Phase 3: Waunfawr to Rhyd Ddu, 2000-3

Test Trains, July-August 2003

The first steam train to run over part of Phase 3 ran on Saturday July 26th 2003, with Prince hauling WHR(C) carriage no. 23 and FR no. 10. The train was run as part of the third HMRI inspection, and stopped for viewing of crossings on the outward journey. It ran from south of Waunfawr (isolated from the operating railway by a stop board) to Plas y Nant, and then on to Ty'n Weirglodd Isaf cutting, immediately before where the track gang and the tamper were at work. It then set back to Plas y Nant where Prince was able to run round by means of a shunt assisted by Conway Castle. We hope the rain doesn't detract too much from the historic character of the pictures.

Following this run, test trains with the same train but with the addition of carriage no. 24 were run through to Rhyd Ddu on the evening of Monday July 28th, as seen in David Payling's pictures below.

There was another run the next day, shown in Barrie Hughes' pictures below; these were trial runs for the Royal Inauguration Train on the 30th.

These trains were included in the total of 28 test trains run before opening to meet HMRI requirements. The next phase of testing began with runs with Castell Caernarfon and the Pullman (chosen as the longest carriage) on August 9th and 10th.

The first six-carriage test train departed from Dinas at 06.30 on Monday August 11th behind Castell Caernarfon, picking up Conway Castle on the rear at Waunfawr (to head the train back without a run-round at Rhyd Ddu). Platform clearances were tested and found satisfactory at Snowdon Ranger and Rhyd Ddu, and the train arrived back at Dinas just before 0930. A Garratt was hauled to Rhyd Ddu "cold" for gauging purposes by August 11th. On the evening of the 12th, both Garratts took a full passenger rake to Rhyd Ddu, and the run included successful deflection testing of Glan yr Afon Bridge, with the Garratts detached from the train for static tests and also dynamic tests crossing the bridge at line speed. The train left Dinas at 18.15 and reached Rhyd Ddu at 20.05; it was then shunted to be topped and tailed by the Garratts for the return run.