WHR

WHR

News Archive Page

2025

January

V4.1 updated 1/3/24

with news to 31/1/24

Newly archived sections are placed at the top of this page.

KS4415 progress 31/1/25

Following a busy week at Boston Lodge, the Kerr Stuart group volunteers have completed the riveting of the loco's superstructure. Some 887 rivets were put in by 11 volunteers over 5 days. They deserve a round of applause but they are probably still wearing their ear defenders so they might not hear!

This Boston Lodge image (31/1/25) shows the bonnet and cab sheeting all riveted up. KS4415 still needs a lot of work to complete the McLaren power unit. For other views of progress see KS4415 Facebook page. This image is copyright F&WHR

F&WHR 31/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Friday was for a day of sunny periods with temperatures of 2-10C. Sunset is at 16:59 and the weather will remain similar averaging a seasonal 7-10C maximum through to next week with no sign of any weather warnings. Some snow pockets will remain on Snowdon summit (see webcam view as viewed from The Lodge Dinorwig 6 miles away to the NNW) to be replaced by fog for the rest of the week. The mountain peaks are forecast to have lying snow which is likely to persist until the weekend. Some weather models are predicting blizzards and a wall of snow as temperatures drop at the start of February but this seems unlikely.

No trains were noted crossing The Cob.

KS4415 progress 29-30/1/25

The KS4415 volunteers were hard at work again in the new Small Loco Shed. It was Day 4 of the 'rivetfest' and 129 were completed today with the total now standing at 681. The end is in sight! The prep work for all the remaining rivets has been done so tomorrow should see the job finished. Today the cab was reassembled and the bonnet was offered back up. Once volunteers were sure everything still fitted they started riveting the cab. They also did one of the bonnet batches. Vale of Ffestiniog was used to move the loco out of the shed and the Loadall was used to lift the cab off the frames and reposition it during the checking before broaching holes to connect the cab and bonnet.

This Boston Lodge image (30/1/25) shows the bonnet of KS4415 being lifted back onto the loco. For other views of progress see KS4415 Facebook page. This image is copyright F&WHR.

F&WHR 30/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Thursday was for a day of sunny periods with temperatures of 5-8C. Sunset is at 16:58 and the weather will remain similar averaging a seasonal 8-9C maximum through to next week. Tuesday saw that last of the snowfall on the mountains and some snow pockets will remain on Snowdon summit (see webcam view as viewed from The Lodge Dinorwig 6 miles away to the NNW) to be replaced by fog for the rest of the week. The mountain peaks are forecast to have lying snow which is likely to persist until next weekend. Some weather models are predicting blizzards and a wall of snow as temperatures drop at the start of February.

Mary Ann Special 19/6/25

This archive image (2/5/14) shows the FR's ex-WWI Simplex Mary Ann with a recreation of the first 'New Era' passenger train, during the FR's Diamond Jubilee Gala on 2nd May 2014. This advert is copyright F&WHR.

The build up to the F&WHR's highly anticipated RAILWAY 200 event: FR PLATINUM JUBILEE WEEKEND featuring. ‘200 Wheels on the Cob’ (20-22/6/25) continues with another highlight reveal: On Thursday evening (19/6/25) there is an EVENT OPENER - The Simplex MARY ANN will haul a passenger train across The Cob.

Surprisingly, there is still no news about SuperPower in September 2025. With three major events now scheduled on the FR but only The Beer Festival at Waunfawr this Spring on the WHR, the allocation of events seems rather skewed towards the FR. While Dinas may be unavailable this year due to the new Carriage Shed build, surely Super Power could be based out of Porthmadog this year and focus on the section to Rhyd Ddu with trains being prepared at Boston Lodge?
ℹ Tickets and further details for the event weekend are now available here: festrail.co.uk/fr70
200 For more information about Railway 200, visit the official website: railway200.co.uk.

KS4415 progress 28/1/25

Tuesday saw the second day riveting the steel panels to the angle iron frame of the bonnet. Riveting on day two saw both sides of the bonnet finished and volunteers on to the top and the hatch angle irons. Some 249 rivets were done on Tuesday and the total is 465. To donate to the restoration of this historic diesel loco in time for its centenary in Summer 2028, click on this link.

This Boston Lodge image (28/1/25) shows the bonnet of KS4415 nearing completion of the riveting. For other views of progress see KS4415 Facebook page. This image is copyright F&WHR.

F&WHR 29/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Wednesday was for a day of sunny periods with temperatures of 1-9C. Sunset is at 16:56 and the weather will remain similar averaging a seasonal 8-10C maximum through to next week. Some snow pockets will remain on Snowdon Summit (see webcam view as viewed from The Lodge Dinorwig 6 miles away to the NNW) to be replaced by fog for the rest of the week. The mountain peaks are forecast to have lying snow which is likely to persist until next weekend.

KS4415 progress 25-26/1/25

Work is progressing on the historic diesel shunter that was trialled on the F&WHR in 1928. The various panels of sheet metal body classing were being hot riveted together over the weekdays from 27/1/25. Additionally, the weekend's volunteers had another exciting delivery of bits from the guys at Grange Square Engineering. These are the parts for the valve rockers on the cylinder heads and as can be seen they are to be fitted to the original pedestals and with the original rocker arms. While the team were at Boston Lodge they got everything out for this week's big riveting session. KS4415 is now ready and waiting in the new shed. Volunteers also spent some time looking at the cylinder liner clamps on the engine and have worked out how to move forward after the issues with them cracking before Christmas. Also on Monday the air brake system was completely rebuilt.

See KS4415 Facebook page for many images and video.

F&WHR 28/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Tuesday was for an overcast day of showers with temperatures of 4-9C. Sunset is at 16:54 and the weather will remain similar averaging a seasonal 9-10C through to next week. Weather warnings for Storm Herminia with 70mph gusts around the coastline have been cancelled as the storm tracked further south than anticipated. Tuesday sees that last of the snow fall on the Snowdon summit until Tuesday evening (see webcam view as viewed from The Lodge Dinorwig 6 miles away to the NNW) to be replaced by fog for the rest of the week. This is likely to fall as rain at sea level at Porthmadog. The mountain peaks are forecast to have lying snow which is likely to persist until next weekend.

Russell Farewell special tickets booking fast

The WHHR advise there is very little availability on the Russell Farewell run from Porthmadog to Caernarfon on 18/4/25. See WHHR Booking page for tickets and information. There appears to be plenty of room on the four trains from Porthmadog to Beddgelert earlier in the month.

F&WHR 27/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Monday was for a day of showers and sunny periods with increasing rain and wind of 6-8C. Sunset is at 16:52 and the weather will remain similar averaging a seasonal 8-9C through to next weekend. The Porthmadog webcam was noted shaking in the latest storm, Storm Herminia with 70mph gusts around the coastline. Yellow warnings for wind and rain continue Monday afternoon through to Tuesday evening. Snow is likely to fall on the Snowdon summit until Tuesday (see webcam view as viewed from The Lodge Dinorwig 6 miles away to the NNW). This is likely to fall as heavy rain at sea level at Porthmadog. The mountain peaks are forecast to have lying snow which is likely to persist until next weekend. There is the possibility of flooding on The Traeth with all the rain and thaw.

Upnor Castle in action 26/1/25

Upnor Castle was in use with Birmingham University Railway Society's annual volunteer weekend working on the FR near Plas Halt on lineside clearance. The loco was hauling the chipper in a DZ wagon, the new tools wagons No.5004 and Mess Car No.1111. For photos click this link.

Caernarfon Model Railway Exhibition 27/2/25-1/3/35

There will be an event in the half term holiday at Caernarfon station after all: an exhibition of model railways in the station building display area on 27/2/25-1/3/25 (Thursday-Saturday) from 09:00 until 16:00. There will also be a 'ride on' miniature railway on the platform but no WHR services or cab rides. There will be a second hand book stall, a WHRSoc. stand and refreshments.

