The first train was the Harbourmaster which arrived at 09:30 in the WHR platform with a Garratt on the front. The Funkey arrived next in the FR platform with the Mountain Spirit at 10:05. Criccieth Castle was shunting the Quarryman into the sidings at 13:00 before returnng light to the depot. The Snowdonia Star arrived at 13:30 when Criccieth Castle reappeared in the yard from the depot. No.143 completed the run round at 14:00 as Vale of Festiniog arrived back in the FR platform at 14:00.

F&WHR 19/5/25

The Met Office forecast for Monday 19/5/25 was for a day of sunny periods with temperatures of 9-18C. Sunset is at 21:14. Temperatures might drop to the 16C by next weekend with more mixed weather. The Met Office confirm that Spring has been the sunniest and driest on record! Consequently the FR has substituted diesel hauled services in place of steam. In addition to Works Shuttles there were 2 FR trains due today and just one WHR train.

In the absence of a signaller Criccieth Castle on the coal trainhad to stop at the king point on The Cob at 09:20 while the second man went forward to open the box and set the points. The train eventually pulled into the yard at about 09:30. The loco shunted the yard at 09:40. Harlech Castle arrived next with the drench tran for the WHR, passing through at 09:48. Upnor Castle arrived with the 2 coach ECS for the Works Shuttle at 09:55 in the WHR platform. Run round came promptly but the loco was held in the loop as Vale of Ffestiniog arrived with the ECS for the Mountain Spirit. At 10:13 the shuttle departed and the Funkey ran round ready for the 10:40 departure. The Funkey shunted the end four coaches into the seawall siding and brought the Obs back to its train.

Given the crowds on the platform a miscalculation had been made and the Funkey was send back with the Obs to bring back all four coaches. This caused the train to be over 20 minutes late departing. Finally Criccieth Castle emerged from the yard at 11:15 with the coal wagons and a brakevan and departed 5 minutes later.

F&WHR 18/5/25

The Met Office forecast for Sunday 18/5/25 was for a day of unbroken sunshine with temperatures of 9-22C. Sunset is at 21:13. Temperatures might stay in the low 20s all week with strong sunshine but dropping back to 17C by next weekend. The Met Office confirm that Spring has been the sunniest and driest on record! In addition to Works Shuttles and Cab Rides there were 2 FR trains due today and just one WHR train. Volunteers were tidying the planters on the platform today.

Steam shunting was taking place around midday at Harbour Station, probably Hugh Napier on cab rides. The Works Shuttle retuurned at 12:20 with Upnor Castle returning the two coach rake to the FR platform. The loco ran round at 12:27 and at 12:34 departed with the ECS for the depot. At 13:20 Upnor Castle was back in the FR platform with the ECS for the Victorian. The Hibberd ran round at 13:25 while Hugh Napier emerged briefly from the yard. The Mountain Spirit was back by 14:20 and the loco ran round in the WHR platform before departing with the ECS at 14:30.

F&WHR 17/5/25

The Met Office forecast for Saturday 17/5/25 was for a day of unbroken sunshine with temperatures of 9-22C. Sunset is at 21:11. Temperatures might stay in the low 20s all week with strong sunshine but dropping back to 17C by next weekend. The Met Office confirm that Spring has been the sunniest and driest on record! The first train was Caernarfon Castle with the drench train, departing the WHR platform at 09:00 and heading for Caernarfon. There were 4 FR trains due today and the two through WHR trains.

The signaller arrived at 08:40 to open the box. The first service was the ECS for the 10:05 Harbourmaster hauled by a Garratt arriving at 09:28 in the WHR platform.

F&WHR 16/5/25

The Met Office forecast for Friday 16/5/25 was for a day of unbroken sunshine with temperatures of 7-22C. Sunset is at 21:10. Temperatures might stay in the low 20s all week with strong sunshine but dropping back to 17C by next Friday. The signaller arrived at 09:20 to open the box. In addtion to the Works Shuttles, there were just 2 FR trains due today and no WHR trains!

