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News and information for staff, volunteers and supporters of the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways
This newsletter is distributed to those who request it by email and is also accessible from the main website at www.festrail.co.uk along with previous issues. Diary and event information is also available online.
To be added to the email distribution list, please fill in the form at http://tinyurl.com/pmjl6ue All contributions, details of group meetings etc to [email protected]
December 2017
Winter Works Programme… and an Invitation!
When the rainy days are dying Gotta keep on, keep on trying All the ballast and waggons are flying (ahh ahh ahh) Never let go, gotta hold on in Non-stop 'til the break of dawnin' Keep on movin' don't stop rockin' (ahh ahh ahh) Get on up when Ina’s down Baby, take a good look around I know it's not much, but it's okay Keep on moving anyway”
Five, 1999
Winter Works Programme
Well folks, we are now well into the winter programme and it has been a great success so far with all pro-jects on schedule and budget. Now comes the time to ask for your help / give you all a chance to experience the railway in a totally different way!
Before we start all of that, we want to invite you for a private Christmas social train on the 28th December. This is being laid on by FRCo as a thank you to all those who work on the railways and, as tradition dictates, groups from the Talyllyn and Welshpool railways will join us on the trip. All active staff will be really welcome. Please see details elsewhere in this issue.
Both the staff and volunteer groups have been working hard on an ambitious programme.
PW have kicked off the winter by squeezing in some track relaying below TYB. This was started within hours of the last passenger trains and was completed last month. Old, expired wooden sleepers were removed along with dirty ballast. New ballast and plastic sleepers were used in the relaying which should mean this stretch of line should last for a long time to come.
They have also just completed relaying Hendy level crossing, including improved drainage and a brand new road surface.
Just this week the gang moved to Boston Lodge where five old points leading up to the erecting shop have been removed, ready to be replaced by brand new, exact replicas generously sponsored by the FR Society. If all goes to plan over the Christmas period Tony, Dylan and the team will be able to use the yard properly again very early in 2018.
S&T continue to work on a wide range of tasks, with their winter focus being on installing interlocked starting signals on the WHR starting with Pont Croesor and Beddgelert.
Other departments have been working hard to achieve their winter aims too. More on them in future updates!
An honourable mention should also go to the team at Boston Lodge who have worked wonders to get the mess vehicle 1111 back into service, just in time for use up the line over the coldest months. Our thanks to them for keeping our toes warm and coffee boiling.
This list is by no means exhaustive (though it has, in some cases, been exhausting!). We hope it gives a flavour of what has happened so far.
The Story So Far...
The main focus of the first two months of 2018 will be around the major relaying of the track through Moelwyn Tunnel. We always suspected that Alex would want to find a way of working back in a rail tunnel and the state of the rail head – and therefore the quality of ride for our passengers – has made it the obvious candi-date for serious attention this winter.
As well as the actual PW work there are a lot of supporting activities that will help keep things movin ’, including a set of daily trains throughout this programme which will form the busiest set of freight workings on the railway since Deviation days! Waste ballast will be removed from the tunnel and be used as fill at Glan y Mor in Boston Lodge. Return trains will take new ballast back to the rail head.
Aside from that, the other departments will be working hard to get various projects completed by the time trains start running again.
These appeals go out every year and always emphasise just how much the railway needs your help. Your Rail-way Needs You… blah blah blah.
This year is no different in many ways but it’s true to say that investment is being made on our infrastructure at a scale larger than we have probably ever seen. Large projects like the new Caernarfon station and the piling at Boston Lodge may give the appearance that there is no longer a role for the humble volunteer turning up to make a difference to the state of the railways. This is not at all true. While methods of working have indeed changed, there is still a huge amount to achieve in the next few months and resources are stretched rather thin. Every volunteer day does have an impact on the programme and will be massively appreciated.
So please do consider a few days in the fresh air of the TLC. A day of working on a mountainside is surely far more satisfying than any amount of trips to the gym and, as you will see below, many of the activities in this year’s programme will not involve the standard shovel and crowbar-heavy work you may be imagining.
A warm brew will always await you wherever you’re working and we guarantee that evening refreshments taste much better after a hard day’s work in the beautiful Snowdonia scenery.
Alex Spring
Infrastructure Manager
Tricia Doyle
Volunteer Resources & Community Liaison Manager
Iain Wilkinson
Director
Christmas trackwork… inside!
