News from the Bala Lake Railway
September 2015 Update There is no dispute to the fact that the success of the August Bank Holiday Gala has had an ongoing effect on the railway. September passenger numbers were up by 10% on September last year, and the station café is enjoying even better figures, thus the Bala…
August 2015 Update August may mean holidays and relaxation for a large percentage of the population, but not for staff and volunteers at the Bala Lake Railway. Apart from the dedicated regime of ongoing maintenance, both on motive power and track needs, the return of Holy War’s boiler was eagerly…
July 2015 Update On the basis of ‘onwards and upwards’, the year to date has been very positive, and passenger numbers are up by 11% to the end of July. Even inclement weather (we prefer to call it ‘liquid sunshine’) fails to dampen the spirit of adventure, and a recent…
June 2015 Update We are half way through the year. So far, it has been really positive, and it is getting better. While group passenger traffic is actually down a little on the first six months of last year, the overall passenger figures are up by 14%, and the income…
May 2015 Update After all the excitement that took place in April surrounding Winifred and her triumphant return to service, it might be thought that May would be a quiet month. Not a bit of it! The railway has been breaking records again, and we are proud to announce that…
April 2015 Update The season has started, and what a start. David Jones, the BLR General Manager, writes: The railway re-opened on the 31st of March, in time for the Easter holidays, after a hectic period getting everything – track, engines, carriages, shop, café – through their winter maintenance and ready…
March 2015 Update As this is read, scheduled services will have started on the railway, and the running schedule is shown on the website. In the meantime, the numerous restoration projects are progressing with the onset of more daylight and (hopefully) better weather. 18th March dawned as a bright and…
February 2015 Update If one photograph can speak volumes, it is this one of Winifred blowing her whistle for the first time in 50 years. In spite of the inauspicious weather, it was a memorable moment for all present, particularly Chief Engineer, Rob Houghton, and owner, Julian Birley. February was…
January 2015 Update The first month of a new year could be presumed to be a quiet time for some, but as you will read, there is much happening behind the scenes on the BLR, even if there are no scheduled trains running. Apart from the Wednesday Gang’s activities, sometimes…
December 2014 Update Many a website might use the December page for reflection, but there is always so much happening behind the scenes at the Bala Lake Railway. Locomotives The workshop is always a busy place, with preparations for the locomotive fleet boiler inspections, plus close checking that the carriage…
