Cymdeithas Rheilffordd Eryri / Welsh Highland Railway Society

22/05/2026

𝗛𝘂𝗴𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶!

Today was the moment members of the NG15 group have been waiting years for… ‘Kalahari’ hauling its first full-line passenger train after being authorised for the full WHR route this week! 🥳 Group members, donors and other key supporters were invited to join a very special train to mark the occasion and celebrate what is a truly magnificent achievement in bringing NG15 134 back to life, and to a benchmark standard.

This moment would not have been possible without the vision, tenacity and generosity of all those who have made it happen, and we could not be grateful enough for this. As a small token gesture though guests on today’s train were presented with a print of a spcially-commissioned painting to mark the NG15’s return to steam from the exceptionally talented Rebecca Kitchin, which we hope will remind them of this significant occasion. Although NG15 134 is now a fully fledged member of the operational fleet, the journey is not over - stay tuned for future updates!

In the meantime, make sure to get the Extreme Steam Extravaganza in your diary to see ‘Kalahari’ play its starring role 🤩

📸: Chris Parry

21/05/2026

𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗮 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀!

We are looking for some willing volunteers to help out and support the Society at the Extreme Steam Extravaganza on the 19th-21st June. This is a great opportunity to represent the Society to current and prospective members whilst taking in the 'extreme' antics of an exceptional weekend only the Ff&WHR could manage.

Sound interesting? Get in touch with Graham Rumbelow at [email protected] to find out more and get involved.

Find more details on the event here: https://www.festrail.co.uk/extreme-steam-extravaganza/

You won't want to miss this!

Outstanding scenery, comfortable carriages and historic steam engines await you here in the heart of Snowdonia. Glorious coastlines, ancient oak woodlands, mountains, rivers and castles, all beckon as you embark on your journey on our award winning railways. With some of the most comfortable carriag...

18/05/2026

𝗚𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗲... 𝗶𝗻 𝟴𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀!

Last weekend, a significant milestone was reached in the Dinas Redevelopment. For the first time in 80 years, a short train has been on the East side of the station building at Dinas.

Although resident shunter Bill is quite different to the motive power of WHR past, the sight of a loco the other side of the station building to the present running line hasn't been seen since the original Welsh Highland Railway was lifted.

If you'd like to help make projects similar to the Dinas Redevelopment happen, you can find out more about supporting the Society here: https://whrsoc.org.uk/support-us/

📸 Thank you to Ian Hartill for the update and photos

08/05/2026

𝗧𝗦𝗥 𝗚𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹!

As shared with members in TSR130, The Snowdon Ranger has moved online to make access more convenient and timely for members whilst also rationalising the growing and considerable printing and postage running costs faced by the Society. All members who have provided a contact email will have now received a unique link to access the magazine - make sure to check it out!

However we appreciate that a digital format doesn't work for all, and those who have expressed a wish to continue receiving the printed format of TSR should begin to receive these in the post in the coming days. If you have any queries regarding this, or would like to request a paper format, please contact Membership Secretary Richard Watson at [email protected].

03/05/2026

𝗪𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽! 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟵𝟬 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

Our appeal for 2026 is in support of Carriage 2090. One of the first carriages built for the re-born Welsh Highland Railway, 2090 has been an invaluable part of the fleet for nearly 30 years but extensive use and the full effect of the Welsh weather has taken its toll and the vehicle is now in desperate need of overhaul: the interior is below current standards; the body is full of holes in the woodwork; and there are all the issues found in the other Winsons to be dealt with.

Carriage 2090 is in daily use on WHR trains providing essential additional toilet and brake van facilities for journeys lasting up to two-and-a-half hours. Therefore we need to ensure we have the funds in place to support the estimated £100,000 cost of the overhaul and have the carriage back in traffic as soon as possible, with a slot currently set aside for it to enter the works towards the end of 2026. This will see the carriage fit and ready to carry out another 30 years service.
Can you help us keep this vital carriage in traffic? All donations are gratefully received:
- By PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=C4HDCU5AUWVNC
- By Bank Transfer: Account number: 60997145 Sort Code: 20-35-47 Reference: ‘2090 Appeal’
- By Cheque: Payable to Cymdeithas Rheilffordd Eryri and sent to Richard Watson, Laurel Cottage, Dereham Road, Colkirk, Fakenham. NR21 7NH

26/03/2026

𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿: 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄! 🚨

If you haven’t had the chance to submit your renewal yet, please do so now to avoid your membership lapsing and continue enjoying all the Society’s benefits including access to our digital magazine, members' only events, and free travel on the railway.

Renewing takes less than five minutes through our new membership system here:
https://crhe.hops.org.uk/membership

If you have any questions, please get in touch with the membership team.

06/03/2026

⚠️ 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿: 𝗧𝗦𝗥 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲

As reported in previous issues of TSR, production (printing, packing and postage) of the magazine is the single largest cost incurred by the Society. In 2025, the cost of TSR had grown to 75% of our running costs and was absorbing 35% of our annual subscription income which could otherwise be spent supporting the railway.

Existing members, with effect from TSR132 (May 2026) will receive emails notifying of publication online of a new TSR, with a link to the magazine.

All members will be able to opt to receive printed copies of TSR, but we request that if
doing so you please consider an annual donation to cover the costs of TSR production.
Suggested donations, based on a member’s country of residence and reflecting the actual
cost of printing and distribution are:
• United Kingdom - £13.50 per annum
• Rest of the world - £37.50 per annum

Please get in touch with our Membership Secretary Richard Watson at [email protected] to let us know your email address. If you still wish to receive printed copies of TSR, please get in touch with Richard too.

17/02/2026

𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗹𝘀

Renewal season is here, and our membership team have been busy processing applications — thank you to all those who have already renewed! 🙌

If you haven’t had the chance to submit your renewal yet, please do so by the end of March to avoid your membership lapsing and to continue enjoying all the Society’s benefits.

Renewing takes less than five minutes through our new membership system here:
https://crhe.hops.org.uk/membership

If you have any questions, please get in touch with the membership team.

23/01/2026

𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗩𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘆

We are sorry to announce that Caleb Lovegrove has resigned as a Director of Cymdeithas Rheilffordd Eryri. Caleb simply found there were too many competing demands on his time to allow him to give as much attention to society business as he had hoped.

Caleb was one of the board’s newest recruits and had brought fresh perspectives to our deliberations. We shall miss him but respect his decision and wish him well, we certainly look forward to continuing to see him around the railway.

This means there is a vacancy on the board which we may temporarily fill by co-opting a Director to serve until the AGM in September. If you might be interested in joining the board please get in touch.

Ian King

15/01/2026