The WHR Project - Phase 5
"A Sustainable Future"

The track is in place all the way from Caernarfon to Porthmadog, the line was formally opened in April 2011, the trains are running, and there has been much to celebrate.  But what has been achieved is still only a  basic railway.  Phase 5 is about finishing the task of creating a high class heritage railway.

The appeal was launched in December 2010 with the following announcement:

The Phase 5 Appeal.  "Let's finish the job"

Phase 5 leafletDetails of the appeal appeared in  Steam Railway and have been circulated to current sponsors.  There is a dedicated website for the appeal which gives full details.

Phase 5 is designed to deliver the items we need to finish the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways. We are making a major effort to raise the funds to do this, by appeals to the public, to sponsors, and for government grants.  When you give, we hope it will act as match funding, pound for pound.  The funds we raise will be spent in key areas, such as:
  1. Harbour Station: to have two trains in the station together,  allowing transfer between FfR and WHR trains, another platform is needed.  We have all the plans and permissions to do this work.  Harbour Station will then really be the narrow gauge Grand Central!
  2.  We will soon have more locomotives and more carriages than we have room to store. New locomotive facilities are urgently needed at Dinas and Boston Lodge, and the carriage sheds there do not house the current fleet.  When the fleet gets bigger, we will need  bigger sheds, or have to leave even more of our precious carriages outside.
  3. We need two, more powerful, modern diesels to run services not economic for steam, and to act as general purpose and rescue machines.
  4. It would be unwise, having built the WHR, not to be able to offer the level of service and the number of seats we want with purpose built carriages.  The initial need is for ten new FfR width carriages,  all to be built at Boston Lodge. This will allow these vehicles to be used on both railways.  More carriages will follow as demand rises.
  5.  Upgraded terminal stations at Caernarfon and Blaenau Ffestiniog are essential and we also wish to improve intermediate stations.     

This appeal has been structured to encourage our sponsors to join the Ffestiniog Family.  Our experience from Phase 4 has shown how much this is appreciated.  Should you be kind enough to support the Phase 5 Appeal, we shall welcome you to membership of the FfR or WHR Society and to the annual tour of inspection, as well as offering other ways in which you can join in.


The Company  added the following note to the appeal literature:

The FR Co board would like to clarify the position with regard to the phase 5 appeal.
Reflecting the Board's overall responsibilities, this appeal seeks to raise funds that benefit both the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways. We were offered an opportunity to present the appeal in this edition of steam railway magazine. Space in this edition is highly coveted as it is read over the all important Christmas and New Year holiday period. We had to respond very quickly to this opportunity.
This appeal, which is equally relevant, and open to, supporters of both railways, includes the share for life offer for larger donors. It gives the opportunity for donors to opt for membership of either society as part of the package. The project lists published to date are preliminary and will be developed and prioritised in consultation with the Ffestiniog Railway Society and the Welsh Highland Railway Society.
April 2nd 2011

"The Snowdonian"

This remarkable special was arranged to raise funds for the "Phase 5" appeal.  It ran firstly from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog, then to Caernarfon, passing non-stop through Porthmadog,  finally returning to Porthmadog at the end of the day.  For the WHR section the train was double-headed with double Fairlies. Photos by Tony Baker and Richard Watson

Earl of Merioneth and Taliesin approaching their train on the Cob - Richard WatsonThe Snowdonian headboard adorns the chimney of Taliesin at Porthmadog Harbour - Richard WatsonSnowdonian in Aberglasyn - Tony BakerSnowdonian at Beddgelert - Tony BakerMerddin Emrys at rest at Beddgelert on the outward journey - Richard WatsonTwo Fairlies at Beddgelert - Richard WatsonMerddin Emrys and David Loyd George rounding Ffridd Isaf curve on the outward journey to Caernarfon - Richard Watson

Snowdonian near Castell Cidwm - Tony BakerThe two Fairlies queueing for the water tower at Caernarfon - Richard WatsonDavid Lloyd George leads Merddin Emrys during the photographic runpast at Ffridd Isaf curve - Richard WatsonThe Fairlies begin the runpast near Rhos Clogwyn - Richard WatsonRounding the curves just before Rhyd Ddu station - Richard WatsonRounding the curves just before Rhyd Ddu station - Richard Watson



A sustainable futureApril 26th 2011

John Prideaux has written a booklet "A Sustainable Future"  to accompany the project. Copies have already been circulated to existing sponsors.

The latest update to the Phase 5 website reports that "The Snowdonian" raised almost £40,000 for the project  in a single day.  The success of the trip is a sign that the venture may well be repeated.

Andy Savage reports that in total  the Phase 5 appeal has already raised commitments of almost £350k, with £200k of that due in by the end of this calendar year. He invites you to join in in delivering the Sustainable Railway by supporting this appeal.









4th November 2011

Phase 5 – The Sustainable Railway – Update by Andy Savage

In the last six months we have seen real progress with the Phase 5 fundraising, and we are starting to see some initial progress on the projects.

Fundraising for the Sustainable Railway projects has come from a number of places. The main appeal, plus associated cash support and gift aid, has raised just short of half a million pounds – a brilliant start in less than a year. We currently have 20 Gold subscribers, 25 Silver and 57 Bronzes. Added to that should be a large individual donation towards a new carriage, support from the FRS to two more, and the CRhE donation towards the Welsh Water building at Dinas, giving a grand total of well past £600,000 – well done and thanks to all who have contributed towards this.

We have continued the design of many of the projects. At Harbour Station we now have a design that everyone is pretty happy with, including the ability to run round trains on both railways without affecting each other’s platforms. Both WHR and FR trains will be able to arrive and depart at the same time. At Blaenau and Caernarfon we are in discussions with the local communities about what might be done to improve the facilities at those stations.

The design of the new ‘standard’ FR profile carriage is complete, and our look ahead at what is needed has made clear that we will probably need some more full size WHR carriages to strengthen the rakes in due course.

The layout proposals for Boston Lodge and Minffordd are being worked up, with a new Minffordd South Junction to give direct access to the yard a real possibility.

Physically there are the first signs of progress. At Dinas, as I mentioned, we have acquired the rest of the WWA shed. This is being weather-proofed as a first step, after which we expect to extend the loco stabling facilities into it. With the revised train services needing only a single train stabled at Dinas, we are revising our proposals here to see just how much we need to spend at this stage.

At Minffordd the new Infrastructure office has been delivered, the first step towards the proposed new depot there. On the carriage front, 103 is in service, the first new carriage, and 121 is under construction, with an order for 108, the third in the new series already funded and placed.

Alisdair Stewart reports on Harbour Station elsewhere – but the key message is that we have much of the funding for this project in place, and if (but only if) Welsh Assembly Government funding can be made available, we will be in a position to match it, and proceed with the widening, this winter.

Behind all the progress fundraising continues. There will be a big article in the November Railway Magazine, complete with a revised brochure updating the appeal. We need all the money that we can raise to deliver all the Sustainable Railway projects, and with Gift Aid and the 10% sponsorship on offer, every pound you give is worth over £1.37 to us straight way – more if we can use it to attract volunteer support and grant funding – we can easily turn your £1 into £5 worth of work in the right circumstances. So please, do consider taking out a standing order to the Phase 5 / Sustainable Railway project - you can find the application forms, and all the latest news, at our web site, www.phase5.org.uk




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Authored by Ben Fisher; last updated by David Tidy 4th November 2011