Two Grand Days Out are promised for members of the Welsh Highland Railway Society and their guests who attend the organisation's annual general meeting. The event takes place over the weekend of Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September.
The AGM will be a members' only event and will focus on projects being supported by the society as well as looking towards the future. Members will be able to check on the progress of the NG15 class locomotive currently being restored.
The loco, number 134, was formerly in service on South African Railways and is being restored at Dinas, just outside Caernarfon. There will also be a rare opportunity to for a detailed tour of Boston Lodge Works at Minffordd, just across the Afon Glaslyn causeway from Porthmadog. Members will see the current building work and hear about plans for the future.
Trains will run between Caernarfon, Dinas and Waunfawr and return on Saturday. Members travel free but accompanied guests must pay £15.
Dinas goods shed will be open from 09.00 and various activities will begin from 10.00. A Cymdeithas Rheilffordd Eryri – the society which supports Rheilffordd Eryri, or Welsh Highland Railway – will have a stand where information about volunteering and forthcoming winter works will be available as well as information about redevelopment plans for Dinas.
Visitors can also find out about volunteer accommodation which is available. A pre-owned bookstall and light refreshments will be available.
NG15 and workshop tours will run at regular intervals and visitors may book in at the NG15 stand. It is hoped that Baldwin 608 will be in steam and will provide footplate rides while Lilla will also be in steam, and there will be ‘drive and engine' opportunities.
Roland Doyle will give a talk about the Micro ETS project following the arrival of shuttle trains at Waunfawr at 12.15 and 13.30.
Caffi De Winton at Caernarfon will remain open on Saturday evening with food from their normal menu with last orders for food at 18.30. They will stay open until 1900 for pre-AGM drinks.
On Sunday, Caffi De Winton will open at 08.15 for an eat-in or take-away breakfast before a special Garratt-hauled train will leave Caernarfon at 09.30, calling at Dinas, Waunfawr, Rhyd Ddu and Beddgelert, before arriving at Boston Lodge at 11.45, for a guided tour.
Members can also inspect two ten-year-old electric tunnelling locomotives which were acquired for their scrap value. These were used on the Tideway project under the Thames. These will be tested in coming months to gain a better understanding of the challenges of working with electric vehicles. Departure will be at 13.3o on a double-headed train back to Beddgelert, before swapping to reserved carriages on the Gelert Explorer service back to Caernarfon. Members tickets cost £11 and guests must pay £40. Prices include a Gelert picnic lunch and must be booked in advance.
