Planning Permission Granted

Planning Permission was granted on 17th March for the long-awaited Pont Croesor Extension. The permission relates to detail, but was mandatory before any substantial work could start. However the old trackbed has been cleared of gorse, rubbish and overhanging trees, which will allow an immediate start on the main engineering work. Construction will start in March and will continue throughout the summer. The proposed extension is just short of two miles in length and will be opened in two stages. This will take the Porthmadog end of the Welsh Highland from its existing terminus at Pen y Mount, across the Traeth Mawr (Large Sands), to the delightful river crossing of Pont Croesor.

The work is being undertaken entirely by volunteers from Porthmadog's Welsh Highland Railway Company, who have been running heritage trains to Pen y Mount since 1981. Funds for this extension have to be provided from the company's own resources. Under an arrangement with the Ffestiniog Railway the company has agreed not to compete for grant aid with the reconstruction work at the Caernarfon end. The company is therefore appealing for help with this exciting project. Donations should be sent to John Kerr, Welsh Highland Railway Ltd, Tremadog Road, Porthmadog, Gwynedd, LL49 9DY, who will also be pleased to send full details of the work.

Welsh Highland Chairman, David Allan, said, "this is an historic occasion for the company. It is a just reward for our loyal and enthusiastic volunteers, who have struggled for over twenty years to achieve this result. This is but the start - we are determined to play our full part in the construction, operating and maintenance of the Welsh Highland as well as providing a positive contribution to the whole awe-inspiring scheme".

The track is being laid on the historical Creasy embankment, the precursor of Madock's Cob. Largely constructed of sand, the Creasy embankment was designed as a sea defence, preceding the Cob by some 70 years. Latterly, it carried the Croesor Tramway (1861), before becoming the route of the Welsh Highland Railway in 1923.

The Welsh Highland Railway is now being rebuilt from both ends. By agreement with the Ffestiniog the company plans to run its historical Welsh Highland locomotives and carriages over the whole system, when complete.