Great Western Passenger Forum

grahame

Administrator
Hero Member

Posts: 46897

[OTD] 19th Feb (2011) - Welsh Highland reopens throughout

« on: February 19, 2026, 13:27:33 »

From CymruRails

Quote

On this day, 19th February 2011, a long held dream became a reality as the first public passenger train operated the full length of the restored Welsh Highland Railway between Caernarfon and Porthmadog Harbour

This 25 mile journey takes passengers through some of the most dramatic scenery in Britain, including the village of Beddgelert and the spectacular Aberglaslyn Pass. While the restoration was a modern triumph, the railway's roots date back much further. The original WHR was formed in 1922, succeeding the horse drawn Croesor Tramway which had served the quarries since 1863. Unfortunately, the first era of the WHR was short lived, hampered by outdated, uncomfortable carriages and a reputation for being unreliable, the line closed in 1933. Today’s restored railway is a far cry from those early struggles, standing as a world-class heritage attraction and a testament to decades of hard work and vision.


	Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Transport User Group, West Wiltshire Rail User Group Committee and TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member

Mark A

Global Moderator
Hero Member

Posts: 2728

Re: [OTD] 19th Feb (2011) - Welsh Highland reopens throughout

« Reply #1 on: February 19, 2026, 18:39:29 »

Indeed, and even better, isn't the through journey around 40 miles rather than 25?

Mark


	Logged

johnneyw

Transport Scholar
Hero Member

Posts: 2718

From station to station, back to Bristol city....

Re: [OTD] 19th Feb (2011) - Welsh Highland reopens throughout

« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2026, 20:39:06 »

Quote from: Mark A on February 19, 2026, 18:39:29

Indeed, and even better, isn't the through journey around 40 miles rather than 25?

Mark

I presume you mean if you add on the 15 mile Ffestiniog railway stretch from Porthmadoc it comes to about 40 miles.
The WHR is truly world class. When we took it we were staying at Bedgelert campsite with our tents right next to the campsite station.... which somewhat minimised the risk of missing the train.


	Logged

Oxonhutch

Transport Scholar
Hero Member

Posts: 1632

Re: [OTD] 19th Feb (2011) - Welsh Highland reopens throughout

« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2026, 21:53:24 »

In my Southern African days many decades ago, I remember seeing these very same Garrett locomotives hauling trains, mainly goods, in the sub-tropical heat of Natal and the Eastern Cape. The poor old fireman was stuck sweating inside the cab feeding the fire and managing the boiler - while the driver swung his stool right around to the outside of the locomotive into the cooler fresh air, driving the engine through the open window in relative comfort - regulator, reverser and brake within easy reach.

Visiting the WHR, I pointed this out to the driver and the seat mechanism in the cab which had now been fixed in place. He was surprised to see, that without the Welsh modification, it could have indeed been swung completely out. In Wales, that would have been very unwise. Shocked


	Logged

Mark A

Global Moderator
Hero Member

Posts: 2728

Re: [OTD] 19th Feb (2011) - Welsh Highland reopens throughout

« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2026, 22:17:31 »

Ah. WHR trackbed in the cutting by Nantmor, September 2005.

Mark

[Image from here is not available to guests]


	Logged

Chris from Nailsea

Administrator
Hero Member

Posts: 21922

Re: [OTD] 19th Feb (2011) - Welsh Highland reopens throughout

« Reply #5 on: February 19, 2026, 22:37:32 »

Quote from: Oxonhutch on February 19, 2026, 21:53:24

... while the driver swung his stool right around to the outside of the locomotive into the cooler fresh air ...

Sorry: for a moment there, I misread that as, "his tool" Shocked


	Logged

William Huskisson MP^▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.

Oxonhutch

Transport Scholar
Hero Member

Posts: 1632

Re: [OTD] 19th Feb (2011) - Welsh Highland reopens throughout

« Reply #6 on: February 20, 2026, 08:28:02 »

Quote from: Mark A on February 19, 2026, 22:17:31

Ah. WHR trackbed in the cutting by Nantmor, September 2005.

Mark

That cutting illustrates my final point perfectly. Thank you Mark !


	Logged

Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

Pages: [1]

« previous next »