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Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog)
Encyclopedia
The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway (formerly Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog)) is the operating name (from February 2009) for the railway
and registered charity
that operates from a base on the northern outskirts of Porthmadog
, in north west Wales
. The parent company name is Welsh Highland Railway Limited.
The original Welsh Highland Railway
has been reconstructed
by the Festiniog Railway Company
and the Welsh Highland Railway Limited. Both companies will have running rights over the WHR main line from to and the WHHR branch from to the existing WHR Ltd. station
in Porthmadog. The precise terms of these running rights, however, is not yet settled.
, which is located opposite the Network Rail station in Porthmadog on Tremadog Road. Trains run for 1 miles (1.6 km) to , where the railway connects with the WHR mainline On the return journey, the train stops at Gelert's Farm halt
, allowing passengers to visit a museum and a miniature railway.
For 2007 and 2008, an additional short section of line was in use between and Traeth Mawr Loop
. This line was built as part of an agreement signed in 1998 with the Ffestiniog Railway
and allowed WHR Ltd. to run on the original Welsh Highland Railway trackbed for the first time. As part of the agreement, the section closed and became a construction site when the Ffestiniog Railway constructed WHR mainline from Caernarvon was connected in 2008.
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...
and registered charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
that operates from a base on the northern outskirts of 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...
, in north west Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The parent company name is Welsh Highland Railway Limited.
History
The origins of the WHRL lie in a small group of railway enthusiasts, including some disgruntled volunteers from the Festiniog Railway, forming the Welsh Highland Railway Society in 1961, to preserve and rebuild the original WHR which had operated from 1922 to 1936. Construction of the line started in the 1970s following the acquisition of land from British Railways running alongside the Cambrian Coast line at a location known as Beddgelert Sidings. A substantial works and engineering facility has been constructed on the site of the former farm that was situated in the triangle of land between the Beddgelert Siding and the Cambrian Coast Railway. The works have been expanded with newly constructed shed accommodation in addition to the utilisation of some of the original farm buildings, which include one of the oldest buildings in Porthmadog. There has been, for some time, a museum part to the works tour, and from 2009, with construction of a new building, this will be more than doubled in size, and its nature.The original Welsh Highland Railway
Welsh Highland Railway
The Welsh Highland Railway is a 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...
has been reconstructed
Welsh Highland Railway restoration
The restoration of Welsh Highland Railway has a colourful and complex history. This article provides the modern history:-The Background of the Welsh Highland Railway :...
by the Festiniog Railway Company
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 the Welsh Highland Railway Limited. Both companies will have running rights over the WHR main line from to and the WHHR branch from to the existing WHR Ltd. station
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...
in Porthmadog. The precise terms of these running rights, however, is not yet settled.
Operations
The railway currently operates a frequent service from March to November from their main stationPorthmadog (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...
, which is located opposite the Network Rail station in Porthmadog on Tremadog Road. Trains run for 1 miles (1.6 km) to , where the railway connects with the WHR mainline On the return journey, the train stops at Gelert's Farm halt
Gelert's Farm halt
Gelert'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....
, allowing passengers to visit a museum and a miniature railway.
For 2007 and 2008, an additional short section of line was in use between and Traeth Mawr Loop
Traeth Mawr Loop
Traeth 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...
. This line was built as part of an agreement signed in 1998 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 allowed WHR Ltd. to run on the original Welsh Highland Railway trackbed for the first time. As part of the agreement, the section closed and became a construction site when the Ffestiniog Railway constructed WHR mainline from Caernarvon was connected in 2008.
Stations
- Porthmadog (WHR) railway stationPorthmadog (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...
- Gelerts Farm Works 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....
- Pen-y-Mount Junction railway station
- 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...
(no passenger access - Temporary 2007-2008)
Further reading
Videos
- Train going through Cynfal Crossing
- Opening of Traeth Mawr Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5
- Pen-y-Mount
External links
- Welsh Highland Heritage Railway - official site
- More technical and historical information
- Welsh Highland Railway (C) - official site
- The Welsh Highland Railway Project - official construction site
- Welsh Highland Railway - unofficial construction site
- The Pont Croesor Extension
- Welsh Highland Railway History
- Live.com map of route