F&WHR 26/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Sunday was for an overcast day with increasing rain and temperatures of 4-9C. Sunset is at 16:50 and the weather will remain similar averaging a seasonal 8-9C through to next weekend. The Porthmadog webcam was noted shaking in the latest storm, Storm Herminia with 70mph gusts around the coastline. Yellow warnings for wind and rain continue today through to Tuesday evening. Snow is likely to fall on the Snowdon summit until Tuesday (see webcam view as viewed from The Lodge Dinorwig 6 miles away to the NNW). This is likely to fall as heavy rain at sea level at Porthmadog. The mountain peaks are forecast to have lying snow which is likely to persist until next weekend. There is the possibility of flooding on The Traeth with all the rain and thaw. Upnor Castle was in action on the FR with volunteer lineside clearance trains.

No trains were noted in Harbour Station and the webcams for Minffordd and Tan-y-bwlch have now been inactive for almost two months following storm damage in December.

Farewell to Russell at the WHHR 12/4/25

With a very big thank you to the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway an evening event with Russell is being organised at the WHHR at Porthmadog on 12/4/25. The loco is out working two round trips from Porthmadog to Beddgelert during the day to mark the end of its current ticket.

The evening event will kick off around 6pm and run through to 9pm making the most of remaining daylight and twilight. Twenty places are available.

Russell (Hunslet 901 of 1906) - The Pride of the Welsh Highland Railway and the only surviving original engine was ordered in 1906 by the Portmadoc, Beddgelert & South Snowdon Railway Company and set to work for the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways Company until that company, together with the PB&SSR Co. was incorporated into the Welsh Highland Railway in 1922.

The Snowdonian by railtour 5/4/25

UK Railtours (see above) is offering a railtour from Euston to Holyhead with a cheap £50 add on to travel on the FR/WHR's special train The Snowdonian either from Blaenau Ffestiniog or from Caernarfon. Coach links will be provided from Bangor to Caernarfon or Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog in the morning and return coach links from the far end of the journey in the late afternoon. The train allows up to 6 hours in North Wales if passengers prefer to make their own arrangements at Llandudno, Conwy etc. Ticket availability is described as good. See UK Railtours for full details.

PTG are running their 11th charter on the F&WHR on 8/6/25 with return journeys on both railways starting from Porthmadog. See PTG Tours for full details and booking.

F&WHR 25/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Saturday was for a day of sunny periods with winds fading and temperatures of 2-7C. Sunset is at 16:48 and the weather will remain similar averaging a seasonal 8C by the end of next week. Yellow warnings for wind and rain continue until Tuesday. Snow is likely to fall on the Snowdon massif until Tuesday (see webcam view as viewed from The Lodge Dinorwig 6 miles away to the NNW). Storm Eowyn hit Friday with 90+mph westerly gusts around coastline and blizzards on the peaks but faded later in the day. This is likely to fall as heavy rain at sea level at Porthmadog. The mountain peaks are forecast to have lying snow which is likely to persist into next week. There is the possibility of flooding on The Traeth with all the rain and thaw.

Aber logs rolls again 25/1/25

The Aberystwyth to Chirk Kronospan log train ran again on 25/1/25. NR yellow 97302 Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway and HNRC liveried Colas 37405 (orange livery with large Swietelsky corporate branding) hauled the heavily laden 10 wagon train over Talerddig summit as far as Coleham Depot Shrewsbury. Click on the link to watch 3 minutes 36 seconds of video of the train at Newtown.

Swietelsky is an Austrian Construction company that has just taken over the HNRC hire business and previously operated as Swietelsky-Babock Rail. See Rail Business UK report. All four HNRC orange livery locos have acquired the new branding, namely 20302/311 and 37405/611.

NG15 No.120 progress

Maddie Dolby of the NG15 No.120 group (ex WHHR) has sent some images showing progress with the boiler and components. The new owning consortium is probably the same Sheffield team that bought Matheran Light Railway No.740, the Darnall Locomotive and Railway Heritage Group which also has a SAR Class 91 2' diesel.

See Narrow Gauge Enthusiasts Facebook group for details and images.

This (23/1/25) view shows the boiler for No.120 has received some preservative paintwork after sand blasting. Click on the image to enlarge and click again to expand fully where available. Image copyright Maddie Dolby taken on a digital camera.

These (23/1/25) views show some components have been sand blasted and covered in plastic to protect from rusting. Click on the image to enlarge and click again to expand fully where available. Image copyright Maddie Dolby taken on a digital camera.

F&WHR 24/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Friday was for a day of sunny periods and strong winds fading towards the afternoon with temperatures of 5-8C. Sunset is at 16:46 and the weather will remain similar reaching to a seasonal 8C by the end of next week. Snow is likely to fall on the Snowdon massif until Tuesday (see webcam view as viewed from The Lodge Dinorwig 6 miles away to the NNW). Storm Eowyn hit Friday with 90+mph westerly gusts around coastline and blizzards on the peaks but faded later in the day. This is likely to fall as heavy rain at sea level at Porthmadog. The mountain peaks may have lying snow which is likely to persist into next week. Weather warnings of rain continue into Monday leading to the possibility of flooding on The Traeth.

The bad weather may bring down further trees and cause difficulties for volunteers visiting the F&WHR though the A55 route is likely to remain open. Storm Eowyn may require further inspection trains to determine the extent of the storm damage and any blockage. At 14:45 Vale of Ffestiniog was noted in the WHR platform with the FR Mess Van No.1111 having arrived from the Beddgelert direction, the first train noted in over 3 weeks in Harbour Station. This had presumably been out on line inspection after Storm Eowyn which may have brought down additional trees with its 90 mph winds. The train set off at 14:50 to the starter signal before continuing across The Cob at 14:52 back to the depot.

This easterly view (24/1/25) shows Vale of Ffestiniog hauling the Mess Coach back from what was probably a storm inspection run up the WHR. Click on the image to enlarge and click again to expand fully where available. Image copyright F&WHR taken on a webcam.

Rail Ale changes

Rail Ale will now take place on 6-8/6/25. The event is titled : Rail Ale at Snowdonia Parc Waunfawr. Previously the event was to be held a week later, the week before the FR Platinum Jubilee Event, which may have put a strain on staffing.

Rail 200 Highlights 20-22/6/25
Earlier this month, the F&WHR announced that they will be playing their part in the national Railway 200 celebrations by hosting a special event on the 20-22/6/25: RAILWAY 200: FR PLATINUM JUBILEE WEEKEND featuring 200 Wheels on The Cob.
During the special weekend, the F&WHR will celebrating two momentous landmarks - the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway (part of the national Railway 200 celebrations) and also the 70th Anniversary of the restoration of passenger trains on the Ffestiniog Railway under the new regime.
The main highlight of the weekend will be the 200 Wheels on The Cob spectacle, which will take place on Sunday, 22/6/25. This will be a cavalcade of FR engines throughout the years, lining up in formation across the iconic Cob embankment.
Over the following months, the F&WHR will be revealing a whole host of highlights that visitors can look forward to during the weekend on both social media channels and the dedicated event webpage, kicking off with

FRIDAY: Early evening train, hauled by Merddin Emrys and Prince, running non-stop from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog, in both directions!
ℹ Tickets and further details for the event weekend are now available here: festrail.co.uk/fr70 or more information about 'Railway 200', visit the official website: railway200.co.uk

May be an image of 6 people, train, railway and text

The photograph shows the FR's ex-WWI Simplex (later named Mary Ann) with the first revenue earning passenger train on the re-opened railway, 23 July 1955. Photo courtesy F&WHR.

Michael Davies has passed on a video from Richard Bailey which shows the FR's Opening Day trains of 23/7/55 taken by his father (and FR Director Trevor Bailey) on presumably 8mm film.

Click on the link to watch this archive video.

