel Tryfan and Russell were cut down to allow them to traverse the Festiniog Railway to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Moel Tryfan proved suitable, but Russell, even in cut down form, was not low or narrow enough to fit the FR's highly restrictive loading gauge
Loading gauge
A loading gauge defines the maximum height and width for railway vehicles and their loads to ensure safe passage through bridges, tunnels and other structures...
. Russell is now owned by WHR Ltd and has been restored to its original profile.590 notably retained its original form until its demise.
| Name or Number | Wheel arrangement | Builder | Date built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moel Tryfan Moel Tryfan (locomotive) Moel Tryfan was a narrow gauge steam locomotive built for use on the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways in 1875. The locomotive was an single Fairlie locomotive built by the Vulcan Foundry near Manchester.Mitchell 1993, page VIII It spent its entire working life on the NWNGRs and its successors... |
0-6-4T | Vulcan Foundry Vulcan Foundry Vulcan Foundry was a British locomotive builder sited at Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire .-History:It was originally opened in 1832 as Charles Tayleur and Company to produce girders for bridges, switches and crossings, and other ironwork following the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway... |
1875 | ex-North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways The North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways was a gauge railway running from Dinas to Bryngwyn, Wales, which was authorised by Act of Parliament 1872. The same act authorised a branch from Tryfan Junction to South Snowdon... |
| Russell | 2-6-2T | Hunslet Engine Company Hunslet Engine Company The Hunslet Engine Company is a British locomotive-building company founded in 1864 at Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England by John Towlerton Leather, a civil engineering contractor, who appointed James Campbell as his Works Manager.In 1871, James Campbell bought the company for... |
1906 | ex-Portmadoc, Beddgelert & South Snowdon Railway |
| 590 | 4-6-0T | Baldwin Locomotive Works Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of... U.S.A. |
1917 | ex-War Department Light Railways War Department Light Railways The War Department Light Railways were a system of narrow gauge trench railways run by the British War Department in World War I. Light railways made an important contribution to the Allied war effort in the First World War, and were used for the supply of ammunition and stores, the transport of... |
Current rolling stock - Welsh Highland Railway / Rheilffordd Eyri (RhE)
Current rolling stock - Welsh Highland Heritage Railway (WHHR)
Operation
Single track (rail)
A single track railway is where trains in both directions share the same track. Single track is normally used on lesser used rail lines, often branch lines, where the traffic density is not high enough to justify the cost of building double tracks....
line with passing loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
s at , , , and halt. There is also a loop at , which is normally locked out of use as a stabling point for engineering trains and as a passing loop for special trains.
As with any single track railway, there are strict rules managing the movement of trains to prevent more than one entering a section. The line is managed from a single 'Control
Rail traffic controller
Rail traffic controller is a person or group who are responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the railway within an assigned operating territory. RTCs are also responsible for ensuring train delays are minimized in their operating territory through the application of effective planning,...
' office at Porthmadog Harbour Station
Porthmadog Harbour railway station
Porthmadog Harbour station in North Wales is the southern passenger terminus of two narrow gauge railways: the Ffestiniog Railway, which was built in 1836 to carry dressed slate from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog for export by sea, and the Welsh Highland Railway, built in 1923, which runs to...
, which also performs the same task for the Ffestiniog Railway
Ffestiniog Railway
The Ffestiniog Railway is a narrow gauge heritage railway, located in Gwynedd, Wales. It is a major tourist attraction located mainly within the Snowdonia National Park....
. Control is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of trains, logs train movements on a train graph and acts as a single point of contact in emergencies. A system of tokens
Token (railway signalling)
In railway signalling, a token is a physical object which a locomotive driver is required to have or see before entering onto a particular section of single track. The token is clearly endorsed with the name of the section it belongs to...
is used to control train access to single line sections.
Communication between train crew and Control always occurs using a landline at stations. There is no in-cab radio system, and current regulations forbid use of such whilst in motion. As a backup system only, the guard carries a company mobile telephone for use in an emergency. This is not a primary system as cellular coverage is intermittent over the length of the line. HMRI insist on landlines as the main form of safety critical communication.
