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Welsh Highland Railway Superpower Weekend: Daily travel advice

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E759

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Though Dinas is listed as a request stop, it is also a passing point/token exchange, therefore all trains normally stop there.
Guard only needs to know if you're in a locked carriage.
F & WHR rules say If the carriage door opens outwards then it must be locked when in transit due to line clearances.
Apart from the service trains, blue on the event timetable, all trains will most likely be older heritage stock which all have outward opening doors. The guard(s) will be busy:D:D:D
Ah thanks again! I like the sound of the heritage stock a lot. I see the plush scone and fizz train is running during the Gala so it could be wise to avoid the service trains lol!
 
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E759

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It's all over now. What an intense three days! (Preceeded by three days on some of the other Welsh NG lines.) Great event which I enjoyed enourmously.

My thanks for the tips offered in advance which really helped my experience. I stayed in Llanwnda and walked to Dinas on the L&NWR cycle-track. Apart from Friday when the weather was not that great so I drove to Caenarfon.

Some lovely motive power combinations and heritage trains which I made full use of. Did the full run also a couple of times using a few service trains. [Did a couple of runs on the FR on Thursday.] And yes, the Guards were busy with doors on the heritage stock :)

Very nice having Lyn and greatly admired. I'm no expert but something didn't sound right. If that's the case I hope it gets sorted. The whistle on the other hand puts the FR locos whistles to shame!

I didn't find a lot at Dinas to see; that surprised me. I attended the Friday night talk which I found very interning. But poorly attended. I'll guess because it was Friday (or everyone was riding the evening trains).

I have to note that in comparison to other gala I have attended this year that the catering falls well short of what other railways lay on for such big events. Considering the heritage shuttle timetable I would personally have expected pop-up catering at some or all of the cross-over stations. I don't personally think this is a big ask considering the nature of the event.

However, any catering ommissions were fully made up for and exceeded by excellent fortune to get to drive Hugh Napier. This was unexpected and I couldn't believe that I could just turn up, climb aboard and from the shed back to the platform be given the responsibility to drive. It almost exceeded my experience of being on the footplate of Winifred (1885) on Bala Lake a few days earlier for the whole 4 mile journey :)

Again, thanks for the pre-event tips and thanks you to the volunteers and staff for a great three days.

PS: Great story involving the Sunday 1415 Porth to Caenarfon suddenly needing a relief driver at Rhyd Ddu. Well that will have to await another time to tell in the Trip Report thread.

PPS: Standing on the platform at Caenarfon watching the last train on Sunday ECS pulling out heading to Dinas... Let's just say emotions were running high...
 

Tim M

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It's all over now. What an intense three days! (Preceeded by three days on some of the other Welsh NG lines.) Great event which I enjoyed enourmously.

And yes, the Guards were busy with doors on the hertage stock.

Very nice having Lyn and greatly admired. I'm no expert but something didn't sound right. If that's the case I hope it gets sorted. The whistle on the other hand puts the FR locos whistles to shame!

Again, thanks for the pre-event tips and thanks you to the volunteers and staff..

It looks like you really enjoyed Superpower, thanks for your thoughts, I’m sure all involved enjoyed it as much as you did. I wasn’t there myself, but hope a few comments will be permitted.

Having guarded two round trips on the FR today, I can assure you that service trains can be much harder work. Trying to steer two coach parties totalling 80 people into the right carriages AND finding space for the other 150 plus ordinary passengers takes effort and time, my time available was only 15 minutes.

You mention Lyn, several drivers I have spoken to rate it very highly, free steaming, lots of power, sure footed etc. When compared to Lyd...........

Thanks again for your enthusiastic comments, look out for next years events, I don’t know what is planned but as ever we try to please.

Next I have two days in Harbour station Signalbox, looks like we might have strong winds and heavy rain. As we say on the Railway, ‘Jolly Good Fun’.
 

E759

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Was intrigued by the signalling as I couldn't see how it worked. Often you can see the tokens, token machines, levers being pulled, rodding and wire moving, points and signals changing. And thus seeing how the whole thing basically works on single line block sections with passing places. FR and WHR was different in that only token and colour lights were visible to me. So not sure how it all works! And I only spotted the one box.

upload_2018-9-19_10-5-19.jpeg


Enjoy your time on the coast :)upload_2018-9-19_10-5-19.jpegupload_2018-9-19_10-5-19.jpeg
 

Tim M

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There are two signalboxes, the one in your photo at Harbour station (nearly got blown off my feet with the wind coming across the Cob today, tomorrow looks like the same plus rain),and Rhiw Goch which is an intermediate ‘box between Minffordd and Tan-y-Bwlch, switched in when required. Rhiw Goch is the only mechanical signalling installation, and only for the points, signals are operated from a push button panel. The railway have recently released a video of Rhiw Goch in operation, I will try and add a link when I have a moment.

The FR uses conventional Electric Train Staff (ETS) instruments, the WHR uses Staff & Ticket for Control of the single line. The WHR also uses Train Operated Trailable Points with simple signalling to our own requirements, this is currently being upgraded prior to the introduction of ETS using the internet for communications. At several stations it is possible to shunt within the defined station area using a Shunt Token, this Control’s approaching ‘signals’, when withdrawn from their control box these signals are dark, they normally show two white lights for trains to enter stations using ‘Proceed on Sight’ principles.

All train movements are managed by train crew subject to Instructions from the Control Office at Porthmadog.
 

