TRACK EQUIPMENT
ByAlasdair Stewart, Civil Engineering Manager, WHRCL
T
he oldest independent railway company in the world is now the proud owner of one of the newest lines. The Welsh Highland Railway may be the newest addition to the roster of the Great Little Trains of Wales but its origins date back to nineteenth century slate traffi c. Linking Caernarfon to Porthmadog via the spectacular Snowdonia National Park where it meets the Ffestiniog Railway, the £28 million reconstruction of this historic route is probably the most ambitious scheme ever attempted in the UK under the ‘heritage rail’ banner.
At 25 miles (35 kms) in length, the project has involved the repair or reconstruction of more than 200 culverts and bridges, rehabilitation of four tunnels and construction of a grand total of 127 level crossings (mainly accommodation or occupation user-worked crossings and six crossings of public roads).
A truly unique feature of the route is the fl at crossing of Network Rail’s Cambrian Coast line on the outskirts of Porthmadog. The two railways’ signalling schemes are fully interlocked. Trains are
controlled over the crossing from a new facility in Machynlleth – the control centre for the ERTMS signalled route between Sutton Bridge, Aberystwyth and Pwllheli. The mainline is protected by signals and wide to gauge trap points on both narrow gauge approaches.
The original WHR was an amalgamation of routes built to serve quarries by transporting fi nished slate products to the quays in Porthmadog. Opened throughout in 1923 the line was not a commercial success and closed to all traffi c in 1936, the rails being lifted during the Second World War.
“THE PROJECT HAS INVOLVED THE
REPAIR OR RECONSTRUCTION OF MORE THAN 200 CULVERTS AND BRIDGES, REHABILITATION OF FOUR TUNNELS AND CONSTRUCTION OF 127 LEVEL CROSSINGS”
40 | rail technology magazine Dec/Jan 11
In 1997, work began on rehabilitating the former standard gauge route between Caernarfon and Dinas. Set up by the owning Ffestinog Railway, the project has been overseen by a subsidiary construction company, Welsh Highland Railway Construction Limited (WHRCL). Groundwork has been undertaken by a mixture of local and regional contractors with engineering consultancy provided by Ove Arup.
Work progressed in a southerly direction opening to Waunfawr
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