Welsh Highland Railway

Welsh Highland Railway Rheilffordd Eryri
Welsh Highland Railway Rheilffordd Eryri
WHR locomotive K1, the first Garratt articulated locomotive, at Snowdon Ranger halt with train and Snowdonia behind
Locale	Wales
Terminus	Caernarfon and Porthmadog
Commercial operations
Name	Welsh Highland Railway Company
Built by	North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways (NWNGR) , Welsh Highland Railway
Original gauge	1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm)
Preserved operations
Operated by	Festiniog Railway Company and Welsh Highland Railway Limited
Stations	10 on WHR/RhE and 3 on WHHR
Length	16.5 miles (26.6 km) and 1 mi (1.6 km)
Preserved gauge	1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm) WHR(C) 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) WHHR
Commercial history
Opened	1922
Closed	1937
Preservation history
1961	Welsh Highland Railway Society formed
1964	WHR Society reformed as Welsh Highland Light Railway (1964) Limited
1980	WHR Ltd. line opened for passenger service
1990	Ffestiniog railway became involved
October 1997	WHR (Caernarfon) opened from Caernarfon to Dinas
August 2000	Reopened - Dinas to Waunfawr
August 2003	Reopened - Waunfawr to Rhyd Ddu
7 April 2009	Reopened - Rhyd Ddu to Beddgelert [1]
21 May 2009	Reopened - Beddgelert to Hafod y Llyn[1]
2011	Planned re-opening of entire railway

The Welsh Highland Railway (WHR) (Welsh: Rheilffordd Eryri / Rheilffordd Ucheldir Cymru) is a narrow gauge railway in Wales, which originally ran from Dinas near Caernarfon to Porthmadog,^[2] with a branch line to Bryngwyn and the slate quarries at Moel Tryfan.

The original line opened to passengers in 1923 but was never a commercial success^[2] and went into receivership in 1927.^[3] The service however continued, operated by the Festiniog Railway Company under a newly-signed 42-year lease, but only survived until 1937.^[3] Thus the WHR managed only fourteen years of operation, and the longest narrow gauge railway in Wales^[2] closed. The track was lifted during scrap collections in World War II. The recent restoration of the railway has been highly controversial and was subject to a number of legal disputes and a public enquiry.

From 1997 to the present the railway has been re-opened in stages by the Festiniog Railway Company^[a], which owns and operates the majority of the line. As of 2009 only the section between Caernarvon and Hafod y Llyn is open for regular passenger services. The line from Hafod y Llyn to Porthmadog is not due to open until 2011, although the section of line from Hafod y Llyn to Pont Croesor has been authorised for passenger traffic by HMRI and will be used for occasional services in 2010. These will be top and tailed by two locomotives, as there is no passing loop at Pont Croesor. The final section of line is still designated a construction site and cannot be used for passenger trains^[4].

There is also a 1-mile (1.6 km) railway from Porthmadog to Pen-y-Mount junction, where it connects with the WHR main line. It is operated by Welsh Highland Railway Limited under the trading name Welsh Highland Heritage Railway (Welsh: Rheilffordd Ucheldir Cymru). Under a 1998 agreement with the Ffestiniog Railway, WHR Ltd. will have the right to run trains over the WHR main line, although the exact nature of these rights has yet to be agreed.

The restored line is known as both Rheilffordd Ucheldir Cymru and Rheilffordd Eryri in Welsh. Rheilffordd Ucheldir Cymru - Welsh Highland Railway - has been used since 1980 by WHR Ltd. Rheilffordd Eryri - literally Snowdonia Railway - is a brand name used Ffestiniog Railway operations. The original Welsh Highland never had an official Welsh translation of its name, despite running through the heartland of the Welsh language. Locals tended to refer to it by informal names such as Y Lein Bach or Lein Bach Beddgelert (the little Beddgelert railway).

History

The Welsh Highland Railway was formed in 1922 from the merger of two companies - the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways (NWNGR) and the Portmadoc, Beddgelert and South Snowdon Railway (PBSSR)^[3] (successor to the Portmadoc, Croesor and Beddgelert Tram Railway).