Signalling
The signalling on the WHR is much simpler than that used on the Ffestiniog Railway or the UK national rail network.In order to enter any section of line, the train crew must obtain permission from Control and the relevant token
Token (railway signalling)
In railway signalling, a token is a physical object which a locomotive driver is required to have or see before entering onto a particular section of single track. The token is clearly endorsed with the name of the section it belongs to...
. Each section of line is a token block section. The WHR uses the traditional Staff and Ticket system in which trains can either be issued with the section token staff or a numbered ticket. Tickets allow multiple trains to pass one-at-a-time through a section in one directiion. The Controller advises the train crew which method they will be using. Tickets are kept in a locked box opened by a key on the token staff. This means the last train must use the token staff to pass through the section, so it can be used for trains to travel in the opposite direction. For additional protection, both the footplate crew and the guard must see the token or ticket before the train can depart.
At some stations an additional 'Shunt' token is used to allow shunting to take place (such as a locomotive 'running round' a train). They are provided at Dinas, Rhyd Ddu, Beddgelert, and at Pont Croesor. The shunt token can only be withdrawn with permission from Control and if there are no trains approaching the station in the adjacent single line sections. Withdrawing the token causes two yellow lights to go out on a warning board on the line approaching the station, preventing other trains from entering the station.
The majority of the points at passing loops are operated automatically using the Automatic Train Operated Trailable (ATOTP) system, rather than a manually operated lever or point motor. There are also no signals
Railway signal
A signal is a mechanical or electrical device erected beside a railway line to pass information relating to the state of the line ahead to train/engine drivers. The driver interprets the signal's indication and acts accordingly...
to indicate that a train can enter a section. A 'Stop' board at the end of the platform orders the train to stop until the train crew have obtained permission to proceed from control and a token. At the end of the section, the train can proceed into the platform provided the lights are lit on the shunt token warning board and the relevant platform is clear.
Future signalling - ETS
One of the disadvantages of the staff and ticket system is that it is very inflexible. If a locomotive fails in a station, for example, a token staff may be at the wrong end of a section and will have to be moved by road. This situation does not occur under the Electric Token System (ETS), a more advanced system in which tokens can be obtained at either end of a section from a token instrument.ETS has been used on the Ffestiniog Railway
Ffestiniog Railway
The Ffestiniog Railway is a narrow gauge heritage railway, located in Gwynedd, Wales. It is a major tourist attraction located mainly within the Snowdonia National Park....
for many years and the FR Co were anxious to obtain enough ETS instruments to equip the WHR. After a long search, sufficient ETS equipment to operate the entire railway has been obtained from the Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
railway company Iarnród Éireann
Iarnród Éireann
Iarnród Éireann is the national railway system operator of Ireland. Established on 2 February 1987, it is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann . It operates all internal intercity, commuter and freight railway services in the Republic of Ireland, and, jointly with Northern Ireland Railways, the...
. The equipment became redundant after Iarnród Éireann recently modernised its signalling systems.
As the WHR has no telephone cabling to connect the system, the FR Co is developing a more modern alternative method of connecting the ETS machines. Until the system is finished, the WHR will continue using its current token systems.
Cae Pawb - The Cambrian crossing
Just outside of Porthmadog, the railway crosses the Network RailNetwork Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
-owned Cambrian coast line
Cambrian Line
The Cambrian Line is a railway from Shrewsbury to Welshpool, Aberystwyth and Pwllheli. The railway runs first through the central part of Wales and then along the coast of Cardigan Bay....
using a flat crossing
Level junction
In U.S. railroad practice, a level junction is a railway junction that has a track configuration in which merging or crossing railroad lines provide track connections with each other that require trains to cross over in front of opposing traffic at grade In U.S. railroad practice, a level junction...
. It existed on the old Welsh Highland Railway and was the source of much conflict between the old company and the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
over the cost of WHR trains using the crossing. On the modern WHR, the crossing is called Cae Pawb.
The crossing is constructed from a continuous cast lump of manganese steel
Mangalloy
Mangalloy, also called manganese steel or Hadfield steel, is a steel alloy containing an average of around 13% manganese. Mangalloy is known for its high impact strength and resistance to abrasion.-Material properties:...
. Continuous 113 lb/yd rail is used for the standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
section, with notches cut out to allow narrow gauge trains to cross. The WHR section is cast in 80 lb/yd rail as opposed to the WHR standard 60 lb/yd flat rail, which connects the crossing to the WHR narrow gauge lines either side.