27-31st December
The Waggon Tracks team will be continuing the finishing touches to their heritage track work and re-railing more old wagons for dry, secure storage. Most of this work will be in their shed. An ideal location for the winter months. Why not do some real work over Christmas?
Contact: William High ([email protected])
What Happens Next?...
The Plan: January - March 2018
Making some points at Boston Lodge
2-7th January
The Dee and Mersey group will lead a week of work to connect all the brand new points up and get them ready to hand back to the Boston Lodge team. It’s going to be a challenge in the time allowed so hard work will en-sue… but the messroom is close to hand! Why not stay on for a few days after the New Year celebrations?
Contact: Alex Spring ([email protected])
Moelwyn Tunnel PW work
2nd January to 1st March
This massive project would really move forward more quickly with a few more volunteers. How many of you have had the chance to walk through our newest tunnel? This will be your only chance to see a part of the railway usually well and truly off limits. The mess vehicle and even a lift to site will be provided. What’s not to love?
Contact: Alex Spring ([email protected])
Moelwyn Tunnel waste/supply trains
2nd January onwards into March
Freight trains. Diesel action. Mileage. What’s not to love?
FR drivers are needed virtually every weekday – which is when the excavations are taking place in the tunnel – dur-ing this period with some support needed on certain weekends.
In addition to drivers, this intensive timetable is a great chance for firemen, cleaners, ops staff and trainees to gain experience of out-of-season freight working by assisting the drivers. How boring will normal trains be after this! Every volunteer day in this period will really help by freeing up someone else to keep the work going in the tunnel itself.
Contact: Alex Spring ([email protected])
WHR Starting Signals
2nd January onwards into March
This crucial project includes a diverse range of activities, all the way from civil engineering to wiring. Due to this diverse nature, it is hard to predict exactly who is needed when but – if this project interests you – please get in touch and we can hopefully find a way of including your support.
Contact: Tim Prent ([email protected])
WHR Works Trains
Various dates, including: 3/4th February 17/18th February 3-16th March
A fabulous way to get your mileage up before the passenger trains start running, WHR drivers will really help on the dates above and possibly others. Please get in touch.
As above, other qualified staff and/or trainees acting as secondmen will also assist in keeping things moving safely.
Contact: Alex Spring ([email protected])
Lineside Management
Various dates, then…
17/18th March
This highly satisfying work can be great fun. Dafydd enjoys working with big, energetic groups so please get in touch if you can get a gang togeth-er. There are a large number of varied locations across the 80 miles where work is needed.
In addition, simply having one other volunteer for a day allows him to achieve other tasks that he can’t do alone.
Contact: Dafydd W Roberts ([email protected])
Pen Cob Junction
23rd Feb to 2nd March
Yes, you may be forgiven for observing that we already have a crossover at Pen Cob. However, the remodelling of Boston Lodge means that we need a new one, slightly closer to Porthmadog to allow access to the new carriage shed when it is built. If the rest of the programme has gone well, there is a brief window when these new points can be installed. Early March sunshine guaranteed. Access to the Den guaranteed when that fails.
Contact: Alex Spring ([email protected])
Caernarfon Station headshunt
3-16th March
Yes, it’s not all about steelwork and contractors. Volunteers will have their chance to extend the WHR for the first time for years! Dafydd and the gang will lead a group to lay the track at the back of Wales’s newest station. An excellent chance to get up close and personal with the new building.
Contact: Dafydd Thomas ([email protected])
Megabash
24/25th March
As ever, a huge and varied working party working on our buildings, facilities, parks and gardens. Their mess room steward and the selection of baked goods available in and amongst the hard work is legendary. The more the merrier for this weekend!
Contact: Howard Wilson ([email protected])
White Rose Area Group
12-14th January 9-11th February 9-11th March
Ey up! Let this experienced team guide you through some PW work. This could include some of the Moelwyn tasks as above but you can often see (and hear) them at all points on the railway.
Contact: Joe Tarver ([email protected])
JASPER
6/7th January 3/4th February 3/4th March
Always interesting pole, S&T and varied work with Y Gaffr and the team. They have a crane. A crane!
Contact: Peter Asquith ([email protected])
P&G / Lineside Works Train Weekend
20/21st January
A varied weekend of work to move various items round the railway and tidy stations ready for the season ahead.
