PROJECT RHEILFFORDD ERYRI

WELSH HIGHLAND RAILWAY PROJECT

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January 2000 - Work started on the second Phase 2 bridge contract, and the Earthwork & Civils contract.

A further supply of steel sleepers (and fastenings) was shipped from Durban in South Africa.

WHLR Ltd moved 300 tonnes of rails from Dinas to the site near the Rhostryfan Road where Phase 2 tracklaying was to start following completion of the trackbed works there.

February 2000 - The Royal Mail released its first class (26p) stamp featuring the WHR Project, as part of the Fire and Light set of stamps featuring projects supprted by the Millennium Commission. The stamp features Beyer-Garratt No. 143 and train against a montage backdrop of mountain scenery near Rhyd Ddu. The launch was marked by the first Mail train to run on WHR (Caernarfon) and the simultaneous launch of a 25p FR Railway Letter Service stamp featuring No. 138 (illustrated).

The consignment of 3,000 sleepers shipped from South Africa (see under January) arrived.

March 2000 - Work on the first Phase 2 bridge contract was largely completed, with work on the second contract also well advanced.

March 18th 2000 - Blanche was moved back to the Ffestiniog Railway by road, and replaced at Dinas by Mountaineer. Diesel Conwy Castle was moved to Dinas on the same day.
March 30th 2000 - Diesel Upnor Castle was moved by road to the Cae Wernlas Ddu construction base, ready to become the first locomotive to work on the historic WHR trackbed since the 1930s.

April 1st-2nd 2000 - Phase 2 mainline tracklaying started, from the Cae Wernlas Ddu base. Apart from the headshunts at the extremities of WHR (Porthmadog) and (WHR) Caernarfon, plus some sidings at Dinas, this representeds the first track for train services on the WHR main line since the Croesor Junction-Portmadoc section was lifted in 1948.

(Thanks to Andy Goodman for the pictures)

April 17th 2000 - Agreement was reached between representatives of the FR and WHR (Porthmadog) on the steps to be taken to enable extension work northwards from Pen y Mount to start later in the year. Details on the relevant route page.

April 30th 2000 - the WHRS K1 Group made the public launch of Project K1 2000 at Boston Lodge and Dinas, marking the final push to complete the loco's overhaul.

May 5th 2000 - the pair of self-discharging ballast wagons acquired in South Africa were delivered to Dinas, following a consignment of South African point components earlier the same week.

July 20th 2000 - the last gap in the track laid between Dinas and Waunfawr was filled.

July 21st 2000 - HMRI carried out a successful final inspection of Phase 2 works, leaving a "snagging list" of tasks to be completed before opening.

August 2nd 2000 - Garratt no. 143 was hauled to Waunfawr "cold" between diesels Upnor Castle and Conway Castle for checking purposes. No problems were found. A later test saw the first coaches taken to Waunfawr.

August 2nd 2000 - WHR (Porthmadog) volunteers began clearance work for surveying purposes north of Pen y Mount.

August 4-6th 2000 - Test trains ran to Waunfawr for crew route familiarisation purposes outside the hours of timetabled Caernarfon-Dinas services. Three days of testing had been proposed by HMRI.

August 7th 2000 - Passenger services were extended to Waunfawr.

(Above pictures of the first public train to Waunfawr with thanks to Eddie Bellass)

September 15th 2000 - the line from Dinas to Waunfawr was officially opened by Dafydd Wigley, Caernarfon's MP and Member of the National Assembly for Wales.

September 16-17th 2000 - The "Welsh Highland Ffestival 2000" weekend saw working visits from original WHR loco Russell, and FR Single Fairlie Taliesin.

October 18th 2000 - Planning permission was granted for the rock stabilisation and tunnel repair works required at the Aberglaslyn Pass before the railway can extend into the Snowdonia National Park.

November 2000 - Contractors Rock Engineering, of Porthmadog, began work at Aberglaslyn (see below). WHLR Ltd staff and WHRS volunteers began clearance and preparation work south of Waunfawr, while contractors Triact began their work at Betws Garmon.

December 4th 2000 - The restored Dinas station building was awarded an Ian Allan National Railway Heritage Award. S4C broadcast the documentary Ail Godi Stêm, covering the reopening to Waunfawr.

Authored by Ben Fisher; last modified January 15th, 2004