E759

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Joined
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Messages
673
Location
Sussex
There are two signalboxes, the one in your photo at Harbour station (nearly got blown off my feet with the wind coming across the Cob today, tomorrow looks like the same plus rain),and Rhiw Goch which is an intermediate ‘box between Minffordd and Tan-y-Bwlch, switched in when required. Rhiw Goch is the only mechanical signalling installation, and only for the points, signals are operated from a push button panel. The railway have recently released a video of Rhiw Goch in operation, I will try and add a link when I have a moment.

The FR uses conventional Electric Train Staff (ETS) instruments, the WHR uses Staff & Ticket for Control of the single line. The WHR also uses Train Operated Trailable Points with simple signalling to our own requirements, this is currently being upgraded prior to the introduction of ETS using the internet for communications. At several stations it is possible to shunt within the defined station area using a Shunt Token, this Control’s approaching ‘signals’, when withdrawn from their control box these signals are dark, they normally show two white lights for trains to enter stations using ‘Proceed on Sight’ principles.

All train movements are managed by train crew subject to Instructions from the Control Office at Porthmadog.
Many thanks for the explanation Tim. The WHR upgrade to micro-ETS sounds interesting (and I've found some references to it).
 

Tim M

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Link to video explaining Rhiw Goch signalling below. This is the only place where a mechanical lever frame is used in conjunction with signals. There a number of small ground frames on the Ff&WHR to operate points leading to sidings and yards, for example Boston Lodge Works and the North & South Yards at Dinas on the WHR. All signals are either colour light or motor worked semaphores, i.e. none worked mechanically.

 

E759

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Great video thanks. Love the editing of the intro although the living room scene seems out of place! And the rain was mentioned too, must be a running gag ;)

Sometimes nice to sit by a 'box and watch the workings. Alas there isn't always time so a good video like this is useful.

I noticed on the WHR that the Guard also checked the token. Belt and braces approach or a Rule?

#bestrailwayintheworld
 

Tim M

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Joined
9 Jul 2016
Messages
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Great video thanks. Love the editing of the intro although the living room scene seems out of place! And the rain was mentioned too, must be a running gag ;)

Sometimes nice to sit by a 'box and watch the workings. Alas there isn't always time so a good video like this is useful.

I noticed on the WHR that the Guard also checked the token. Belt and braces approach or a Rule?

#bestrailwayintheworld
The intro is the normal opening sequence for the railways video news. The living room is rather important as this is in the recently restored railway cottage at Coed-y-Bleiddiau, more detail on this link, well we think it’s important.
https://www.festipedia.org.uk/wiki/Coed_y_Bleiddiau

The rain may sometimes seem like a joke, however this evening it doesn’t feel that way, I left shelter of the the Harbour Station Signalbox a short while ago into strong winds and heavy rain coming in horizontally!

You mention the guard checking the Token, this happens on the WHR because of the use of Staff & Ticket system. The process before leaving a station in accordance with the Rule Book may be summarised as follows.
  • The loco crew (often the fireman) will go to the station office and phone Control at Porthmadog and ask permission to take the Token for train Charlie Nine Two (the train number) for the section (e.g.) Waunfawr to Dinas concerned.
  • Control will normally give permission and the Token will be taken from it’s designated place.
  • The loco crew will show the Token and read out the names engraved on it to check it is correct.
  • The fireman will hand the Token to the driver and check the names again, this is also done on the FR.
  • The train may now depart.

I hope this is of interest.
 

E759

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Thank you very much. Yes I find this interesting.

In the days of yore you'd be kitted out with thick oil-skins to keep the wild Welsh weather at bay.
 

nowananorack

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15 Aug 2007
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Colden Common
It's all over now. What an intense three days! (Preceded by three days on some of the other Welsh NG lines.) Great event which I enjoyed enormously.

My thanks for the tips offered in advance which really helped my experience. I stayed in Llanwnda and walked to Dinas on the L&NWR cycle-track. Apart from Friday when the weather was not that great so I drove to Caenarfon.

Glad you had a good time

Some lovely motive power combinations and heritage trains which I made full use of. Did the full run also a couple of times using a few service trains. [Did a couple of runs on the FR on Thursday.] And yes, the Guards were busy with doors on the heritage stock :)

Sadly didn't get to see much or ride the trains due to being busy indoors all weekend

I didn't find a lot at Dinas to see; that surprised me. I attended the Friday night talk which I found very interning. But poorly attended. I'll guess because it was Friday (or everyone was riding the evening trains).

Dinas is limited by it's purpose, location and lack of main road signage

I have to note that in comparison to other gala I have attended this year that the catering falls well short of what other railways lay on for such big events. Considering the heritage shuttle timetable I would personally have expected pop-up catering at some or all of the cross-over stations. I don't personally think this is a big ask considering the nature of the event.

However, any catering omissions were fully made up for and exceeded by excellent fortune to get to drive Hugh Napier. This was unexpected and I couldn't believe that I could just turn up, climb aboard and from the shed back to the platform be given the responsibility to drive. It almost exceeded my experience of being on the footplate of Winifred (1885) on Bala Lake a few days earlier for the whole 4 mile journey :)

Suspect this is a combination of too few volunteers volunteering to help plus the cost of providing the pop-up catering and paid staff to man it.
Also two events, SuperPower(WHR) and Victorian Weekend(FR) only three weeks apart!
Dinas catering was done with paid train staff, some of which started at 7.30 every day, leaving after 21.00 on Friday, not sure about other days.
Caernarfon station will have catering facilities when it officially opens next season.
Waunfawr has the Snowdonia Parc on it's doorstep.
Beddgelert has eateries in the village.
Rhyd Ddu has a tea room in the village.

Again, thanks for the pre-event tips and thanks you to the volunteers and staff for a great three days.

Pleasure.
No SuperPower as such next year but something else near the end of June. See you there? Helping?
 
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