F&WHR 22/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Wednesday was for an overcast day giving way to sunshine and showers later with temperatures of 3-6C. Sunset is at 16:43 and the weather will remain similar rising to 10C by next weekend. Snow is likely to fall on the Snowdon massif for the next four days (see webcam view as viewed from The Lodge Dinorwig 6 miles away to the NNW). A Yellow weather warnings for strong wind for Thursday from 07:00 until 18:00 and an Amber warning Friday 06:00 until 21:00 for very strong winds have been issued for Storm Eowyn which is due to hit Thursday with 90mph westerly gusts around coastline and blizzards on the peaks. This is likely to fall as heavy rain at sea level at Porthmadog. The Snowdon massif is forecast to experience snowfall until Saturday and lying snow will persist into next week.

WHR Lineside maintenance weekend 15-16/1/25

You may recall that there was recently a request from the GM, asking for assistance with clearing lineside vegetation along the Welsh Highland Railway. A successful working party took place last weekend on a section of line below Rhyd Ddu station, where tree and shrub growth was damaging fencing and obscuring views from the railway. Here is a selection of photos (taken on Saturday, 18/1/25) of the work in progress. The mixed team of staff and volunteers achieved a great result in clearing this section, but there are still many places along the F&WHR where work will be taking place in the future.

If you would like to join the volunteers and give a hand with lineside clearance, or any other area of activity around the F&WHR, there is more information at festrail.co.uk/volunteering - here you will find details and a calendar of volunteering projects and activities, along with relevant contact details. There are many ways for you to get involved - using skills you already have or ones that the F&WHR can train you in. Come and join the team - you will be given a warm welcome, whatever you choose to do!

F&WHR 21/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Tuesday was for an overcast rainy day with temperatures of 4-7C. Sunset is at 16:41 and the weather will remain similar rising to 10C by next weekend. Snow is likely to fall on the Snowdon massif for the next four days (see webcam view as viewed from The Lodge Dinorwig 6 miles away to the NNW). Yellow weather warnings for very strong winds Thursday 07:00 until 18:00 and an Amber warning for very strong winds have been issued for Storm Eowyn which is due to hit Thursday with 80-90 mph westerly gusts and snow on the peaks. This is likely to fall as heavy rain at sea level at Porthmadog.

In the afternoon two S&T technicians entered the signal box to complete maintenance tasks. No trains were noted crossing The Cob again and the Minffordd and Tan-y-bwlch webcams were still out of action after six weeks since their data cables were damaged. The tracks in the station area are beginning to look quite rusty with apparently no trains having crossed The Cob since 1/1/25, partly due to the blockage of the WHR in the Beddgelert Forest.

WAG investments in roads

The new section of the Heads of the Valleys dual carriageway was partially opened between Dowlais Top and Hirwaun this week and will be complete by the summer. It has cost £1.4bn over 4 years to complete the road, largely on the track of the former Head of the Valleys rail link. If only some of this money could be invested in North Wales rail services or the 'now you see it...now you don't' Grand Electrification Project! It seems most investment consistently goes to South Wales with just one loco hauled express between Holyhead and Cardiff while several daily trains ply the Cardiff-Manchester route!

F&WHR 20/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Monday was for an overcast drizzly day with temperatures of 6-7C. Sunset is at 16:39 and the weather will remain similar rising to 10C by next weekend. Snow is fast disappearing from Snowdon (see webcam view as seen from The Lodge Dinorwig 6 miles away to the NNW) with just a few patches left. No trains were noted crossing The Cob again and the Minffordd and Tan-y-bwlch webcams were still out of action after six weeks since their data cables were damaged. The tracks in the station area are beginning to look quite rusty with apparently no trains having crossed The Cob since 1/1/25, partly due to the blockage of the WHR in the Beddgelert Forest. Westbound traffic continued to queue on The Cob perhaps indicating signs of traffic control for roadworks near Britannia Bridge.

WHR Lineside clearance report

As many supporters will be aware, a significant amount of effort is currently being invested into maintaining the lineside on the railway. Trees, shrubs and other greenery have been shooting up at an incredible rate in recent years which has very quickly led to a significant amount of growth along the near 50 miles of lineside on the Welsh Highland Railway, which can have a significant knock-on impact if not tackled: trees growing through fences can cause significant damage, overhanging branches can become weighted down with leaves scratching our precious rolling stock, and deposits on the railhead contribute to poor adhesion, a real threat on a railway with sustained gradients of 1:40. Not only does this create further maintenance and operational risks, but also threatens one of the railway's greatest assets: the view. For images see F&WHR Facebook page.
Whilst work is progressing to clear the line through Beddgelert Forest, other sections are also receiving attention over the winter. This weekend's working party focussed on the area between Glan-yr-Afon and Tro Ffridd, with some of the most spectacular views on the railway. Great progress was made over both days with a large number of smaller trees tackled improving the spectacular outlook over Llyn Cwellyn and line of sight along the line.

F&WHR nominated for Heritage Awards

The Heritage Railway Association's shortlist of awards in 12 categories covering restorations, new projects and personal achievements has been published. Sponsored by Fox & Edwards Events, the Awards recognise excellence or innovation in almost every aspect of heritage railway and tramway restoration, preservation and operation - and the F&WHR are really pleased to see that the railway features in the list for two awards.
Firstly, in the 'Morgan Award for Rolling Stock', where the judges have included the newly-built replica of a Ffestiniog Railway four-wheeled carriage truck. This volunteer-led project made its first appearance at the 2024 'Bygones Weekend' and is a fantastic addition to our fleet of heritage vehicles.

Click on the advert to enlarge. Advert copyright F&WHR.

Secondly, as previously posted, the F&WHR has been included in the shortlist for Steam Railway magazine's 'Reader's Award' for the overhaul and re-boilering of Quarry Hunslet VELINHELI / FELINHELI. This popular loco returned to steam last year following the efforts of a team of dedicated volunteers and staff...the winners will be announced at the HRA Awards Dinner taking place at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead on Saturday, 8/2/25.
The F&WHR are keeping their fingers crossed that they are successful among a high-quality range of competitors for the awards.
------------------------------
Full details of the HRA Awards 2025 and shortlists can be found at https://bit.ly/HRA-Awards-2025

F&WHR 19/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Sunday was for a day of sunny periods with temperatures of 3-6C. Sunset is at 16:37 and the weather will remain similar into next week. Snow is fast disappearing from Snowdon (see webcam view as seen from The Lodge Dinorwig 6 miles away to the NNW). No trains were noted crossing The Cob again and the Minffordd and Tan-y-bwlch webcams were still out of action after six weeks since their data cables were damaged. The tracks in the station area are beginning to look quite rusty with apparently no trains having crossed The Cob since 1/1/25, partly due to the blockage of the WHR in the Beddgelert Forest.

Westbound traffic continued to queue on The Cob perhaps indicating signs of traffic control for roadworks near Britannia Bridge.

Bygones Gala weekend 3-5/10/25

The FR is having its third gala of the year on 3-5/10/25 whereas the WHR has so far just the Spring Beer Festival and no SuperPower planned for September.

Click on the advert to enlarge. Advert copyright F&WHR.

F&WHR 18/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Saturday was for a day of sunny periods with temperatures of 1-7C. Sunset is at 16:36 and the weather will remain similar into next week. Snow is fast disappearing from Snowdon (see webcam view as seen from The Lodge Dinorwig 6 miles away to the NNW). No trains were noted crossing The Cob again and the Minffordd and Tan-y-bwlch webcams were still out of action after over a month since their data cables were damaged. The tracks in the station area are beginning to look quite rusty with apparently no trains having crossed The Cob since 1/1/25, partly due to the blockage of the WHR in the Beddgelert Forest.

Westbound traffic continued to queue on The Cob perhaps indicating signs of traffic control for roadworks near Britannia Bridge.

