TA SOLDIERS MAKE TRACKS IN SNOWDONIA

TERRITORIAL Army soldiers have been helping to ‘bridge the gap’ between two of the most historic and impressive railways in the country.

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The Ffestiniog Railway: unique steam-hauled, narrow-gauge trains wind through the Snowdonia National Park

Winding its way through the dramatic scenery of Snowdonia, the Welsh Highland Railway, operated by the Ffestiniog Railway Company, currently has a 12mile gap in the line between Caernarfon and Porthmadog.

A project to restore the line, now into its fourth and finale stage, will link the track with the Company’s sister line the world-famous Ffestiniog Railway, creating a 40mile link between the villages which run along the slopes of Snowdonia and the stunning mountains at Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Thirty soldiers from the specialist TA 79 Squadron, Royal Logistics Corps, which recruits civilian railway workers, have been working on the gap in the line at the Aberglaslyn Pass for two weeks to give the project a much needed boost.

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End of the line: Specialist TA squadron gets to work at the Aberglaslyn Pass

Using their expertise and manpower, the soldiers have been positioning bed stones and laying track at an average rate of 300metres every two days.  The project largely relies on volunteers , so the dedicated Army team is able to make a huge difference.  The soldiers are hoping to build a ‘golden mile’ of track in their time on the project.

Both lines run narrow-gauge steam engines which attract large numbers of train enthusiasts every year.  In addition to the soldiers working on extending the line, a small group of engineers, part of the 275 Railway Troop (v), has been helping to repair the old steam engines.

These engineers, four from the TA Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) and two regular army soldiers, of 17 Port Maritime, REME Workshops, are sharing their expertise and skills in the engine sheds.  Their job has involved completely rebuilding a steam engine boiler and repairing a 1955 Enfield diesel, two-piston, shunt engine.

The Ffestiniog Railway Co has an historic collection of carriages and steam locomotives, some original carriages date back to 1860s.  Keeping these vintage trains in working order and out on the tracks is a big part of the railway’s success.

The project to ‘bridge the gap’ is expected to be completed by Easter 2009.

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