Car wrecked in Welsh Highland crossing crash

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A WELSH Highland Railway NGG16 articulated Garratt sustained only cosmetic damage when it was involved in a collision with a car on a level crossing at Beddgelert. Yet the car was a write-off, and the driver was said to have been lucky to avoid serious injury.

However, two carriages immediately behind the locomotive sustained damage which will cost several thousand pounds to rectify and the car, a red Ford Puma, was written off.

With more than 100 people on board, No. 138 was heading the 3.40pm service from Porthmadog to Caernarfon on July 5 when it was in collision with the car. There were no injuries.

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If you ignore level crossing signs and collide with an articulated Garratt, you are always guaranteed to come off worst. F&WHR

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch briefly took control of the site and police also attended.

However, the site was quickly released back to Welsh Highland Railway staff once the circumstances where understood and the recovery operation completed.

A statement from the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway said: “The driver was very lucky indeed to have got off so lightly.”

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Arrangements were made for the passengers to complete their journey by road transport.

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