WHR Lineside Clearance train 18/1/25

It has been a while now since Storm Darragh and a group of volunteers ahs gone out on a lineside clearance train today with the GM, It was not confirmed if a start had been made on clearing fallen trees in the Beddgelert Forest. It seems there may still be several trees to remove which are blocking the line.

This southerly view (18/1/11) shows Caernarfon Castle with Mess Cars at Clogwyn-y-Gwin crossing north of Rhyd Ddu on a Lineside Clearance Duty. Click on the image to enlarge. This image is copyright F&WHR and was taken on a digital camera.

F&WHR 17/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Friday was for an overcast day with temperatures of 3-9C. Sunset is at 16:34 and the weather will remain similar into next week. Snow is fast disappearing from Snowdon (see webcam view as seen from The Lodge Dinorwig 6 miles away to the NNW). No trains were noted crossing The Cob again and the Minffordd and Tan-y-bwlch webcams were still out of action after over a month since their data cables were damaged. The tracks in the station area are beginning to look quite rusty with apparently no trains having crossed The Cob since 1/1/25, partly due to the blockage of the WHR in the Beddgelert Forest.

Westbound traffic continued to queue on The Cob perhaps indicating signs of traffic control for roadworks near Britannia Bridge.

Russell's Last runs

Russell's Caernarfon run on 18/4/24 is almost fully booked but plenty of places remain on the four Beddgelert runs on the previous weekends. These trains will not call at intermediate stations and halts to set down or pick up. There will be ECS movements each morning and evening to return the train to Gelert's Farm depot.

Click on the advert to enlarge. Advert copyright F&WHR features Russell crossing the Afon Glaslyn bridge at Pont Croesor.

The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway / Rheilffordd Ucheldir Cymru, Porthmadog (Tremadog Road, Porthmadog) have announced that their flagship loco 'RUSSELL' will shortly be withdrawn for a 10-year overhaul.
The F&WHR has provided the opportunity for them to run a number of special 'LAST RUN' trains from Porthmadog (Harbour Station) to Beddgelert or Caernarfon, using 'RUSSELL' and a rake of 5 of their heritage carriages.
PLEASE NOTE: Ticketing will be handled by the WHHR, not the F&WHR - and you can book online now.
These special trains will run on the following dates:
PORTHMADOG HARBOUR - BEDDGELERT:
▪ Saturday 5/4/25
▫ 11:25
▫ 15:00
▪ Saturday 12/4/25
▫ 10:55
▫ 13:30
PORTHMADOG HARBOUR - CAERNARFON
▪ Friday 18/4/25
▫ 11:10
Last chance to ride behind 'RUSSELL' on the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway will be Saturday 19/4/25.
Booking information and tickets available @ https://bit.ly/RUSSELL-TICKETS
Spaces are limited, so don't delay - book now to avoid disappointment..!

F&WHR remains open to restarting coach traffic

The Coach Operators' Specials of 14 years ago used to operate from Porthmadog to Hafod-y-llyn (WHR) with short trains hauled by Taliesin. Coach operators sold these as Alpine Tours giving snowy winter views of Moel Hebog, Cnicht, The Moelwyns and the Snowdon massif from The Traeth. It was a low cost option for the WHR with level running using a small engine and a short rake that was open to the general public. The trains brought in a useful marginal income during a normally quiet time of year. Unfortunately, the coach operators have changed their business model and no longer offer such tours post COVID. However the General Manager confirms that should a change take place in the coach tour industry the F&WHR is still able to respond quickly and take advantage of such opportunities. A member of staff in the Booking Office has a regular duty to contact coach companies and see if there is any interest in restarting such trains or indeed booking a coach on an existing service..

This southerly view (13/1/11) shows Taliesin running alongside Llyn Bach on a Porthmadog to Hafod-y-llyn (WHR) working. These trains were laid on in association with coach tour operators. There are no such trains post COVID leading to questions about whether the market for such services has disappeared and the passenger railway appears closed for 12 weeks through Winter. It is hoped that Taliesin will reappear this year when its overhaul is complete. Click on the image to enlarge. This image is copyright Steve Broomfield and was taken on a digital camera.

F&WHR 16/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Thursday was for a day of sunshine and temperatures of 6-9C with mist and fog in the evening. Sunset is at 16:32 and the weather will remain similar into next week. Snow is fast disappearing from Snowdon (see webcam view as seen from The Lodge Dinorwig 6 miles away to the NNW). No trains were noted crossing The Cob again and the Minffordd and Tan-y-bwlch webcams were still out of action after over a month since their data cables were damaged. The tracks in the station area are beginning to look quite rusty with apparently no trains having crossed The Cob since 1/1/25, partly due to the blockage of the WHR in the Beddgelert Forest. However, the signalbox appeared to be manned or at least receiving maintenance from 11:00. There appeared to be some activity underway about halfway across The Cob.

Westbound traffic was noted queuing on The Cob again perhaps indicating signs of traffic control for roadworks near Britannia Bridge.

Trailffest 27/9/25

The annual cross country Half Marathon run from Tan-y-grisiau to Porthmadog Harbour station will be held on 27/9/25. A train will take participants to Tan-y-grisiau and supporters can follow the race from the train as it returns to Porthmadog as the race parallels or crosses the FR at several locations.

Click on the advert to enlarge. Advert copyright F&WHR.

F&WHR 15/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Wednesday was for a day of sunny periods and temperatures of a steady 1-9C. Sunset is at 16:30 and the weather will remain similar into next week. The Rhinogs have lost their snow cover but snow remains on the Snowdon massif and is likely to have a covering of snow for a few days yet as the thaw sets in. No trains were noted crossing The Cob again and the Minffordd and Tan-y-bwlch webcams were still out of action after over a month since their data cables were damaged. The tracks in the station area are beginning to look quite rusty with apparently no trains having crossed The Cob since 1/1/25, partly due to the blockage of the WHR in the Beddgelert Forest. However, the signalbox appeared to be manned or at least receiving maintenance from 11:00. There appeared to be some activity underway about halfway across The Cob.

Westbound traffic was noted queuing on The Cob again perhaps indicating signs of traffic control for roadworks near Britannia Bridge.

FR Society Platinum Jubilee 20-22/6/25

Click on the advert to enlarge. Advert copyright F&WHR.

North Wales main line 13/1/25

LSL Crewe arranged a private train for staff on 13/1/25 to Holyhead with 46100 Royal Scot on the front (running her final service before 10 year withdrawal) and green 40013 Andania (as D213) on the rear. The pair double headed on the way back from Llandudno Junction.

There is still a FO 6C56 15:48 Aberystwyth to Kronospan Chirk (via Chester reverse) valid to 16/5/25 but it seems the SO schedule is preferred 6C56 09:50 Aberystwyth to Kronospan Chirk (via Chester reverse) valid to 17/5/25. The train did not run on 10/1 or 11/1/25.

F&WHR 14/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Tuesday was for an overcast murky day with drizzle and temperatures of a steady 8-10C. Sunset is at 16:29 and the weather will remain similar until next weekend. The Rhinogs have lost their snow cover. Snow remains on the mountains and Snowdon is likely to have a covering of snow for a few days yet as the thaw sets in. No trains were noted crossing The Cob again and the Minffordd and Tan-y-bwlch webcams were still out of action after over a month since their data cables were damaged.

Westbound traffic was noted queuing on The Cob again indicating signs of traffic control for roadworks near Britannia Bridge.

Russell's final runs Easter 2025

Click on the advert to enlarge. Advert copyright WHHR. Click on this link to book the Beddgelert trains or click on this link to book the Caernarfon train.

Rail-Ale 6-8/6/25

Click on the advert to enlarge. Advert copyright F&WHR. This year's Rail-Ale has moved to Waunfawr as Dinas is a construction site due to the track alterations and new Carriage Shed being erected. There is likely to be enhanced shuttle service to Waunfawr because of its limited car park.

