Atomic Systems

Hi

Superb News, something I have been wishing for a long time. Don't forget the WHR is very new, how many railways that are 7 years old have a line 12 1/2 miles long, run an intensive service and operate steam. The WHR are bound to get a lot grumbles about any buildings they erect, let alone the fact that someone in the area nicked most of the building at Waunfawr (bricks in pallets at the station were taken after the station was dismantled). These thing will be done, however it is not yet putting people of coming, and having toilets is not likely to increase traffic numbers, so cannot be described as high priority.

Chris

Look at the funding the Welsh Highland has had aswell.... I forget exactley whats gone where, but a huge grant for Phase 3 was for the track work only. No money was granted for buildings and infrastructure.

If your given an almost bottomless pit from which to get money for track, you delve into it as much as poss, putting all resources into spending that money. Many private grants have also stipulated that the money be used on trackwork, a few have given money soley for loco work, and next to no one has given money for coaching stock.

Basically the WHR has had to build according to its finances, much of its finances have come from grants and donations, and many of those have had clauses. This latest grant is for the extension of trackwork... no money given i presume for buildings along the way.

My argument is this. Take everything they can now, whilst the project is new and people are willing to give. Once the line is complete through to Porthmadog, then sit back, and fill in the gaps. If they dont they are going to find money isnt there. People will see they are not spending the money in the grants (because they are spending all their time and resources on buildings along the way) and the grants will dry up.

Theyve done this the right way in my opinion, and had they sat back and worked slowely along the route doing all the buildings, and the little attentions to detail I doubt we would have a 13 mile railway line....

Chris

My next argument... you can sit here and moan as much as you wish, but out of interest who amongst us has actually given money to the WHR? Im not talking train fares, I mean signing up as a member, or making a private donation...? I bet its very few....

If you want to see more coaching stock, give them some money for it, likewise you want to see more buildings, give them some money for it... im sure they gladly accept cheques, cash or any other way you can get money to them... (When you write them your cheque, just add a note saying you want it to go to the upkeep of the coaches etc etc... im sure they will oblige).

Chris

pitleyfalley wrote:My next argument... you can sit here and moan as much as you wish, but out of interest who amongst us has actually given money to the WHR? Im not talking train fares, I mean signing up as a member, or making a private donation...? I bet its very few....

If you want to see more coaching stock, give them some money for it, likewise you want to see more buildings, give them some money for it... im sure they gladly accept cheques, cash or any other way you can get money to them... (When you write them your cheque, just add a note saying you want it to go to the upkeep of the coaches etc etc... im sure they will oblige).

Chris

My Dad was in the society for 7 years but the members rate went up to £25 so we droped out!

I'm an FfR Society member, I volunteer for the FfR Parks and Gardens Department, and (with luck) i'm going to spend £50 a month and help pay for Phase four. (See my previous post on page one) This Three tier method of paying for Phase four match funding is, I think, a very smart way of getting people to subscribe, you get rewarded depending on how much you're willing to pay per month and then get the satisfaction of knowing that YOU'VE done something to help the railway. Oh yeah, you get to ride the First train from Caenarvon to Porthmadog IF you make a contribution of £20 a month for 60 Months (or a greater amount of money per month, up to £100) I think the Incentives are worth the cost, but can not afford £100 to get permanent free first class travel on both lines, ah well at least I'll be helping.

dcduncan wrote:The Talyllyn have toilets at 2 out of 7 stations, almost on a par with the WHR. Not arguing just making a point.

Wrong, untrue! The Talyllyn has 3 toilets in 4 stations (but there is plenty of natural toilets at Nant Gwernol). Abergynowlyn, Dolgoch & Tywyn Wharf all have toilets. Rhydyronen, Brynglas & Pendre are technically halts, although Rhydyronen is timetabled as it gets quite busy during the Summer Hols. In fact, the train usually stops there for hikers and/or campers in the nearby caravan park.

Cheers,
John

pitleyfalley wrote:My next argument... you can sit here and moan as much as you wish, but out of interest who amongst us has actually given money to the WHR? Im not talking train fares, I mean signing up as a member, or making a private donation...? I bet its very few....

If you want to see more coaching stock, give them some money for it, likewise you want to see more buildings, give them some money for it... im sure they gladly accept cheques, cash or any other way you can get money to them... (When you write them your cheque, just add a note saying you want it to go to the upkeep of the coaches etc etc... im sure they will oblige).

