Permanent Way Department

The Permanent Way department is responsible for maintaining the track and all civil engineering. Fred Howes was in charge until his retirement, and had been since the 1970s. He was trained by Will Jones, one of the PW lengthmen from the pre-war days who rejoined the Company in the early days of its revival.

In the 1990s a second Permanent Way gang was created at Dinas to construct the WHR. During the construction phases the gang were employed by FR subsidiary companies (including WHRCL), transferring back to the FR Co. permanently when Phase 4 was completed.

Following the departure of Fred Howes in 2010, both Permanent Way gangs became part of the Infrastructure Department as part of a management restructure. The WHR gang is based at Dinas and the FR gang is based at Minffordd Yard. The former is the only Infrastructure Department section that is not based at Minffordd.

Rolling Stock

This list is not exhaustive and only includes the main vehicles used by the Permanent Way gangs. Other vehicles are often commandeered as required. See also the Wagons

FR Section

Vehicles based on the FR normally carry a distinct livery of grey with a yellow band.. These include:

• Harlech Castle
• Moel Hebog
• Carriage 1111
• Van 51
• FR Tool Vans
• Van 58
• MoD flat waggons
• RAF Waggons
• Locoal bogie waggons

WHR Section

WHR vehicles carry a variety of liveries. Most wagons carry South African Railways livery & Upnor Castle carries its historical FR livery.

• Upnor Castle
• Castell Caernarfon
• Carriage 1001
• DZ Wagons
• B Wagons
• WHR Tool Van
• Ballast Waggons
• Plasser And Theurer KMX95 CM Tamper
• Matisa A05 Tamper

See also

• General Wikipedia entry
• Fred Howes