Llangollen "Croes Newydd" Gala - April 4/5/6

Yes a big problem for today - it took me 25 minutes to get from Glyndyfrdwy to Carrog and David Willcock was 4 cars in front of me before he decided to turn round and head back "down the valley". The good news is that the farmer at Garth Y Dwr (the farm at the end of the straight heading to Carrog) returned today and is happy to allow access for a nominal fee of £3:00 per head; he will probably put a notice and honesty box on his gate for the weekend.

 

It's quicker by rail !

Bob.

 

Parked the car at Berwyn and used the train today. Really nice atmosphere, and the trains looked well. Operations were good, how the morning's delay was pulled back to right time by lunch time too. And of course, the debut of GWR 450 in the works, if you're visiting over the weekend, do go for a look at her and support the lads behind the project please.

 

I can't complain about the roadworks, I was on a geography field trip and we got caught in them, was excellent! Saw a couple of trains, looked to be running well and nice carriages as well. Wish I could make it properly, what times do trains run to in the evening? Might be able to pop in just for a look if that is allowed without buying a ticket?
Thanks

 

I had a cracking day in the Dee Valley today. Nice mix of locos and stock fitting the theme and the event brochure sets the context well. I was told that 5322 actually ran in the Valley in the old days, she looked and sounded great. Typical Dee Valley weather - sunshine and showers; and some good ales in the Thomson Buffet. Nice to see 5199 and 6430 coming along in the shed as the home fleet is a bit thin at the moment. 5199 may be back in time for the autumn gala in black livery and 6430 later on this year - fingers crossed.

The trains were not very full today, someone said there's a horse race going on in Merseyside so maybe more people will turn up tomorrow. If you're thinking of going, stop thinking and get going!

 

Cracking little gala! My shots now online at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frank47524/sets/72157643473763025/

 

Brilliant gala, the weather was generally dry Saturday and the sun even came out in the afternoon! There seemed to be a lot going on and a lot of variety even though there were just four engines out, goes to show you don't need masses of locomotives to have a good gala.

The goods train I particularly liked, not very often you just see two wagons and a brake van, behind 1638 it just looked like a genuine throwback to the late 50's.

A special mention about the driver on 3802... we need more men like him in preservation... those that aren't scared of the regulator! Had a great time behind 3802 on the 1215 Llangollen-Carrog service, the locomotive barking all the way up the Dee Valley! Superb! The afternoon trip with 3802 sounded great going away from Deeside, into second valve for a good amount of time, shame I was on the train going the other way!

Photos & Video to follow!

 

The sub rake looked pretty full on all trips to me (I know it doesn't take much but still) and there were plenty about the Mk1s, wasn't a quiet day for sure.

 

My video, filmed on the Saturday:

 

I doubt the world (or LR volunteers) could cope with a second Graham Hoyland!

 

what a disapointment !
Sunday and a 90 mile each way journey to catch the smell of steam.
I arrived in time to catch the BR Std Tank - 80096 taking to the main line for a later morning train and then carried on towards Carrog to photograph the first service leaving there, GWR Pannier Tank 1638 and then the first service from Llangollen and then travel back along the line.
At this point, things went wrong for me when the clouds opened and the expected double header wasnt. Just GWR Goods 28XX - 3802 captured running through rainbows heading away towards Carrog.
At Carrog, I found out that guest engine - GWR mogel 5322 had failed and would not run, also, no trip further along the new stretch of line towards Corwen and that the freight was also cancelled.
A lovely scenic journey along the line back to Llangollen followed with a quick tour along the sheds before I returned.
Did things get worse - Well Yes - The ales in the real ale bar were not that exciting either.
In my opinion , not really real ales and I settled for a bottle of local Banks beer which was OK .

At this point, I had had enough and decided to return home at 12.30 disappointed

More of a extended timetable today than a Gala.

One good point - I now qualify for Senior tickets!

John

ps - no problems with the road works

 

John - I think we may have met each other this morning on the bridge at Carrog? Shame to hear about 5322 failing and the subsequent knock on effects.

We spent the weekend camping in the station campsite at Carrog - so while cooking breakfast managed to run up to the bridge and see 1638 come into the station with the suburban coaches. What a perfect little combination!

Managed to get on the next service, 5322 and 3802 top and tailing to Corwen, and then double heading back to Llangollen.


I thought the Thompson buffet coach was particularly nice, this and the suburbans were a nice change to the usual MK1s


Also got behind the standard 4 later in the day for the shed tour, the TVR tank was looking really good, and finished up with 2 evening trips on the Real Ale Train behind 5322 - this loco and coaches at Carrog in the dusk was a great sight to behold, and watching it disappear into the dark before heading to the pub was nice.


Prairies in the shed


More progress on the Grange


The Patriot middle cylinder


6430 and the TVR tank




Foxcote Manor is due to be outshopped in black


Demonstrating how the front bogie was removed for the Grange


5322 running round the RAT


I rather liked this one


and a small .gif of 5322 on the return to Llangollen



Have to echo the sentiments above - both 5322 and 3802 sounded awesome climbing up the valley!

 

A great gala, certainly one which wasn't over the top and very true to its own pre-heritage rootings. The attendance on Friday seemed well, considering it was a working day and not a bank holiday. Just ashame we can't start organising the sun! Well done to Llangollen, and I'll be interested to hear what their Autumn Gala has in store...

All my photographs from the day are up here on my website : 'Llangollen Railway Spring Steam Gala "Croes Newydd"' , but here's a few to tempt you?

 

It was very disapointing for everyone, that the star of the show had failed with leaking tubes. But these thigs happen. It is a very old lady at the end of the day. This had a knock on effect, leaving only 3 engines, so to keep a regular service running, and not have 2 locos tied up doing a run up the extension, with 2 hour gaps in the timetable at the other end of the line.

If everything was to the original plan when the gala was being organised, 7822 would have been running and 44806 would still be on the line, so that would have given you a gala timetable. 3 locos and 3 sets of stock cant really do that can it? unless you have any advice on how.

There were 4 barrels of real ale on the train on Friday and Saturday, but these proved rather popular on the saturday evening runs. The bar was well stocked with local Stonehouse Brewery bottled ale, as with every other gala we've run.

 

Out of curiosity, as I've never organised such an event before, if you were to have a diesel loco on standby in case of steam loco failure, would you need to pay a 'steaming' fee (or equivalent of steaming fee for diesels) if it's not used?

 

Depends on the terms of condition within the operating contract. But if it is not used then more than likely no.
What amount is paid will also vary. Some lines/groups agree on a fee per number of days operated, others per number of miles operated.
Varies between different societies.