Chris

I've been saving up for a while for a donation to the Talyllyn Railway, 'fraid if I was going to donate to the WHR it wouldn't be for a couple of years. I'm also afraid I have to say, I'm not entirely keen on the WHR, I don't know why... It does have some very impressive scenery though, not to mention the impressive locomotives, but somehow the Talyllyn is more my cup of tea (good they are too).

When I go to Wales next year, I might pop up to the WHR, but its not that close to Bryncrug...

John

the ffestiniog and WHR are the best railways in the whole UK, in my opinion, you should really try.

Anyway, last time the WHR had to pay £200 quid per paper suit for the foot and mouth thing. That probably took some of the grant that was used for various other improvements to the railway.

John,

The number of toilets the railway has is irrelevant, its was an example to prove a point, the WHR needs to spend money on infrastructure and ammeneties.

As for Rhydyronen, well its a fairly busy halt, not from the hikers but from everyone from the neighbouring caravan site at Tynllywyn Hen. Dolgoch and Nant are the main hiking spots, for the walks round the falls and the quarry respectivly. Anyone who's never been into Bryneglyws Quarry is really missing out. The walk onto the hillside up the right of the quarry is superb, and the view down into Corris Ucaf and Pennal is well worth it...

Chris

The railway has approx £11Million in Grants and match funding, still requiring £600K from supporters (Of which I will be one by paying £20 for 5 years) some of this funding will be going towards providing shelter and ameineties at Rhyd Ddu as the Grant covers trackbed from the Caenarvon end of the station right through to the (widened) cob. Phase 4 will be built in one go, no intermediate points (Baddgelert being out of the Question due to an agreement with the National Park and HMRI refusing to allow Trains to terminate there due to the 1:40 gradient.) Information about the toilet situation, there are toilets at Caenarvon now (in new temp building) there ARE toilets at Dinas (I've used them so they must be there!) and the Pub at Waenfawr allows railway users to visit the facillities if they require to do so, so out of Four main stations, only one (Rhyd Ddu) currently has no toilets. Coaching stock is most likely to be built close to the completion of the line, after all, the FfR are building two new "Barns" 102 Observation and 107. These will mean the two on the WHR will be able to remain or be transferred home for maintainence. Further to the point about people helping the line, how many of you will volunteer for any aspect of the running/building of the line?

Finally, the point about the Ffestiniog not being "spruced up" until it reached Blaenau in May 1982. Well, just over a month later, one Eileen Clayton attented the meeting for staff, with one of the railway signs and put her head through it, from this action the Parks and Gardens Department was set up, a department that is still going strong today and does work on BOTH lines. As has been said by others, what is needed is people to donate to specific funds for them to work.

Garthion wrote:Finally, the point about the Ffestiniog not being "spruced up" until it reached Blaenau in May 1982. Well, just over a month later, one Eileen Clayton attented the meeting for staff, with one of the railway signs and put her head through it, from this action the Parks and Gardens Department was set up, a department that is still going strong today and does work on BOTH lines. As has been said by others, what is needed is people to donate to specific funds for them to work.

Well do I know this, having been a P&G vol from 1984 (one of the first Kids was I, at the age of 6) until 1994, and occasionally helping out P&G on days off from the other departments (Ffredtrack and Ffour Road) when I can get up there to this day.

All I was saying was that there is precedent for the FR to spend every penny on fulfilling the dream that lies in two ribbons of seel, two feet apart, and leave the nicities until later. Bear in mind that the WHR doesn't have its own Eileen or Whizz yet. (Which isn't to say I agree with it either)

John

In any case surely Rhyd Ddu does have a toilet block that serves the walkers car park built roughly on the site of the old station building doesn't it?

David

dcduncan wrote:In any case surely Rhyd Ddu does have a toilet block that serves the walkers car park built roughly on the site of the old station building doesn't it?

David

I'd forgotten about that, that means that all of the stations have toilets that are accessible by passengers, all that is missing is covered waiting areas, and with the traditional Welsh weather, that seems an important item to me.

how will tey go around widening the cob? a concrete block level with the cob on the side of the sea, surrounded with the local stone, the the retaining wall repair, then slewing the FR track over that? Knocking down the wall or extending it over the wall can't be possible, can it?

BornAcorn wrote:how will tey go around widening the cob? a concrete block level with the cob on the side of the sea, surrounded with the local stone, the the retaining wall repair, then slewing the FR track over that? Knocking down the wall or extending it over the wall can't be possible, can it?

I suspect that the plans are available for public examination as part of the approval process though where you would find them I am not all that sure. The local council offices are a likely place to start looking.

David