Forerunners: 1863–1922

The Croesor tramway 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 1 ft 11+¹⁄₂ in (597 mm) 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 complete. By 1921, the NWNGR, the PBSSR, the Snowdon Mountain Railway and the Ffestiniog Railway were in common ownership and controlled by the owners of the Aluminium Corporation and the North Wales Power and Traction Company with headquarters at Dolgarrog.

Formation and construction: 1922–1923

In 1922 the order was made to create the Welsh Highland Railway (WHR), mainly funded by loans from the Ministry of Transport and Carnarvonshire County Council in the hope that it would help regenerate the area's economy and keep struggling quarries open.^[3] 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 Ffestiniog Railway at Porthmadog and which was opened in 1923.^[3]

Decline: 1923–1937

The WHR venture was not a success and the hoped-for revenue from quarry traffic never materialised. When these hopes were dashed, the railway turned to another market; tourism. The owners tried to attract visitors by opening the first narrow gauge buffet car and by painting their carriages bright colours, including yellow and blue. However, these ideas did not work because 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.^[5] The last passenger train ran on 5 September 1936 and the Welsh Highland Railway was formally closed on 1 June 1937.^[3] The majority of the track was removed for scrap during the Second World War.

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

In 1961 a small group of railway enthusiasts, who had been inspired by the successful preservation of the Talyllyn Railway,^[3] formed the Welsh Highland Railway Society to preserve and restore the line. After a number of name changes, this group became Welsh Highland Railway Limited. In the late 1970s they purchased the former standard gauge exchange sidings near Tremadog Road, Portmadog from British Railways^[6] and intended to use it as a base until the could acquire the WHR track bed. In 1980 they began running passenger services over the line that is now known as the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway. They also acquired original WHR locomotive Russell, which began working passenger services in 1987. WHR Ltd. was unsuccessful in its attempts to win control of the original WHR trackbed, losing out to the Ffestiniog Railway. They have, however, been a partner in its restoration after signing an agreement with the FR Co. in 1998.

In the mid 1980s the Ffestiniog Railway became concerned by potential competition from WHR Ltd and worked to acquire the track bed. Although the FR Co initially wanted to prevent it being used for rail traffic, various circumstances forced it to change its position. After a long legal battle the FR Co won control of the WHR track bed and since 1997 it has worked to re-open the railway in stages and plans to open the full line in 2011.

Rolling stock

Original locomotives

Two locomotives were inherited from the predecessor companies: Moel Tryfan and Russell. When these proved insufficient, Baldwin 590 was acquired by H.F. Stephens and several Ffestiniog 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 FR, Moel Tryfan and Russell were cut down to allow them to traverse the FR to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Moel Tryfan proved suitable, but Russell, even in cut down form, was not low or narrow enough to fit the Ffestiniog's the loading gauge. It has now been restored to its original form. Notably, 590 retained its original form until its demise.

Current rolling stock - Welsh Highland Railway / Rheilffordd Eyri (RhE)

Current rolling stock - Welsh Highland Heritage Railway (WHHR)

Operation

Ffestiniog Railway No.2 "Prince" works the heritage set in 2002 on the WHR(C)

The railway is a single track line with passing loops at Dinas, Waunfawr, Rhyd Ddu, Beddgelert and the current terminus at Hafod y Llyn halt. A further loop at Pont Croesor will come into use at a later date, probably in 2011.

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.

Signalling

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 a mixture of the token systems Token Only ('One Engine in Steam') and Staff and Ticket.

Unlike the neighbouring Ffesiniog Railway, the WHR has very basic, but perfectly functional signalling. 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, just a 'Stop' board requiring the train crew to stop and obtain a token and permission to proceed. At the end of the section, an additional sign gives the driver permission to take the train into the platform line provided it is clear as an alternative to the usual home signal.

In order to allow shunting operations (such as a locomotive 'running round' a train), there is also a system of Shunt Tokens. They are provided at Dinas, Rhyd Ddu and Beddgelert. 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, indicating to other train crews that it is not safe for them to enter the station as shunting may be taking place.