Contact: Kaz Spring ([email protected])
‘Black Hand’ Gang
6/7th January 20/21st January 3/4th February 17/18th February 3/4th March 17/18th March
Dafydd’s team continues their work, often on the track but they’re willing to try anything. Expect a warm wel-come and a fine paned.
Contact: Dafydd Thomas ([email protected])
‘Rest of the World’ Gang
13-18th January 10-15th February 10-15th March
For those wanting those longer working parties, Paul Bradshaw’s team will be working primarily on track pro-jects but, again, they’re a willing bunch so expect just to work hard on whatever comes your way.
Contact: Paul Bradshaw ([email protected])
Drains Gang
13/14th January 17/18th February 10/11th March
If you want to keep the water moving then this is your gang. This long-standing team keep our feet and for-mation nice and dry. They would be glad of any assistance and can always find work for idle hands.
Contact: Iain Harris ([email protected])
Dee & Mersey Area Group
2-7th January (as above) 3/4th February 3/4th March 24/25th March
In addition to the week early in January, further dates from the veteran PW gang. They lay track, they put up fences… Jim will look after you.
Contact: Jim Parrish ([email protected])
Buildings Dept
Various Dates
As ever, our 70+ buildings and all their associated facilities need a great deal of upkeep. The focus for early 2018 will be the installation of a new septic tank at TYB. With some advance notice, a huge range of tasks can be found at most times if that aromatic task doesn’t appeal!
Contact: Alex Spring ([email protected])
Parks and Gardens
Various Dates
Our new P&G supremo is always looking for volunteers in a most friendly of departments. An easy and flexible way to volunteer for the railway, whilst still having a big impact on how we present ourselves to our customers.
Contact: Kaz Spring ([email protected])
If your working party is missing from the list above, please get in touch with Tricia Doyle ([email protected]) and it will be included in future updates.
Further Working Party Dates for your Diary
Lineside Working Parties:
March 17th & 18th May 12th & 13th July 21st & 22nd Oct 20th & 21st
Planting Out Weekend (Parks and Gardens): 19th / 20th March Young Volunteers’ Training Week: 28th July to 3rd August Gigabash: 13 / 14th October Waggon Tracks Working Parties: January 27 / 28th , February 24 / 25th , March 30th - April 2nd, May 5-7th, May 26-28th
The 2018 Volunteer Liaison Meeting will take place at Grappenhall on Saturday February 10th.
from 10.30-15:30.
That time of year is coming round again! This event is aimed at present and past volunteers.
Venue: Grappenhall Community Centre, Bellhouse Lane, Grappenhall, WARRINGTON, Cheshire
WA4 2SG.
Cost: NIL. The FR Society Board funds the cost of the event, including refreshments and lunch.
If you would like to attend the 2018 meeting please use the attached booking form. 75 places are available to volunteers and only completed and returned registration forms will be counted towards the allocation of plac-es. If there is greater demand for places than those available, a reserves list will be established. FR Society Di-rectors and attending Company Officers have their own allocation. Registration will close on Monday 22nd Jan-uary 2018. We regret that it will not be possible to attend unless you have registered.
If you have any items for the Agenda or questions for FR Company Officers, please forward them to me ([email protected] or by letter via Harbour Station) by Monday 8th January 2018.
Travel Instructions
By car: From Lymm Interchange (M6 Junction 20 / M56 Junction 9) take the A50 towards Warrington. After 1½ miles, pass over the Bridgewater Canal and take the 1st left signposted Grappenhall Village and Community Centre. Large car park adjacent to the venue.
By train: Warrington Bank Quay (WBQ), Central (WAC) then taxi.
Accommodation: If you wish to travel and stay over (before or after) the Warrington South Premier Inn is quite near and inexpensive. For something a bit more cosy the Hallmark Hotel Warrington, Knutsford Old Road, WA4 2LD has also been recommended.
John E Fenner
Secretary – Ffestiniog Railway Society
Volunteer Liaison Meeting 2018
An Invitation To all active railway staff, volunteers and their partners
from the F&WHR, TR, WLLR and friends
A Christmas social train
Thursday 28th December 2017
Departing Porthmadog Harbour Station at 1100 with beer on board returning at 1600
Food options will be available in Blaenau Ffestiniog
Spooner’s breakfasts available from 0900
Spooner’s bar open on return
Please contact [email protected] in advance to confirm your attendance.