Alco Mountaineer January progress
Fresh from celebrating Christmas and welcoming in the New Year the team returned to Glan-y-pwll depot. The cab has had it first coat of black paint, which is to prevent the primer from absorbing moisture. The rear bunker has also been cleaned and has been partially painted. The rest will be done next time. The first lot of non ferrous fittings were removed from the citric acid bath. They have cleaned up but require further work. The plate work sheets have been covered in degreaser to get them completely clean, ready to be sent to the sand blasters in the next few months.

This southerly view (16/4/2001) shows Mountaineer in black running round at Waunfawr on the WHR. The Alco was used for a short while on lighter WHR services to save money on fuel compared to the NG16's running costs. Click on the image to enlarge. This image is copyright Barrie Hughes and was scanned from a slide.

The holes revealed in the old water tanks when they were sand blasted have been welded up. This is only for cosmetic purposes as the plan is still to produce new tanks but the old ones have one more role to play during the Rail 200 event this year. The CAD work for the new tanks is still being progressed in between working parties. The frames are also being painstakingly cleaned and degreased. This will make them ready to take apart when the time comes. The smokebox has had the vacuum pipe removed as this would clash with the spark arrestor. A new spark arrestor will be fitted once the design of the smokebox internals is finalised.
As the project is now moving on there was also a lot of design work taking place, Gwion had the CAD model of the ash pan to hand working out the area required for air. Ian also joined him measuring up the frames to create drawings for a number of items. These are being done as homework in between working parties and hopefully next month the team hope to share with you some of the plans that, funding permitting, will be made over the coming year.
Lastly the boiler, while there is not much going on at present with the boiler itself, there is exciting news round the corner. The flue tubes are set to arrive early this year and all the smaller tubes have now been ordered which should be with the team some time in March. There are two bits of plate work (these will form pads to weld the diaphragm plates to) that require ordering but after that, pressure vessel wise, those are all the parts required to carry out the boiler work. There are also blanking plates to be made.
As you can see in the photos the wonderful landscape of Glan-y-pwll was covered in snow.
As a small side project the team has also created a mess area inside the shed ready for when improvements to the mess facility's out side begin. 2025 is going to be the year of Cleaning, Painting and Building for the project.
Please stay tuned for future updates and thank you for your continued support.

Please visit Mountaineer's Appeal page and shop to help progress the restoration of the Mountaineer.
Please find the Appeal page on the Ffestiniog Railway society web site.
https://www.ffestiniograilway.org.uk/.../mountaineer-appeal
The team has its own website, where there is a selection of items for you to purchase to support the project.
https://www.alco1265.org.uk/
Finally if you would like to get involved please contact pbooth@ffwhr.com for more information on how you can do this and you can send a message on this page.
Team Mountaineer

F&WHR 13/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Monday was for an overcast day with temperatures of a steady 8C but feeling much colder with a strong southerly breeze. Sunset is at 16:27 and the weather will remain similar until next weekend. The Rhinogs were losing their snow cover as the thaw set in. Snow remains on the mountains and Snowdon is likely to have a covering of snow for a few days yet. No trains were noted crossing The Cob again and the Minffordd and Tan-y-bwlch webcams were still out of action after over a month since their data cables were damaged.

The Coach Operators' Specials of 14 years ago 13/1/11

Model Rail Workshop 17-18/5/25

Click on the advert to enlarge. Advert copyright D&WHR.

The annual Model Rail Workshop will be held in the Gweithdy at Minffordd. Last year a shuttle was provided from Porthmadog but so far this year there is no mention of a shuttle. There is a small charge for entry.

F&WHR 12/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Sunday was for an overcast day with temperatures of 6 to 8C but feeling much colder with an increasing chilly southerly breeze. Sunset is at 16:26 and the weather will remain similar until next weekend. The Rhinogs were still dusted with snow today. Snow remains on the mountains until a thaw sets in from Monday and Snowdon is likely to have a covering of snow for a while yet. No trains were noted moving across The Cob again and the Minffordd and Tan-y-bwlch webcams were still out of action after over a month since their data cables were damaged.

More images of Plas Halt clearance works 12/1/25

More images have been published on the F&WHR's Facebook page showing clearance of sight lines at Plas Halt on the F&WHR.

F&WHR 11/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Saturday was for an overcast day with temperatures of 2 to 5C but feeling much colder with a chilly north-easterly breeze. Sunset is at 16:24 and the weather will remain similar until the weekend. There was a light frost at Porthmadog and the Rhinogs were still dusted with snow today too. Snow is forecast on the mountains until a thaw sets in from Monday and Snowdon is likely to have a covering of snow for a while yet. No trains were noted moving across The Cob again and the Minffordd and Tan-y-bwlch webcams were still out of action after over a month since they were damaged.

Occasional westbound traffic jams built up on The Cob, possibly because of roadworks and traffic control.

Russell Beddgelert Specials booking now available 5&12/4/25

Advert courtesy WHHR.

Vintage Russell hauled trains operate twice a day Porthmadog Harbour to Beddgelert on 5/4/25 and 12/4/25. Return tickets for a 2 hour 5 minute round trip cost £45 adult and £12.50 child. Tickets may be booked at the WHHR's Events website for 5/4/25 and 12/4/25.

Tickets are liable to sell out quickly as there will only be 5 coaches in the train, namely Gladstone Car No.9, Buffet Car No.10, Toast rack No.42, Asbury's No.9 and Pickering Brake No.8. There are no reservations and no heating nor toilets available on the train. Toilets will be available at Beddgelert. The Buffet Car will be available for sale of refreshments while the loco runs round at Beddgelert.

Timetable

Station	5/4/25	5/4/25	12/4/25	12/4/25
Porthmadog Harbour dep	12:25	15:00	10:55	13:30
Beddgelert arr	13:10	15:45	11:40	14:15
Beddgelert dep	13:45	16:20	12:15	14:50
Porthmadog Harbour arr	14:30	17:05	13:00	15:35

There may be an ECS move from and to Beddgelert Farm depot on both days.

Russell Caernarfon Special booking now available 18/4/25

There is also a 6 hour vintage Russell hauled train from Porthmadog Harbour to Caernarfon on Friday 18/4/25. Return tickets are £75 adult and £25 child. Tickets may be booked at the WHHR Events website for 18/4/25.

Tickets are liable to sell out quickly as there will only be 5 coaches in the train as for the Beddgelert services the previous week. There will be time allowed at intermediate stops for access to toilets as there are no toilets or heating on the train.

Station	Time	Time
Porthmadog Harbour	11:10	17:10
Beddgelert	12:00	16:30
Rhyd Ddu	12:35	16:00
Waunfawr	13:10	15:25
Dinas	13:45	14:45
Caernarfon	14:00	14:30

There may be an ECS move from and to Beddgelert Farm depot.

Friends of the Ffestiniog Railway Gala 3-4/5/25

Click on the advert to enlarge. Advert copyright F&WHR.

Details of this event will be published later. Gravity train runs are likely from Dduallt and a variety of traction and rolling stock will most likely be made available with additional trains to the normal timetable. There may also be additional services on the WHR but this is unlikely given the experience of previous years FR events. This will mean there are 3 events on the FR this year with the 70th Anniversary of the FR Society in June and the Bygones Gala in October. In comparison, so far no events had been announced for the WHR, not even SuperPower!!

Occasional westbound traffic jams on The Cob were likely due to traffic controls for roadworks rather than any trains cross Britannia Bridge tramway

F&WHR 10/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Friday was for a day of sunny periods with temperatures of 1 to 4C but feeling much colder with a chilly north-easterly breeze. Sunset is at 16:23 and the weather will remain similar until the weekend. There was a light dusting of snow at Porthmadog and the Rhinogs were covered today too. Snow is forecast on the mountains until the weekend and Snowdon is likely to have a covering of snow with snowfall likely until Friday. Harbour Station had received a heavy frost at sea level. A yellow warning for ice expired on Friday morning. No trains were noted moving across The Cob again and the Minffordd and Tan-y-bwlch webcams were still out of action after over a month since they were damaged.