Cae Pawb is at the north-western end of the Network Rail Harlech
Harlech
Harlech is a town and seaside resort in Gwynedd, within the historical boundaries of Merionethshire in northwest Wales. Lying on Tremadog Bay and within the Snowdonia National Park, it has a population of 1,952, of whom 59% speak Welsh...
to Porthmadog
Porthmadog
Porthmadog , known locally as "Port", and historically rendered into English as Portmadoc, is a small coastal town and community in the Eifionydd area of Gwynedd, in Wales. Prior to the Local Government Act 1972 it was in the administrative county of Caernarfonshire. The town lies east of...
signalling section, which is controlled from Machynlleth Control Centre
Machynlleth railway station
Machynlleth railway station is a railway station on the Cambrian Line in mid-Wales, serving the historic town of Machynlleth. It was built by the Newtown & Machynlleth Railway, and subsequently passed into the ownership of the Cambrian Railways, the Great Western Railway, British Railways and...
. Standard gauge trains are protected by signals and wide-to-gauge trap points on the WHR line, which are interlocked with the standard gauge ERTMS signalling. The crossing is activated locally and ERTMS automatically gives permission for WHR trains to cross provided the standard gauge section is available. A crossing controller operates the crossing when passenger trains are running, with operation at other times being carried out by the train crew.
A set of replica white wooden crossing gates separate the narrow gauge line from the standard gauge track and continue the Network Rail boundary fencing. They are left open when a crossing controller is present. The gates open inwards to prevent them blocking the standard gauge line. The WHR also hopes to install a replica signal box at some point in the future, though initially a small hut has been provided.
Porthmadog cross-town link
South of the Cambrian crossing, WHR cross town linkPorthmadog cross town link
The Porthmadog cross town link is a section of the Welsh Highland Railway, specifically built to link with the Ffestiniog Railway in Porthmadog, and runs along partly what was called the Junction Railway, previously existing as part of the original Welsh Highland Railway...
trains move direct to Porthmadog Harbour, where passengers alight. Currently the train pulls onto the Cob. A "pilot" loco then attaches to the rear and pulls the train into the Harbour Platform. At departure time, the pilot pulls the train onto the Cob to enable the train locomotive to be at the Caernarfon end of the train.
Timetable
Historically, the WHR was split into two operational sections:- Dinas to Beddgelert and Beddgelert to Porthmadog (using present day form)
For the 2009 timetable operation, a "two set" operation was employed, with rolling stock being based at Dinas. During the year, operations were extended from Rhyd Ddu, first to Beddgelert on 7 April 2009, and then to Hafod y Llyn on 21 May 2009, site of a small halt on the original line. Although passengers could only board and alight at Hafod-y-Llyn, its remote location means that it can only be accessed by self-sufficient walkers and cyclists as there are no parking or other facilities at the halt and the platform is very short. It closed when was opened in 2010.
The Festiniog Railway Company had, at one point, planned to open the entire railway in 2007. Delays and funding restrictions meant that the opening was repeatedly delayed, with the full opening not happening until 2011. From the end of May 2010, the line was extended a further 3 miles (4.8 km) to . Shortly here-after the railway announced that it would finish, and as it had approval for service by the Safety Directorate of the Office of Rail Regulation
Office of Rail Regulation
The Office of Rail Regulation is a statutory board which is the combined economic and safety regulatory authority for Great Britain's railway network. It was established on 5 July 2004 by the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, replacing the Rail Regulator...
(ORR), the remaining section would be completed before the end of September 2010. The cause of this sudden rush was the ROTS to ROGS transition. This should have happened in 2006, but heritage railways gained an extension of the transition period to 1 October 2010. It was foreseen that this change in regime would bring high additional costs to the railway, so it was decided to finish before that date. A minor delay was incurred by the necessity to build a new culvert at the location where the new Porthmadog diversion road is being built.
Following the visit from the ORR on 15 October 2010, approval was given for passenger operation. On 30 October 2010 the first passenger trains, departing from Caernarfon to Porthmadog and return, were operated for the benefit of sponsors of the project. The commissioning of ERTMS on the Cambrian Line
Cambrian Line
The Cambrian Line is a railway from Shrewsbury to Welshpool, Aberystwyth and Pwllheli. The railway runs first through the central part of Wales and then along the coast of Cardigan Bay....
was completed during a possession between Harlech and Pwllheli between 24 and 27 October.
