Welsh Highland Railway
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The Welsh Highland Railway is a narrow gauge railway in Wales. It achieved fame not just because of its spectacular scenery, but also because it was one of the greatest white elephant schemes of British industrial history.
The Welsh Highland Railway finally opened in 1922. But it was already several years too late. Motor buses had been running in the Welsh Capital, Cardiff for some years. Against this background the Welsh Highland Railway tried to make money using narrow gauge steam trains which would not have been out of place in 1850.
The whole line ran from Dinas near Caernarfon to Porthmadog with a branch line to the slate mines at Bryngwyn. The Welsh Highland Railway was no commercial success and went into receivership in 1927. The service continued, operated by the Ffestiniog Railway Company until 1936. After only ten years of operation the longest narrow gauge railway in Wales was closed for service, the tracks lifted during scrap collections in World War II.
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Hard Times
Many of the themes surrounding the old Welsh Highland Railway are familiar today. The railway received grants from Caernarfonshire Council in the hope that it would help regenerate the area's economy and keep struggling quarries open. When these hopes were dashed, the railway turned to another market; tourism.
In this respect the Welsh Highland was - perhaps - too early. The owners tried to attract visitors by opening the first ever narrow gauge buffet car, and by painting their carriages bright colours including yellow and blue. Sadly, their bright ideas didn't work, simply because the tourist industry was in its early days, and there just weren't enough visitors around to make the railway pay.
The Welsh Highland Railway closed in 1937, but despite its short life, it had left its mark not only on the local community, but also in the hearts of many around the world.
Restoration
The restoration of the Welsh Highland goes all the way back to the 1960s, when a group of enthusiasts formed a company (now called the Welsh Highland Railway Limited and known as Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog)) to rebuild the line. By 1980, they had succeeded in opening a short length of line at Porthmadog, which still operates today. Seven years later, they finished restoring the only steam engine left from the original railway, a tank engine called Russell. This engine's bizarre history has made it the subject of many books, and indeed one of the most famous narrow gauge railway engines in the world.
One thing held the project back: access to the trackbed, the land the original railway had been built on. By the early 1990s the situation had reached a public enquiry at which an inspector was faced with two options. One was a partnership between The Welsh Highland Railway Limited (who run the Porthmadog end) and Gwynedd Council. But by this stage a second, more controversial option had also come forward. The Ffestiniog Railway, another narrow gauge line in Porthmadog also tried to get control of the trackbed, originally because it was worried about the threat of competition from the new line. The inspector chose the first option, but the then Transport Minister, John McGregor, over-ruled the decision in favour of the Ffestiniog Railway.
The Ffestiniog Railway's Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarfon) opened the first stretch of line on the abandoned standard gauge trackbed between Caernarfon and Dinas in 1997, sections of the original narrow gauge route were opened between Dinas and Waunfawr in 2000 and between Waunfawr and Rhyd Ddu in 2003. Trains are hauled by Garratt type steam locomotives, purchased from South Africa.
Two Welsh Highland Railways
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The Ffestiniog Railway changed its mind, and did decide to set about rebuilding the line. It started construction from the northern end, with the result that today there are two Welsh Highland Railways, one in Porthmadog (which opened in 1980) and one in Caernarfon (which opened in 1997). The Caernarfon end of the line is now 13 miles long, constructed with the help of a grant from the Millennium Commission. It was inaugurated by a visit from HRH Prince Charles in June 2003.
Funding for Phase Four, the final section of the line, was announced in September 2004, thanks to a package of grants from the European Regional Development Fund, The Welsh Assembly Government and private donations.
Trip Back In Time
At the southern end of the line, the Welsh Highland Railway Limited is also making progress. Despite the setback at the public enquiry, it has formed a partnership with the Ffestiniog Railway and is now helping the restoration by building a section of track to link onto its existing railway at the Porthmadog end.
The Welsh Highland Railway Limited has concentrated on the heritage and educational side of the project, developing a successful museum attraction alsonside the railway in Porthmadog, where it owns the only original steam engine from the railway, and three out of the four surviving original coaches.
It is planned to open the through route from Caernarfon to Porthmadog around 2009.
Route
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Northern section: Dinas - Tryfan Junction - Waenfawr - Bettws Garmon - Snowdon Ranger - South Snowdon (approx. 9 miles).
Southern section: South Snowdon - Beddgelert - Croesor Junction - Portmadoc New (approx. 11 miles).
Track gauge is 1'11½" (60cm.)
Original Locomotives
- Moel Tryfan built by Vulcan Foundry 1875 ex- North Wales Narrow Gauge Railway
- Russell built by Hunslet Engine Company 1906 ex- Portmadoc, Beddgelert & South Snowdon Railway
- 590 built by Baldwin Locomotive Works U.S.A. 1917 ex- War Department Light Railways
External links
- Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog) (http://www.whr.co.uk)
- Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarfon) (http://http://www.bangor.ac.uk/ml/whr/)
- Rebuilding the Welsh Highland Railway (http://www.isengard.co.uk/)
- History of the Welsh Highland Railway (http://www.whr.co.uk/history/brief.html)
- WHR Historical Milestones (http://www.whr.co.uk/history/milestones.html)