Railway Inspectors visited Porthmadog on Friday 15/10/10 to check the installations at Cae Pawb, Snowdon Street and Britannia Bridge. The two road crossings have now had the tarmac removed from the rails for the last time. Moelwyn ran light engine over the crossings several times to check operation and traffic disruption was seen to be minimal.

A few items remain to be completed, including electronic interlocking with a pedestrian crossing on the High Street and a final snagging list will need to be attended to before final approval is granted to run trains over the complete Welsh Highland. The first of these will be the Sponsors' Train which runs on Saturday 30/10/10.

Be one of the first to travel on the completed WHR

Saturday 19/2/11 has been chosen as the date for the first public train service between Porthmadog and Caernarfon - the first time that members of the public will be able to buy a ticket to do the complete journey.

As you would expect, demand will be high and premium fares will apply. Half the proceeds from these trains will go towards the rebuild of coach No.2090 to enable both WHR sets to have a proper guards van and catering facilities. The WHRS has also offered money for this project which should begin to show results in early 2011.

Staff and society members are reminded that there will be a further eight days when the full route service will run and that paying customers should be given preference on the inaugural day. Both Caernarfon and Porthmadog booking offices have a long list of people who are waiting for this opportunity and they will be offered tickets first.

Third class return tickets are priced at £50.00 and First Class at £100.00 - including morning coffee & biscuits on the outward journey and a cream tea on the return. All travellers will receive a special commemorative ticket to celebrate the occasion. Trains depart from Caernarfon at 1100 and 1430 and from Porthmadog at 1045 and 1415.

Platelayers' Special

As a thank you to the track gangs who worked on the rebuilding of the Welsh Highland, a special train will run on Sunday 31/10/10. The train departs Porthmadog at 1000 running to Rhyd Ddu, returning at 1145 and arriving back at Port at 1300. Motive power is expected to be Lyd and refreshments will be available on board.

Members of the Black Hand, Rest of the World and Tuesday Gangs should contact Samantha.hughes@festrail.co.uk or phone the booking office on 01766 516024 to confirm attendance and whether a partner will be accompanying them.