As a result of the Porthmadog bypass works, the Ffestiniog Railway was severed just east of Minffordd station from 3 January to 16 February 2011 to build a new bridge. Therefore the regular Winter FR trains were scheduled to operate from Porthmadog to . The first through services between Caernarfon and Porthmadog Harbour station began on 19 February 2011, with regular services recommencing from 27 March 2011.
Whole of line operations
Although, with completion of the main track laying it is now possible to run trains from through to , there are initially no plans to do so on a regular basis. The WHR is built to a larger loading gaugeLoading gauge
A loading gauge defines the maximum height and width for railway vehicles and their loads to ensure safe passage through bridges, tunnels and other structures...
than the Ffestiniog railway and, therefore, through trains would, of necessity, be FR stock.
Stations
Original
-
- Bettws Garmon
- Salem Halt (aka Quellyn Lake) (aka South Snowdon)
- Hafod Ruffydd Halt
- BeddgelertBeddgelert railway stationBeddgelert railway station is a railway station on the narrow gauge Welsh Highland Railway in North Wales.The rebuilt station was officially opened by Lord Elis-Thomas on 7 April 2009.-History:...
- NantmorNantmor railway stationNantmor is a railway halt in North Wales serving the nearby hamlet of the same name. It is located between the stations of and on the recently restored Welsh Highland Railway...
- Hafod-y-Llyn Halt
- Hafod Garregog Halt
- Croesor Junction
- Ynysfor Halt
- Portmadoc New (1933) station
- Portmadoc New (1923) station
Restored Welsh Highland Railway / Rheilffordd Eryri
0 miles (0 km) Inaugural Train departed 11 October 1997 2.7 miles (4.3 km) Sponsors' Train stopped here in 2010. Reopened in 2011. 6.5 miles (10.4 km) 12.1 miles (19.4 km) (Forest Campsite) 16.8 miles (27.0 km) (opened 27 May 2010)(Closed) 22.3 miles (35.9 km) (opened 27 May 2010) 23.9 miles (38.4 km)(WHR platform to be built) 24.7 miles (39.7 km) Inaugural Train arrived 30 October 2010Welsh Highland Heritage Railway / Rheilffordd Ucheldir Cymru
- Porthmadog (WHHR)Porthmadog (WHR) railway stationPorthmadog railway station is the southern terminus of the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway and serves the western end of the town of Porthmadog in Gwynedd, Wales. It is situated opposite the Porthmadog National Rail station. The station opened on 2 August 1980 and was originally a simple wooden...
- Gelert's Farm haltGelert's Farm haltGelert's Farm halt on the Welsh Highland Railway Limited was opened in 1988. It is a simple platform alongside the main shed at Gelert's Farm Works....
(Current terminus) - Traeth Mawr LoopTraeth Mawr LoopTraeth Mawr Loop was a run round loop on the Welsh Highland Railway .Track laying was completed by November 2006, making it the northern limit of track from Porthmadog...
(Never a station. Temporary terminus loop in 2007 & 2008, now removed.)
See also
- British narrow gauge railwaysBritish narrow gauge railwaysThere were more than a thousand British narrow gauge railways ranging from large, historically significant common carriers to small, short-lived industrial railways...
- Slate operations on the WHRSlate Operations on the WHRThe original Welsh Highland Railway owed its existence to the narrow gauge railways and tramways built to serve commercial slate traffic from slate quarries and other mineral extraction operations along its route....
- South African Class NG G16 2-6-2+2-6-2South African Class NG G16 2-6-2+2-6-2Between 1937 and 1968 the South African Railways placed thirty-four Class NG G16 Garratt articulated steam locomotives with a 2-6-2+2-6-2 wheel arrangement in service on the Avontuur Railway and on the Natal narrow gauge lines.-Manufacturers:...
- Two foot gauge railways in South AfricaTwo foot gauge railways in South AfricaAt the beginning of the twentieth century, two foot narrow gauge railway lines started playing a significant role in transporting various agricultural and mineral produce from locations hardly accessible by road...