WHR supporters' specials into Porthmadog - first ever services from Caernarfon

I witnessed the first Caernarfon passenger train touching FR metals at Harbour Station, October 30th 2010. Peter Lawson drove 138, which in its red livery was a striking sight, making true history. I've only been involved with FR&WHR two months but had followed WHR construction closely since phase two. Quite an amazing occasion, dare I say emotional? There was a real buzz!

Tony Williams drove 87 for the second arrival, bringing home the reality that the 40 mile Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway is now complete once more after a gap of over 70 years. I'm proud to be a little part of it as trainee fireman and Boston Lodge jamboy! Lyd's gleaming brasswork displays my efforts from Thursday... lol.

History in the making!

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• WHR
• FR
• welsh
• highland
• festiniog
• caernarfon
• porthmadog

[PierreProcter]

Not quite - the first section that opened 13 years ago was ex standard gauge route for three miles, then the rest (all 22 miles or so) was new 2ft gauge on the old 2ft route of the 1920s, which itself was an amalgamation of several previous narrow gauge routes and FR operated, infact! Quite colourful history - and while the new line is rather different to old apart from route, it is a seriously good journey - very different to the FR itself, but equally truely amazing, and utterly breathtaking.

[colliecandle]

Fantastic! Really good to see railways expand and become more than just short 'demo' lines. I hope this new service will be well patronised by the public as a SERVICE railway and not just for tourists!

Congratulations to ALL who made this possible - You deserve all credit!

[megatwingo]

Nice video and fine locos. Thumbs up! :)

I had a short look into Wikipedia. As far as I understood they linked an old long existing railway (Festiniog) with a new build one, that was build on an ex standard gauge line, right?