The Snowdonian 2025

Click on the advert to enlarge. Advert copyright F&WHR.

After a light inclusive breakfast in Spooner's at Harbour Station (upgrade to full breakfast available), you join The Snowdonian which departs at 0830 (for 0845) heading for Blaenau Ffestiniog. Coffee is served on route and there is chance to stretch your legs at the terminus before the return journey. It is a perk of The Snowdonian that you get to enjoy some mixed and unusual motive power. Following a loco swap at Boston Lodge Works, it is straight through Porthmadog and onto Welsh Highland rails. The train stops at Waunfawr, where a buffet lunch is served in the Snowdonia Parc brewpub. A chance also, to sample a glass of their own ale. They were CAMRA Gwynedd a Mon Brewery of the Year in 2023!

On leaving Waunfawr, you head for the coast to complete the Welsh Highland route, arriving at Caernarfon station where there is a comfort break and chance to check out the shop or wander over to the harbour. Then it is back towards Porthmadog with tea and a sweet treats box served at your seat. You arrive back in Porthmadog around 1810. This completes your day but Spooner’s will be open should you wish to have a drink and a chat with newly made friends or a meal before you leave.

As part of your ticket, you are able to join one of the especially organised tours of Boston Lodge the following day. Particularly interesting at this time as we are nearing the completion of the extensive NLHF project to restore and recreate some of the old buildings whilst also erecting new buildings to prepare Boston Lodge for the future. A shuttle train will take you to Boston Lodge where you will be met by your guides, then will return you back to Porthmadog. Tour times are as follows:

Sunday 27/4/25: 10.:05 / 12:40 / 15:05

NB: We are sorry that due to Boston Lodge currently designated as a construction worksite, access is not available to anybody with mobility difficulties. However, construction work appeared to have been completed last August so this may be a hang over from last year's Snowdonian.

To help with your arrangements, some special arrangements have been made at Spooner's for Friday evening with two sittings for dinner and a special Snowdonian menu which you may book when ordering your tickets.

On Saturday morning, Spooner's is open from 07.00 for you to eat or collect your breakfast which may be eaten in or taken to the train. You can upgrade to a full breakfast for just - £5.00. On Saturday evening, the normal menu will be available.

Spooner's opens for breakfast from 09.00 on Sunday morning so that those going on the Boston Lodge tour can get some sustenance. You can then enjoy their excellent Sunday carvery from 12.00.

Tickets

Ordinary Third Class seats - £260.00
First Class Pullman seats - £425.00
First Class Observation Saloon - £525.00

For all enquiries, or to book your tickets, please call the Booking Office on 01766 516024. A percentage of the ticket price goes to our Sustainability Projects to ensure the future of the Railways.

Locos

These are not currently specified but Prince has been mentioned and with luck NG15 No.134 may be available by then for the WHR section if it is run in and passed for traffic. Taliesin may even have emerged from the works by then for the FR section!

WHR storm damage clearance 18-19/1/25

Paul Lewin F&WHR GM is looking for some willing hands to help clear the major line blockage in the Beddgelert Forest caused by large fallen pine trees. Can you help the railway get on with clearing some of the after affects of Storm Darragh?
Help is sought for the weekend of 18-19/1/25. Staff will be working on some lineside clearance on the Welsh Highland Railway starting from Dinas depot near Caernarfon. If you are interested or would like to join us please message Paul Lewin or email plewin@ffwhr.com.

This northerly view (12/24) shows the devastation left by Storm Darragh with several large trees fallen across the WHR. Click on the image to enlarge and click again to expand fully where available. Image copyright Paul Lewin (F&WHR) taken on a digital camera.

F&WHR 9/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Thursday was for a day of sunshine and snow showers with temperatures of -3 to 4C but feeling much colder with a chilly north-westerly breeze. Sunset is at 16:21 and the weather will remain similar until the weekend. There was a light covering of snow at Porthmadog and the Rhinogs were covered today too. Snow is forecast on the mountains until the weekend. Snowdon is likely to have a covering of snow with snowfall likely until Friday. Harbour Station had received a heavy frost at sea level. A yellow warning for snow and ice has been issued from 03:00 until midday on Thursday. No train movements were noted at Harbour Station.

This westerly view (9/1/25) shows a light covering of snow on the platforms at Porthmadog. Click on the image to enlarge and click again to expand fully where available. Image copyright F&WHR taken on a digital camera.

C2 project update December 2024

The new design of boiler for the ex-Chinese loco C2 has been approved. There is a very detailed report about removing the safety valves from the old boiler (to fit to the new boiler) and other progress on the C2 website. It is the 18th anniversary of the locos arrival in North Wales from China and the C2 Group are hopeful that the loco will appear in steam on the F&WHR before too many more years have passed now that the boiler order is being made.

More photos from the Plas Halt relay 9/1/25

Roger Van Praet has published 10 photos of Festrail Insider page showing the interesting passage of the spoil train through Garnedd Tunnel. See Facebook Festrail Insider page.

F&WHR 8/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Wednesday was for a day of sunshine and temperatures of -3 to 4C but feeling much colder with a chilly north-westerly breeze. The actual weather was overcast for much of the day. Sunset is at 16:20 and the weather will remain similar until the weekend. A good covering of snow was again visible on the upper Rhinogs today and is forecast on the mountains until the weekend. Snowdon is likely to have a covering of snow with snowfall likely until Friday. Harbour Station had received a heavy frost at sea level. A yellow warning for snow and ice has been issued from 03:00 until midday on Thursday.

S&T staff were on duty in the morning in the signalbox and on the tramway section on Britannia Bridge. Harlech Castle continued to work on the spoil trains from the FR's Plas Halt relay site through Tan-y-bwlch to disposal at Dduallt. See Facebook Festrail page for images though no trains were noted in Harbour Station.

Error on the WHR Society page

The WHR Society webpage states that 'The railway opened section-by-section thanks to huge public support and the efforts of numerous volunteer gangs starting with Waunfawr in 2000, followed by Rhyd Ddu in 2003, Beddgelert in 2009, and Pont Croesor in 2010.' In fact the WHR initially opened in October 1997 between Caernarfon and Dinas.

Although the WHR of the 1920s was intending to complete a route from Dinas to an independent station at Caernarfon this never happened and the railway had to be content with the inconvenience of passengers changing trains to the LMS at Dinas. So it could be said the Dinas-Caernarfon section was 'opened' rather than 're-opened' in 1997. Others might say the Dinas-Caernarfon line was re-opened under a different operator and gauge in 1997 after the BR line closure in 1964 and lifting a few years later.

F&WHR 7/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Tuesday was for a day of sunshine and showers with heavy rain in the evening and temperatures of -2 to 5C but feeling much colder with a chilly north-westerly gusts. Sunset is at 16:18 and the weather will remain similar until the weekend. A good covering of snow was again visible on the upper Rhinogs today and is forecast on the mountains until the weekend. Snowdon is likely to have a covering of snow with snowfall likely until Friday. No train movements were noted.

Merddin Emrys repaint

Glenn Williams (F&WHR Carriage Works Manager) has published a set of photos showing the recent repainting of Merddin Emrys into 60s green livery. See Festrail Facebook page for images.

Mainline news 7/1/25

TfW reported services suspended on the Chester-Shrewsbury route due to a landslip at Gobowen following heavy rain. Landslips seem to be becoming an increasing problem as Victorian engineering is reaching a second century of use with heavier frequency and loadings than the engineers of the day ever imagined. This necessitates a greater frequency for the NR inspection regime to avoid derailments. Services have been diverted to an alternative route-presumably via Crewe.

The Conwy Valley is closed by flooding today. The 'resilience' works of previous years do not seem to have been sufficient as flooding at Dolgarrog is again an issue.

