Waiting departure from Porthmadog WHR(P). Chris Dilley

A party of 11 (10 members plus one guest) had an 'eventful' day on Tuesday October 28th. The plan was to visit the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways (WHR) at Porthmadog using public transport and a North & Mid Wales Day Ranger ticket, which covered all transport apart from the journey on the WHR.

We left Chester in heavy rain in 175108 on a Manchester Piccadilly-Llandudno service. Despite the continuous rain, this ran punctually and soon after we reached Llandudno Junction 150251 arrived with the connecting Llandudno-Blaenau Festiniog service. Here our problems started. Unfortunately the train could only run as far as North Llanrwst because the track between there and the tunnel was flooded - this is the third time in the last couple of years that this has occurred (the line remained closed for about 48 hours in total). The station staff advised that a bus was waiting at Llanrwst to take people on from there to Blaenau. However as the Conwy Valley train would leave late, due to awaiting a Crewe - Holyhead service that was running was a few minutes late, there was no certainty that the rail replacement bus would get to Blaenau before the FR train left. Therefore a rapid change saw us catch the Crewe-Holyhead service (158821) to Bangor for buses onwards to Porthmadog.

There was no let-up in the rain at Bangor and the bus shelter was too small to accommodate our complete party! To add insult to injury, the Arriva bus to Caernarfon was also late so that we missed the intended bus to Porthmadog. This meant another change of plan and we took this opportunity to have lunch in Caernarfon while we waited for the next Porthmadog bus. The Express Motors driver on this certainly lived up to his Company's name as we got to Porthmadog on time despite making a 5 minutes stop in their garage at Penygroes while he added 75 litres of diesel to the vehicle! A bonus here was that their beautifully preserved Bedford OB was outside in the yard during our stop.

Glaslyn. Chris Dilley

After leaving Penygroes the sun (finally) came out and we enjoyed views of the snow-covered hills of Snowdonia. Unfortunately this could not last and the rain had recommenced by the time the bus dropped us off close to the WHR station. Here we had time to peruse the superb bookshop before joining the 14:00 train. This year their trains have to be top & tailed because the loop at the end of their line at Traeth Mawr has been lifted as part of the reinstatement of the Welsh Highland Railway between Caernarfon and Porthmadog. The line to Harbour station, which we would examine more closely later in the day, diverges from the WHR(P) line just north of the station at Penymount, which will once again become the WHR(P) terminus when trains start to run through from Caernarfon and Porthmadog in 2009.

The WHR(P) train was hauled by Diesel loco "Glaslyn" (IMG_5954 near here) on the outward leg with 0-6-0T "Gelert" (WB3050/1952) in charge on the return leg to Porthmadog . The staff at the WHR at Porthmadog were very accommodating and cab rides were arranged for those who wanted them. On the return trip a stop was made at Gelerts Farm to allow passengers to visit the shed and workshops .

The shed here had been extended within the last few weeks and a wide range of locos and rolling stock were available for inspection. Many interesting items of rolling stock were on show here including a hearse car, and a dandy wagon (used to transport the horses that pulled slate trains uphill). Three (massive) former Polish centre-cab diesels were also present - one of them has been repainted into a red livery while the other two remain in their original blue livery (with white stripe).

Gelerts Farm. Chris Dilley

Polish Diesel. Chris Dilley

Hearse Car. Chris Dilley

Dandy Wagon. Chris Dilley

We then decided (as it was still raining) to forego our planned walk to the Ffestiniog's Harbour station and took advantage of the flexibility allowed by the Ranger ticket by taking a train ride to Pwllheli and back in 158827. Fortunately the WHR station at Porthmadog is on the opposite side of the road to the Cambrian Coast line station and so we did not have far to walk. Ironically once we passed Criccieth the sun reappeared, providing more spectacular views of the snow-covered peaks. The site of the former Afon Wen station was still recognisable, as was the trackbed of the line to Caernarfon - part of which is now used by the WHR between Caernarfon and Dinas. On the outward leg the train stopped at Penychain station, which still serves the adjacent holiday camp where 46203 was displayed for many years when the camp was run by Butlins. It is now unstaffed but retains a much larger shelter than most stations on the line. Pwllheli station retains a relatively large covered circulating area beyond the buffers.

Two members of our group decided to remain on 158827 right through to Shrewsbury (the unit was working through to Birmingham) whence they could catch a train back to Chester via Wrexham. The remainder of the party alighted at Porthmadog (now in the sunshine) to walk to Harbour station and view the WHR(C) trackwork (technically the section across the road outside harbour station is a tramroad) through the town into Harbour station.

Unfortunately another torrential downpour started and so our inspection was more cursory than originally planned. At Harbour station there was time for a coffee (or something stronger) and to view Merddyn Emrys arriving from Blaenau before we caught the X32 Traws-Cambria bus to Bangor where we had about 20 minutes to wait for 175004 on a well-loaded Holyhead - Crewe service back to Chester.

Despite the poor weather, all participants had a good time, even though they were often uncertain where they might be going to next (a feeling shared by myself - the party leader) ! The flexibility afforded by the Ranger ticket proved invaluable and we will doubtless try again next year when the possibility of travel by train between Blaenau & Caernarfon will be possible following the reopening of Rheilffordd Eryri.

The photos of the WHR(P) were taken on the day by Chris Dilley. The photos of the WHR(C) trackwork were taken by myself a couple of days later - in much better weather! For more information see the WHR(P) website at http://www.whr.co.uk/.

Geoff Morris

28/10/08