Welsh Highland at Railfest in York
May 29th - June 6th 2004

Both Welsh Highland Railways, and the Ffestiniog, were represented at Railfest at the National Railway Museum in York, the focal point of the celebrations of the bicentenary of Trevithick's Penydarren locomotive of 1804.

In addition to an all-new WHRS display (seen above on its first outing a week before, at the Isle of Anglesey Vintage Rally), the Lynton & Barnstaple loco Lyd, destined for use on WHR(C) once complete, was on display as the newest steam loco on display at Railfest. Martin Cowgill's pictures below were taken on the preview day, before the crowds descended.

The carriage next to the loco is one of the two Darjeeling Himalayan Railway replicas built at Boston Lodge for Adrian Shooter's private railway, and formed part of the DHR Society stand - whose star attraction was on the other end. This is the genuine DHR "B" Class loco acquired by Mr Shooter from a museum in the USA, with its restoration at Tyseley almost completed in time for Railfest. We can expect to see this loco visiting WHR(C) in future.

Railfest's many attractions included a working "eastern extension" of the FR, with Prince, carriage 15, and the magnificent and newly recreated curly roofed van.