The Men in Black
Andy Hughes and Richard Beckett were suitably attired to run a slick operation and keep the many visitors and Dirty Chappies occupied and interested.

Between them, Ruston & Hornsby 40DL No. 2 Kinnerley bears the crest reminding onlookers that the Railway had already seen seventeen years of service before this year's opening of the Ffestiniog Railway's new Caernarfon to Dinas section on the LNWR trackbed (claimed to be the re-opening of the Welsh Highland Railway).

Richard Beton

411x362, 34KiB

LYd2 No. 69 Eryri arrives at Porthmadog station with the passenger train. At 415hp, this is the most powerful 2' gauge locomotive in the UK, dwarfing its coaching stock behind.

Richard Beton

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The three Simplex 60hp Diesels, Katherine, Jonathan and Anne-Marie, prepare to depart from Porthmadog station with the demonstration freight train.

Richard Beton

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Russell prepares to depart from Porthmadog with a one-coach train consisting of Coach No. 1. Meanwhile, Gelert draws in to the loop at the head of the demonstration freight train.

Richard Beton

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Gelert and the demonstration freight train standing in the loop at Porthmadog station.

Richard Beton

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The approach to Pen-y-Mount station. In the station can just be discerned Eryri with single-coach train which has just arrived in the platform road (right). The Simplex Diesels are preparing to depart from the loop (left) at the head of the freight train.

Richard Beton

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The view as seen by Gelert's fireman on approach to Pen-y-Mount loop road. In the platform road, Russell is preparing to depart with the passenger train. Beyond the train, LYd2 No. 69 Eryri stands uncoupled.

Richard Beton

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Gelert and Russell prepare to draw the passenger train double-headed out of Pen-y-Mount. Beyond the train, LYd2 No. 69 Eryri stands uncoupled.

Richard Beton

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The double-headed passenger train departs from Pen-y-Mount with Gelert and Russell.

Richard Beton

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A collection of rolling stock at Pen-y-Mount. On the right stands LYd2 No. 69 Eryri in the platform road. On the left stands Diesel No. 2 Kinnerley with Coach No. 1. Behind, in the Engineer's Siding, stands one of the Andrew Barclay locomotives (No. 555) and Hunslet Diesel No. 7. To their right is the Mines Rescue Van (staff tea room for the Dirty Chappies!).

Richard Beton

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Dave Ruston atop Cnicht and Andy Carter atop Hunslet Diesel No. 5. Both are preparing to leave the headshunt at Pen-y-Mount.

This is the only section of track anywhere on the southern part of the original Welsh Highland Railway. Beyond the buffers, the trackbed disappears into the undergrowth, to turn a few miles hence at Croesor junction and thereafter follow the Aberglaslyn Pass (just behind Andy's left elbow).

Richard Beton

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Russell arrives at Pen-y-Mount whilst the Simplex Diesels are waiting to draw the freight train southwards once more.

Richard Beton

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Gelert arrives at Pen-y-Mount with the freight train.

Richard Beton

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Preparation for a Diesel Cavalcade
Assembled in the platform road at Pen-y-Mount, the Diesel Cavalcade will shortly leave for Porthmadog. Each locomotive will travel light, giving onlookers a tremendous spectacle as they roar past in turn. At the head stands Ruston & Hornsby 40DL Kinnerley followed by LYd2 No. 69 Eryri. The three 60hp Simplex locomotives will follow, then Andrew Barclay 30hp No. 555 coupled to Hunslet 43hp No. 7 (not operational). Motor Rail 20/28 Cnicht and Hunslet 40hp No. 5 will bring up the rear, then lead the return journey.

Richard Beton

528x302, 31KiB

Diesels parked in the Pen-y-Mount headshunt, on the original Welsh Highland Railway trackbed. It is expected that this will one day be the main running line to the north.

From left to right stand Diesels No. 5, No. 36 Cnicht, No. 7, No. 555, No. 4 Anne-Marie, No. 9 Katherine, No. 6 Jonathan and No. 2 Kinnerley.

Richard Beton

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Ruston & Hornsby 40DL No.2 Kinnerley departs from Porthmadog station with the one-coach train. The locomotive carries the re-opening headboard that it had carried seventeen years earlier, having been the first operational locomotive on the restored Welsh Highland Railway. The coach, No. 1, is also a veteran of those early days. So this train re-enacts the very first operations of the restored Welsh Highland Railway of 1980.

Andy Blackwell

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