The Ffestiniog, Welsh Highland (FFWHR), and the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway (WHHR), and the Welsh Highland Heritage Group are working together to arrange a series of events to celebrate the centenary of the Welsh Highland Railway.
One of the main events is a joint ‘WHR 100 : SOUTH SNOWDON' event at the end of this month.
In preparation for this, on Saturday, 16th July a train of Welsh Highland Heritage Railway (WHHR) stock hauled by original WHR survivor Hunslet 2-6-2T (Works No.901/1906) Russell, with a rake of carriages comprising the replica Pickering Brake, Buffet Car No.10, replica Ashbury Corridor No.9, and Gladstone Car No.8 . ran to Beddgelert.
The evening run was undertaken in glorious sunny conditions, which ensured the train and landscape were seen at their very best.
The same loco and stock will operate during the ‘WHR 100 : SOUTH SNOWDON' weekend, when it will be steaming between Dinas and Rhyd Ddu (as South Snowdon is now known) to commemorate the reopening of this section of line. A train of vintage Ffestiniog Railway stock will also be operating during the weekend.
‘WHR 100 : SOUTH SNOWDON' will take place on Saturday, 30th and Sunday, 31st July 2022. Dinas Station will be open between 08:45 and 16:30, with plenty to keep visitors occupied, including a catering van, real ale bar, footplate rides, model layouts, photo exhibitions, and a pre-1939 vintage car display.
General site entry to Dinas Station is £5 for adults with free entry for children and will only be sold on the day at the gate.
There will also be complementary activities at Gelert's Farm, Porthmadog on the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway over the weekend.
Full details of the weekend's heritage and shuttle trains, and how to book tickets are on their website at https://www.festrail.co.uk/welsh-highland-railway-centenary/
The weekend will be a truly special occasion, made possible by the efforts of those at the WHHR, who have worked tirelessly restoring RUSSELL so that it can take part in what promises to be a monumental weekend.
