[steam for ever]

The WHR is currently not that economicals I will grant you that, and that appears to be partly because of the tramway section in Porthmadog and space at Harbour station, which still has only one platform and trains have to reverse in. The WHR would do a lot better if they forgot their differences with the 1964 company and ran into their station opposite the national rail Porthmadog station, which would ease things considerably. Beddgelert shuttle trains from the 1964 company station would be a great boost, and the current parctice of terminating most trains just outside Porthmadog simply cannot last. With a few tactical changes here and there things could get better. For example. Using FR loading gauge stock and a double Fairlie to run through trains from Carnarfon to Blaenau Ffestiniog would cut the Congestion by a lot.
The leek and Manifold was not a network of lines like the FR/WHR/WHHR currently is and was an end to end line. Therefore there would be less operational difficulties.