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 the token by road. This situation does not occur under the Electronic Token System (ETS), a more advanced system in which tokens can be obtained at either end of a section from a token machine.

ETS has been used on the Ffestiniog Railway for many years and the FR Co were anxious to obtain enough ETS machines 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 ^[7][8]

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.

Cambrian crossing

The crossing of the Network Rail owned Cambrian coast line is undertaken by a flat crossing. Constructed of a continuous cast lump of manganese steel, the standard gauge section of 113 lb/yd (56.1 kg/m) rail is continuous with notches cut out for narrow gauge passage. The WHR section is cast in 80 lb/yd (39.7 kg/m) rail as opposed to the WHR standard 60 lb/yd (29.8 kg/m) flat rail, which connects the crossing to the WHR narrow gauge lines either side.^[7]

The crossing is at the north-western end of the Network Rail Harlech to Porthmadog signalling section, which is controlled from Machynlleth Control Centre. The crossing is located between two road level crossings, and is adjacent to an occupational crossing that gives access to the WHRL works at Gelert's Farm.

There is currently no signaling to protect or operate the crossing and any stock movements over the WHR have to be done during an engineering possession pre-arranged with Network Rail. The crossing will not come into regular use until 2011, after the Cambrian Coast Line has been converted from RETB to ERTMS signalling by Network rail.

The Ffestiniog Railway intends to install the necessary crossing controls and signals between the winters of 2010 and 2011. The crossing will be protected by signals on the WHR line and will be operated by a crossing controller during the hours of passenger service. Outside these hours, the crossing will be operated by the train crew. It is intended that the crossing controller will press a plunger to request access and the ERTMS (if so set) will automatically give permission for WHR trains to cross. Additionally, a set of hand operated gates are in place on either side on the Network Rail line. These continue the boundary fencing aside all NR track. The northern gate was installed in January 2008. These gates open inwards and do not block the Network Rail line.

Porthmadog cross-town link

South of Cambrian crossing, the WHR cross town link trains will move direct to Porthmadog Harbour, where passengers will alight.^[9] Due to the lack of space presently for installation of a run round loop at Porthmadog Harbour station on the WHR platform, a spare locomotive to pull the stock back north will be held at Gas Street siding, located between Britannia Bridge and Snowdon Street crossing. Once the southbound train is at Porthmadog Harbour, the pilot locomotive will be released from the Gas Street siding and connect to the train. After the train departs north, the released ex-southbound locomotive will move to the water and fuelling stage, and then to Gas Street siding for the next southbound train to arrive.

Timetable

Historically, the WHR was split into two operational sections:^[10]

• 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.^[11], and then to Hafod y Llyn on May 21, 2009 ^[12], site of a small halt on the original line. Although passengers can 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.

The Ffestiniog Railway Company had planned to open the entire railway in 2009. Delays and funding restrictions, however, have meant that the opening has been repeatedly delayed. The full opening is now planned for 2011, although occasional specials from Hafod-y-Llyn to a location just north of Pont Croesor are likely to run in 2010.

Whole of line operations

Although with completion of the main track laying, it is now be possible to run trains from Caernarfon through to Blaenau Ffestiniog,^[2], there are initially no plans to do so, on a regular basis. The WHR is built to a larger loading gauge than the Ffestiniog railway, and therefore through trains would, of necessity be FR stock.

Stations

v • d • e Welsh Highland Railway

Legend Caernarfon Bontnewydd Dinas Braich / Moel Tryfan slate quarries Alexandra (Crown) / Fron slate quarries Bryngwyn Rhostryfan Tryfan Junction (derelict station building) Bryngwyn Branch Waunfawr Betws Garmon (derelict station building) Salem Halt Plas-y-Nant Snowdon Ranger Glanyrafon (derelict goods building) Rhyd Ddu Pitt's Head Summit Hafod Ruffydd Halt Meillionen Forest Campsite Beddgelert Goat Tunnel (T1) Afon Glaslyn Aberglaslyn Tunnel (T2) Aberglaslyn Tunnel (T3) The Long Tunnel (T4) Nantmor Hafod y Llyn End of current operational line from Caernarfon Hafod Garregog Halt Croesor Tramway Afon Glaslyn Ynysfor Halt Pont Croesor Site of Traeth Mawr Loop Start of CTRL Pen-y-Mount Gelert's Farm Portmadoc New (1933) Porthmadog, WHHR Porthmadog Cambrian Line Portmadoc New (1923) station Snowdon St Road Section Britannia Bridge Section Porthmadog Harbour End of CTRL and Junction with Ffestiniog Railway The Cob Ffestiniog Railway Boston Lodge Works