The Heart of Wales line is closed by flooding between Knighton and Llandrindod Wells.

F&WHR 6/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Monday was for a day of sunshine and showers with heavy rain in the evening and temperatures of 0-5C but feeling much colder with a chilly north-westerly breeze. Sunset is at 16:17 and will remain similar until the weekend. A good covering of snow was again visible on the upper Rhinogs and is forecast on the mountains until the weekend. Snowdon is likely to have a covering of snow with snowfall likely until Friday. No train movements were noted on Monday.

A yellow weather warning for snow/ice has been issued for North Wales from Monday 17:00 until Tuesday 10:00. The Minffordd and Tan-y-bwlch webcams have been out of action for over 4 weeks since the damage wrought by storm Darragh. While the passenger service has now stopped leaving an empty 3 month gap in the timetable until 29/3/25, occasional works trains, fuel trains and stock transfers are still likely.

Russell test runs to Harbour Station 20/12/22

With Russell set to make runs out of Porthmadog Harbour station to Beddgelert and Caernarfon at Easter here is a reminder of its first crossing of Britannia Bridge tramway, one of the tightest curves on the F&WHR.

Click on the YouTube link to watch 5 minutes 53 seconds of video covering Russell's first test run to Harbour Station on 20/12/22 which continued across The Cob to Boston Lodge. This video was published on 20/12/22 and is best viewed at 1080p with Chrome. This video was produced by John Wooden (F&WHR) using 4K footage from a professional Betamax camcorder and quadcopter drone.

Fairlies of the Ffestiniog YouTubes

In this quiet part of the year and after the mince pies have all gone the F&WHR thought you might like something to watch. These four chapters were destined to be part of a DVD set to be released during the big Fairlie celebrations of 2020. Well they never happened for obvious reasons of COVID but most of the video for the DVDs did. Follow the link to the playlist and you will find four videos: Introduction, History, How they work and a chapter that would have been an 'extra', The Square's last stand.

Part 1 Introduction (2 minutes 43 seconds)

Part 2 History (28 minutes 15 seconds)

Part 3 How they work (28 minutes 58 seconds)

Square's Last Stand (10 minutes 7 seconds)

Click on the YouTube links to watch video covering the history and mechanical principles of double Fairlie locomotives. This video was published on 6/1/25 and is best viewed at 1080p with Chrome. These videos were produced by John Wooden (F&WHR) using 4K footage from a professional Betamax camcorder and a quadcopter drone.

YouTube F&WHR Whistle Up 1/1/25

Click on the YouTube link to watch 8 minutes of video from 1/1/25 copyright Lee Andrew Davies Preserved Railways channel.

F&WHR 5/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Sunday was for an overcast day with heavy rain in the afternoon and temperatures of 0-4C but feeling much colder with a chilly north-easterly breeze. Sunset is at 16:16 and yellow weather warnings are out for Sunday until midnight with snow and ice until late Sunday evening. Temperatures have fallen back today and snow was again visible on the Rhinogs and is forecast on the mountains at the weekend. Snowdon is likely to get a covering of snow from today with snowfall overnight and likely into Monday. The higher temperatures initially forecast for Sunday have now disappeared from the forecast which is now 4C MAX with sleet turning to rain. No train movements were noted on Sunday.

The damage to the F&WHR telecoms system by Storm Darragh must have been severe as Minffordd/Tan-y-Bwlch webcams were out of action for four weeks now. While the passenger service has now stopped leaving an empty 3 month gap in the timetable until 29/3/25, occasional works trains and stock transfers are still likely. The platform saw a number of families exercising today posing the question could the F&WHR extend its service for another 2/3 days as some other heritage railways do as schools don't go back until tomorrow 6/1/24, the 12th day of Christmas!

WHHR NG15 No.120

Nothing much has been heard about the ex-SAR NG15 loco No.120 previously stored at the WHHR in a disassembled state in Gelert's Farm depot. However, the loco has now changed hands again and work has started on restoration! The new owners have announced that the frames are due to be sand blasted, painted and inspected in January 2025. The new owning consortium is probably the same Sheffield team that bought Matheran Light Railway No.740, the Darnall Locomotive and Railway Heritage Group which also has a SAR Class 91 2' diesel.

See Narrow Gauge Enthusiasts Facebook group for details and images.

F&WHR 4/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Saturday was for an overcast day with temperatures of 0-4C but feeling much colder with a chilly north-easterly breeze. Sunset is at 16:14 and yellow weather warnings is out for Saturday and Sunday with sleet forecast at sea level until late Sunday evening. Temperatures have fallen back today and snow was again visible on the Rhinogs and is forecast on the mountains at the weekend. Snowdon is likely to get a covering of snow from today with snowfall likely until Sunday. The higher temperatures forecast for Sunday have now disappeared from the forecast which is now 4C MAX with sleet turning to rain. No train movements were noted on Saturday.

The damage to the F&WHR telecoms system by Storm Darragh must have been severe as Minffordd/Tan-y-Bwlch webcams were out of action for a 27th day. While the passenger service has now stopped leaving an empty 3 month gap in the timetable until 29/3/25, occasional works trains and stock transfers are still likely. The platform saw a number of families exercising today posing the question could the F&WHR extend its service for another 2/3 days as some other heritage railways do as schools don't go back until Monday 6/1/24.

Spooner's Winter closure

Click on the advert to enlarge. Advert copyright F&WHR.

F&WHR 3/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Friday was for sunny periods and showers and a temperature 2-6C but feeling much colder with a chilly northerly breeze. Sunset is at 16:13 and a yellow weather warnings is out for Saturday and Sunday with sleet and snow forecast even at sea level until late Sunday evening. Temperatures have fallen back today and snow was visible on the Rhinogs and is forecast on the mountains at the weekend. Snowdon is likely to get a covering of snow from today with snowfall likely until Sunday. The damage to the F&WHR telecoms system by Storm Darragh must have been severe as Minffordd/Tan-y-Bwlch webcams were out of action for a 26th day. While the passenger service has now stopped leaving an empty 3 month gap in the timetable until 29/3/25, occasional works trains and stock transfers are still likely. The platform saw a number of tourists exercising today posing the question could the F&WHR extend its service for another 2/3 days as some other heritage railways do as schools don't go back until Monday.

Merddin Emrys Goes Green 7/1/25

The new year signals the start of the F&WHR's 70th Anniversary celebrations (since the recommencement of passenger trains on the Ffestiniog Railway, under the new regime) and the railway has a special announcement about locomotive liveries. Merddin Emrys will appear in green in 2025 along with Prince! These were some of the original locos restored by the new FR with the double Fairlie appearing in 1961. Previously double Fairlie Livingston Thompson (carrying the name Taliesin) was in traffic. The new Single Fairlie Taliesin appeared in 1999 as a replica of the single Fairlie withdrawn in the 1930s.

This westerly view (?/1/25) shows Merddin Emrys resplendent in its new lined green livery reprising images from more than 60 years ago. Click on the image to enlarge and click again to expand fully where available. Image copyright F&WHR taken on a digital camera.

Back in 1955 when services first ran under the new administration it was the initiative of the railway's volunteers that made things possible and now in 2025, staff can continue to say the same again.
Over the Christmas and New Year holidays a team of devoted F&WHR volunteers have painted the flagship double Fairlie, Merddin Emrys, in a green similar to that carried in the 1950's and 60's by double Fairlie Taliesin (Livingston Thomas).
Thanks to this tremendous team effort, the railway will now be able to celebrate this important anniversary in style as both Merddin Emrys and Prince will carry this green livery. David Lloyd George and Palmerston will continue in the red liveries reflecting the 1990's whilst Welsh Pony and James Spooner will continue to sport their ornately lined plum livery of recent times.
The first opportunity to see Merddin Emrys and Prince in their new liveries is likely to be as part of the annual Snowdonian service in April 2025. Single Fairlie Taliesin may appear from refurbishment during the course of the year but there has been no confirmation about its livery.
Thanks to this effort the railway will be able to celebrate both the Railway 200 and its 70th Anniversary celebrations in style. For more images see Facebook page.

