The tracks of the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways were physically joined at Porthmadog Harbour Station on the evening of Friday February 27th 2009, and the event was marked by a ceremony the following day. The two "Golden Bolts", one inscribed for each volunteer track gang (BHG for the North Wales Black Hand Gang, ROTW for the Rest of the World Gang) are made from aluminium bronze and were manufactured by BICO (Beaumaris Instrument Co). Following the ceremony they were due to become part of a display with a group photograph in Spooner's bar. The ceremony marked the completion of tracklaying on the main line of the WHR (some track remained to be laid at loops and sidings), which had begun at Dinas in May 1997 (fourth picture)

The day of the ceremony was dry but overcast, with steam from the locos in attendance tending to linger. Newly restored WHR NGG16 no. 87 shared the honours with the FR's Palmerston and Merddin Emrys, both of which ran on the old WHR, indeed Palmerston had worked on building the NWNGR in the 1870s, and the WHR in 1922-3. The event attracted a large crowd of volunteers (present and past) and supporters, and almost had the feel of a gala event, even though no passenger trains were running. After BHG and ROTWG organisers Dafydd Thomas and Paul Bradshaw fitted the bolts, no. 87 ran from the FR to the WHR line, followed by Merddin Emrys (and later, Palmerston). Master of ceremonies Richard Buxton introduced speeches by Dr John Prideaux (Chairman, Festiniog Railway Company), Dafydd Thomas (on behalf of Cymdeithas Rheilffordd Eryri), and Hywel Williams (MP for Caernarfon). The event was then marked with group photographs, at the F&WHR equivalent of Promontory Point, of the groups of volunteers and staff who had brought the project to fruition.

Video (FR Co, c/o Youtube) showing events on the 27th and 28th:

Despite the grey skies, it is interesting to compare the scenes witnessed for real on February 28th 2009 with the following Photoshopped image, in use for some years to promote Phase 4 of the WHR Project.