Original

• Dinas
• Tryfan Junction
  • Rhostryfan
  • Bryngwyn
• Waunfawr
• Bettws Garmon^[13]
• Salem Halt^[13]
• Plas-y-Nant
• Snowdon Ranger (aka Quellyn Lake)
• Rhyd Ddu (aka South Snowdon)
• Hafod Ruffydd Halt^[13]
• Beddgelert
• Nantmor
• Hafod-y-Llyn Halt^[13]
• Hafod Garregog Halt^[13]
• Croesor Junction^[13]
• Ynysfor Halt^[13]
• Pont Croesor
• Portmadoc New (1933) station^[13]
• Portmadoc New (1923) station^[13]
• Porthmadog Harbour

Restored Welsh Highland Railway / Rheilffordd Eyri

• Caernarfon
• Bontnewydd
• Dinas
• Waunfawr
• Plas-y-Nant
• Snowdon Ranger
• Rhyd Ddu
• Meillionen (Forest Campsite)
• Beddgelert
• Hafod y Llyn (Current terminus)
• Nantmor Planned
• Pont Croesor Planned
• Pen-y-Mount Junction (2nd platform planned)
• Porthmadog Harbour

Welsh Highland Heritage Railway / Rheilffordd Ucheldir Cymru

• Porthmadog (WHHR)
• Gelert's Farm halt (Only on return journey, for museum tours)
• Pen-y-Mount Junction (Current terminus)
• Traeth Mawr Loop (Never a station. Temporary terminus loop in 2007 & 2008, now removed.)

See also

• British narrow gauge railways
• SAR NGG 16 Class

Notes

^ a: Spelling of many Welsh placenames have changed over the past 50 years, as use of the proper Welsh language and spelling has gained ground. For example, the name "Ffestiniog" is the correct Welsh spelling, where as the widely, and previously accepted "Festiniog", is actually an English spelling, originating, possibly, in the 18th century when English gentry moved into Wales. The company is legally known as the Festiniog Railway Company, and as such conducts its official business. It has, since the mid 1980s, promoted itself as the Ffestiniog Railway, in keeping with other local trades. This convention (Ff for the railway, F for the company), is used throughout the article.

References

Bibliography

• Boyd, James I.C. (1988). Narrow Gauge Railways in South Caernarvonshire - Volume 1. Headington, Oxford: The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-8536-1365-6. OCLC 20417464. 

• Boyd, James I.C. (1989). Narrow Gauge Railways in South Caernarvonshire - Volume 2: The Welsh Highland Railway. Headington, Oxford: The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-8536-1383-4. OCLC 145018679. 

• Johnson, Peter (2002). An Illustrated History of the Welsh Highland Railway. Hersham: Oxford Publishing Co. ISBN 9780860935650. OCLC 59498388. 

• Hopkins, John C. (2003). Rheilffordd Eryri/The Welsh Highland Railway: 1991 to 2003, 4th edition 388pp. The author. 
• Johnson, Peter (1999). Portrait of the Welsh Highland Railway. Ian Allan Publishing Lts. 
• Turner, Alun (2003). The Welsh Righland Railway: a History, 4th edition. Stenlak Publishing. ISBN 1-84033-263-8. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Welsh Highland Railway

• Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog) - official site
• Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarfon) - official site
• Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarfon) - official construction site
• Rebuilding the Welsh Highland Railway - unofficial site
• Festiniog Railway's Heritage Group Wiki - contains further WHR information
• Welsh Highland Railway History

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Coordinates: 53°03′05.00″N 4°08′01.00″W / 53.05139°N 4.13361°W / 53.05139; -4.13361