School Easter holidays

The main English school Easter holidays are from 7-17/4/25, the two weeks before the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. In Wales the holidays are different being 14-25/4/25, with a week either side of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. The F&WHR opens its new season on 29/4/25, just a few days before the main surge of English holidaymakers might arrive in North Wales.

Caernarfon Water Tank maintenance

With the last Christmas Cwellyn steam loco using the Caernarfon tank on 1/1/24, the tank was drained for annual maintenance at the end of the day. See Facebook video courtesy Paul Lewin (F&WHR GM).

Aberystwyth logs 2025

After the resurgence of traffic on 14/12/24 and 21/12/24, enthusiasts will be looking forward to seeing Class 37s on the Cambrian Coast in 2025 on Saturdays. Here is a YouTube showing the pair working hard with the heavy load at various locations in Mid Wales with thanks to John Rawlings who found it.

F&WHR 2/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Thursday was for sunny periods and showers and a temperature -3-5C but feeling much colder with a chilly northerly breeze. Sunset is at 16:12 and a yellow weather warnings is out for Saturday and Sunday with sleet and snow forecast even at sea level. until 11:00 and 15:00 for wind. Temperatures have fallen back today and snow is forecast on the mountains later in the week. Snowdon is likely to get a covering of snow from today with snowfall likely until Sunday. The damage to the F&WHR telecoms system by Storm Darragh must have been severe as Minffordd/Tan-y-Bwlch webcams were out of action for a 25th day. While the passenger service has now stopped leaving an empty 3 month gap in the timetable until 29/3/25, works trains and stock transfers are still likely. The platform saw a number of tourists exercising today posing the question could the F&WHR extend its service for another 2/3 days as some other heritage railways do as schools don't go back until Monday.

Loco Liveries

It is a new year and as the railway looks forward to celebrating the 70th anniversary of the recommencement of passenger trains on the Ffestiniog Railway under the new regime, staff have been giving some thought to locomotive liveries.
The image of Prince in what was to become the standard FR green is one that endures. Over the Christmas period our dedicated volunteers have been working to recreate the livery that Prince will once again carry. Here you can see the detail of the crest that will adorn the side of the tender.
Look out in the coming days for updates when the railway will showcase more of their work!

Prince's new tender crest. Click on image to enlarge. Image copyright F&WHR.

KS4415 progress 2024

At Boston Lodge, and in people's home workshops, even over the Christmas period, the Kerr Stuart diesel restoration is still inching slowly forward. Nothing stops the KS4415 team, not even pigs in blankets!
At the FR Co.'s main works the team has finally gathered all the riveting equipment and have done a few test pieces. They are confident in the method and will be permanently fixing the bodywork together very soon. While that was going on the clutch mechanism was stripped and assessed for what repairs will be required. On the McLaren engine volunteers attempted to fit the cylinder liners into the block, but the MDB4 had other ideas. The clamping arrangements to seal the bottoms of the liners are old; a cracked one had already been replaced, and then another broke as we tried to install them. This has brought assembling the engine to an abrupt halt while we work out what to do next. The answer will probably be to have a pattern made and some new parts cast. Not the finish to '24 we were hoping for, but that's how it goes in the 100 year old diesel restoration game. On the plus side the new heater is a "roaring" success, and the team had a very productive meeting with a rep from a lapping company about the injection parts - more on that at a later date.

For images see KS4415 Facebook page.

Off site in Sheffield the patterns for the governor dead-weights have been progressed and are nearly ready to go to the foundry. In Manchester the cylinder rocker cover castings are being machined, and more drawings are being produced. In Wales the engine push rods are being worked on. Many thanks to the volunteers who put time in whenever and wherever they can without necessarily coming to the railway.
As another year's progress is chalked up the inevitable questions like "When will it be finished?" and "Why is it taking so long?" will be asked. If the team knew what they were getting themselves into they probably wouldn't have ever started, or they may have gone down a different route. But they didn't, and here they are. It's probably fair to say the end is in sight, but how to get there isn't immediately obvious. If anyone knows how to finish this off quickly please let us know!
All that's left to say is Happy New Year to all our supporters, and please stick with us into 2025. If the festive spirit hasn't left you yet and you're feeling generous please follow the link to make a donation
https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/26512

Happy New Year!

Your webmaster would like to wish all readers a Happy New Year.

F&WHR 1/1/25

The Met Office forecast for Porthmadog for Wednesday was for an overcast morning with sunny periods and showers later a temperature 0-8C. Sunset is at 16:11 an yellow weather warnings are out for rain until 11:00 and 15:00 for wind.. Temperatures have fallen back today and snow is forecast on the mountains later in the week. Snowdon is likely to get a dusting of snow from the New Year. The damage to the F&WHR telecoms system by Storm Darragh must have been severe as Minffordd/Tan-y-Bwlch webcams were out of action for a 24th day. Inspection trains may be run to check both railways are clear.

No.143 was on the final day's Christmas Cwellyn and whistled at Rhyd Ddu. Blanche and Linda were on the final day's Christmas Mountain Spirit and whistled whilst descending the Dduallt spiral. Hugh Napier and Palmerston were on a stock transfer to Glan-y-pwll Carriage shed and whistled in Porthmadog station.

Russell Specials at Easter

The WHHR's Russell is approaching its 10 year boiler withdrawal date on 19/4/25. A series of 3 special trains will be run in association with the F&WHR. It is a pity that Baldwin No.590 is not back from restitution of a hot box issue at the VoR as enthusiasts who paid for a ride behind this loco during WHR100 in 2023 are still waiting. Also the possibility of reconstructions such as two trains at Beddgelert in the 'frontier' days will not be possible until both locos are simultaneously available.

Click on the advert to enlarge . Advert copyright WHHR.

The special Russell hauled trains are as follows:

Porthmadog Harbour to Beddgelert:
Saturday 5/4/25
1125 dep)
1500 arrive back
Saturday 12/4/25
1055 dep)
1330 arrive back
Porthmadog Harbour to Caernarfon (Good Friday)
Friday 18/4/25
1110 dep)
16:00? arrive back

WHHR

Last chance to ride behind Russell on the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway will be Saturday 19/4/25.
Booking information will be available shortly.

Rail 200

It is official, the Railway 200 celebrations have begun..!
Earlier today, a selection of F&WHR locomotives sounded their whistles as part of the nationwide initiative to mark the start of rail's 200th anniversary.
This marks the start of what promises to be a busy year of celebrations and here at the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways staff will be playing their part by hosting a special event on the 20-22/6/25: RAILWAY 200: FR PLATINUM JUBILEE WEEKEND featuring 200 Wheels on the Cob.

Click on advert to enlarge. Advert copyright F&WHR.

Come along to the F&WHR as staff celebrate two momentous landmarks - the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway (part of the national Railway 200 celebrations) and also the 70th anniversary of the recommencement of passenger trains on the Ffestiniog Railway, under the new regime.
The main highlight of the weekend will undoubtedly be the 200 Wheels on the Cob spectacle, which will take place on Sunday, 22/6/25. This will be a cavalcade of F&WHR engines throughout the years, lining up in formation across the iconic Cob embankment.
Plans for the weekend are still being finalised and further information will be uploaded on the dedicated event webpage over the coming weeks: https://www.festrail.co.uk/events/
Tickets for the event weekend are now available to buy with 3-Day and 1-Day rovers available.
For more information about Railway 200, visit the official website.

Click here for the Facebook video showing the Whistle event today.

Your webmaster can confirm other preserved railways joined in as No.40106 Atlantic Conveyor whistled as it crossed the SVR's Victoria Bridge just north of Bewdley.

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