The Simplex Maryanne was noted out on a test train in advance of the Jubilee Gala in the afternoon.

F&WHR 15/5/25

The Met Office forecast for Thursday 15/5/25 was for a day of sunny periods with temperatures of 7-21C. Sunset is at 21:08. Temperatures might stay in the low 20s all week with strong sunshine. At 10:05 the Garratt was present for the 10:05 Harbourmaster in the WHR platform. The Victorian arrived five minutes later into the WHR platform and Upnor Castle ran round. The Funkey was already present with the 10:40 Mountain Spirit in the FR platform at about 10:00.

Several volunteers and staff were working on the 3 manual points nearest the signalbox today.

F&WHR 14/5/25

The Met Office forecast for Wednesday 14/5/25 was for a day of sunny periods with temperatures of 8-23C. Sunset is at 21:07. Temperatures might stay in the low 20s all week with strong sunshine. At 10:00 the Garratt was present ECS for the 10:40 Aberglaslyn in theWHR platform. The Works Shuttle departed at the same time as The Aberglaslyn. The Funkey hauled the ECS for the 10:40 Mountain Spirit into the FR platform at about 10:20, running round at 10:35.

At 10:40 Upnor Castle turned up with The Victorian but run round had to wait the departure of the Funkey at 10:44. A PW team was working in the yard  and had to consult with the signaller at various times who in turn needed an orange vest rather than normal clothing. It seems that the seawall siding and the yard sidings could do with motorised points, at least at the signalbox end of the yard, to save signallers/loco crew time and reduce danger. The points at the water tank end of the yard are best left under local control of the train crew as they out of sight of the signaller. The signalbox has a recovered LT panel which interlocks the Britannia Bridge, the WHR loop, The King and Queen points on The Cob and the FR Yard crossover/headshunt.

No.130 arrived with the return working of The Aberglaslyn at 13:05 and Criccieth Castle advanced the rake to the FR starter with the 7 coach Mountain Spirit 2 minutes later before propelling its rake into the yard. This was followed by the Garratt which needed fuel and water. Upnor Castle returned The Victorian to the FR platform at 13:25 and ran round. The Garratt returned to its train at 13:35. The Funkey arrived back in theWHR platform at 13:55 and ran to the seawall siding where the water tank wagon was removed.at 14:10. Criccieth Castle removed one coach and shunted it to the seawall siding. The loco brought three coaches back to strengthen the rake. The ECS departed at 14:35.

F&WHR 13/5/25

The Met Office forecast for Tuesday 13/5/25 was for a day of sunny periods with temperatures of 11-25C. Sunset is at 21:05. Temperatures might stay in the low 20s all week with strong sunshine. At 09:40 the Garratt arrived with the ECS for the 10:05 Harbourmaster in theWHR platform. The Funkey hauled the ECS for the 10:40 Mountain Spirit into the FR platform at about 10:00, running round at 10:04.

Nimbies block L&B plans

On 10/5/25 Rail Advent reported that Exmoor National Park Authority reversed its previous 2 decisions to support the extension of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway to Blackmore Gate/Wistlandpound Reservoir. The railway had been unable to find the funds for the whole length and so applied for permission a shorter extension to Parracombe. Residents of the small village seem to have objected to the scheme. Acess to the proposed halt and run round loop via Cricketfield Lane has been ienfied as private by some residents. The railway appears stuck in a rut with no funding available since BREXIT deprived the UK of regional development funds from the EU.

Friday 20/6/25 service diagram

Services are concentrated on the FR on Friday 20/5/25 with just two through trains on the WHR!

Click on advert to enlarge. This advert is copyright F&WHR.

F&WHR 12/5/25

The Met Office forecast for Monday 12/5/25 was for a day of sunny periods with temperatures of 10-23C and thunderstorms after lunch. Sunset at 21:03. Temperatures might rise from 19 to 25C by Tuesday with strong sunshine. Upnor Castle hauled the 2 coach Works Shuttle rake arriving the WHR platform with the ECS at 09:50 and running round. At 10:02 the Funkey arrived with the ECS for the 10:40 Mountain Spirit into the FR platform and running round at 10:04.

At 14:00 Upnor Castle was back with the The Victorian into the FR platform. The Funkey was shunting the yard and returned 3 coaches to the rake from the seawall siding. The ECS left for the depot at 14:25 leaving the 14:50 the sole occupant of the station.

F&WHR 11/5/25

The Met Office forecast for Sunday 11/5/25 was for a day of sunny periods with temperatures of 10-23C and sunset at 21:02. Temperatures might rise from 19 to 25C by Tuesday with strong sunshine. Upnor Castle hauled the 2 coach Works Shuttle rake arriving the WHR platform at 09:48. At 09:57 the Funkey arrived with the ECS for the Mountain Spirit into the FR platform.

This was followed by Upnor Castle which ran round at the same time as the Funkey. Upnor Castle hauled the Works Shuttle rake departing the WHR platform at 10:10. The Funkey extracted four coaches from the seawall siding at 10:15 and added them to the rear of the rake. Vale of Ffestiniog hauled the Mountain Spirit again today departing the FR platform at 10:40.

Upnor Castle returned to the FR platform at 11:05 propelling a single B wagon full of volunteers.

F&WHR 10/5/25

The Met Office forecast for Saturday 10/5/25 was for a day of sunny periods with temperatures of 10-21C and sunset at 21:00. Temperatures might rise from 19 to 22C by Tuesday with strong sunshine. The Garratt hauled Harbourmaster was first up, departing at 10:05 from the WHR platform. At 10:00 the Funkey arrived with the ECS for the 10:40 Mountain Spirit. This was followed by the Funkey which ran round to the back to extract some coaches to the seawall siding and shorten the rake. The loco returned to the front of the train with the OBS. The Funkey hauled the Mountain Spirit again today departing the FR platform at 10:40 and Upnor Castle hauled the Victorian rake with the curly roofed van on the rear departing the WHR platform at 11:10.

F&WHR 9/5/25

The Met Office forecast for Friday 9/5/25 was for a day of sunny periods with temperatures of 8-17C due to variable wind and sunset at 20:58. Temperatures might rise from 19 to 22C by Tuesday with strong sunshine. The two coach 10:10 Works Shuttle arrived ECS in the WHR platform at 09:45 and Upnor Castle ran round to the back to extract three coaches to the seawall siding and shorten the rake. The loco returned to the front of the train. At 09:55 the Funkey arrived with the ECS for the Mountain Spirit. The Funkey hauled the Mountain Spirit again today departing the FR platform at 10:40.

Victorian Train departed on tme for Tan-y-bwlch.Upnor Castle spent midday shunting the yard.At 13:54 Vale of Ffestiniog turned up in the WHR platform with the return working of the Mountain Spirit. The loco detached and ran round immediately before departing ECS for the depot at 14:05. The 14:50 Victorian Train departed on time for Tan-y-bwlch hauled by Upnor Castle.

Moving Pictures No.107 9/5/25

Click on the YouTube box to watch 27 minutes 23 seconds of video of showing Russell's final hours in steam and some other news. This video was published on 9/5/25. This video is copyright F&WHR and was taken by John Wooden on a professional betamax 4K camcorder.

F&WHR 8/5/25

The Met Office forecast for Thursday 8/5/25 was for a day of sunny periods with temperatures of 6-17C due to a cold NE wind and sunset at 20:57. Temperatures might rise from 19 to 22C by Sunday with strong sunshine. The Harbourmaster ECS arrived at 09:30 and the loco ran to the back to extract three coaches to the seawall siding and shorten the rake. The loco returned to the front of the train. At 09:55 the Funkey arrived with the ECS for the Mountain Spirit.,/font>

At 14:53 Criccieth Castle arrived with the six coach The Quarryman. The loco ran round 5 minutes later and departed ECS at 15:29.

F&WHR 5/5/25

The Met Office forecast for Monday 5/5/25 was for a day of sunny periods with temperatures of 4-14C due to a cold NE wind and sunset at 20:51. Temperatures might rise from 15 to 19C over the Bank Holiday week. Vale of Ffestiniog pulled into the FR platform at 10:00 with the ECS for the 10 coach Mountain Spirit. It ran round at 10:05 to shunt 3 coaches off the rear to the station sidings to match the load to the bookings. Taliesin pulled in with the ECS for the 2 coach 10:10 Works Shuttle into the WHR platform at the same time. The shuttle left 10 minutes late as the Funkey returned the rear OBS to the rake. Upnor Castle arrived at 10:35 with the ECS for the 5 coach 11:10 Woodland Wanderer in the WHR platform. Run round was immediate but had to wait for the Funkey to depart. The Hibberd left on time at 11:10.

Taliesin returned with the Works Shuttle at 12:25 into the FR platform and returned to the depot light engine at 12:45. Upnor Castle returned with the Woodland Wanderer at 13:21 into the FR platform. Run round came 5 minutes later ready for the 14:20 Works Visit.

FR hosts Young Carers

Conwy Valley & North Wales Coast Community Railway Partnership recently supported the Young Carers group and gave them a day out on the FR.
"It was really fun and my first ever young carers trip. I got to experience something brand new!"
We recently supported WCD Young Carers on an unforgettable day out, travelling on the Conwy Valley Line to join the Ffestiniog Railway at Blaenau Ffestiniog, stopping at Spooners in Porthmadog for a spot of lunch.
For young carers, having access to experiences like this is often limited, and the F&WHR's support has meant that this group of young people have experienced a unique day out, which they otherwise would not have been able to do.
We would like to say a massive thank you to Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways and Spooner's for your support. Some great feedback from the young people:
"Amazing and so much fun!""I had a great time looking out the window and took some amazing photos""My favorite trains are steam trains and I loved looking out the windows!"

Moelwyn goes green

First WW diesel Moelwyn (No.11) has been repainted by volunteers into a green livery ready for Railway 2000.

This northerly view (5/25) shows Moelwyn painted by the same team that turned Prince and Merddin Emrys out in green. Click on the image to enlarge, Click again to enlarge fully. This image is copyright F&WHR and taken on a digital camera.

F&WHR 4/5/25

The Met Office forecast for Sunday 4/5/25 was for a day of solid sunshine with temperatures of 3-16C and sunset at 20:50. Temperatures might rise from 15 to 19C over the Bank Holiday week. No.130 was ready in the WHR platform at 10:00 with the ECS for The Aberglaslyn and Vale of Ffestiniog was running round the Mountain Spirit in the FR platform. At 10:39 Upnor Castle arrived with its 4 coach set. The Hibberd shunted an additional 3 coaches from the seawall siding after the Funkey departed at 10:42 and brought 1 coach over to strengthen 11:10 Woodland Wanderer rake.

At 13:45 Upnor Castle was back shunting the FR platform as station pilot. Britomart and Sybile top and tailed a two coach rake that was shunting to the end of the FR platform. Vale of Ffestiniog pulled into the WHR platform at 13:53 with the return working of the Mountain Spirit. The Funkey started its ran round at 13:59 and the two coach rake departed at 14:02. Upnor Castle was next to run round at 14:05, swopping duties with the Funkey and removing a coach to the seawall siding. The Hibberd then pulled a 5 coach rake out to form a long rake in the WHR platform and then returned to yard pilot duties as the Funkey coupled to the long rake to form the late 14:20 Mountain Spirit. At the end of the day, the Funkey was noted departing with the ECS to the depot at about 17:00.