Llangollen Railway

That's not correct.
Owned by a longstanding supporter of LR who was instrumental in saving the station and returning it to its current condition.

 

Thanks .I stand corrected.

 

https://llangollen-railway.co.uk/carrog-station/ implies that the station functions as part of the operating railway. How does that square with it being sold to a new owner?

 

Presumably part of the building is leased from the current owner?

 

Ticket hall, tearoom and most of platform 1 are leased from the current owner. LR Trust hope that whoever buys it will continue to allow them to lease these areas.

Unless someone wants to give them £400k to buy it all outright (with a little extra to refurb)?

If only money was no object...

 

Surely when the extension to Corwen opens the railway's interest in operating a tea room at what will no longer be a terminus will greatly reduce. Maybe some sort of consortium purchase and use as a couple of holiday or time share lets might be a way forward?

 

It is sad to see how the railway has fallen from a premier line and should act as a strong lesson to all other lines.

Hopefully the buyer will support the railway, if they are not it could further impact the railway

 

Llangollen Railway, Spring Running Update.

Railcar: 18-19 March, 1-2, 6, 11-14, 21-23 & 28 April. Timetable A. Class 104, 108 or 109.
Steam: 25-26 March, 15-16 April. Timetable A. Austerity 68067.
Diesel: 29-30 April. Timetable A. Class 31 No 31271.

All steam-hauled trains should be hauled by Austerity 68067 (former Bold Colliery resident "Robert" if you're as old as me!). Diesel-hauled trains will be worked by A1A Locomotives Limited Class 31 No 31271 and DMU from Classes 104, 108 or 109 (TBC).

Friday 7, 8 & 9 of April: Good Friday to Easter Sunday,
Timetable B. Steam 68067 works the 3 trip T1, T3 & T5 trains
Diesel Class 31 31271 works T2 & T4 trips

Monday 10th April (Easter Monday):
Timetable B. 68067 works the 3 trip T1, T3 & T5 trains
Railcar works the T2 & T4 trips

29 & 30 of April:
Table B, 31271 will work the T1, T3 & T5 trips on the LR timetable, DMU works T2 & T4 (Class 104, 108 or 109 currently available I believe).

Timetable and advanced booking available at: https://llangollen-railway.co.uk/timetable/

As has been touched on above, trains are currently running to Carrog, with Corwen's superb new station due to formally open on June 1st. Some public trains may run in advance of this and all dates are subject to progress on the remaining construction, inspection and staff familiarisation tasks. The station canopy was installed over January and February and the platform building is approaching completion. The station is a stunning achievement from a small team of 60-something volunteers. Working to Corwen will be under OTW staff, with a ground frame (recently installed) for running round. Signalling to allow trains to pass is a longer term goal. The former Weston Rhyn signalbox is in place and looking great. It is being fitted out internally and a suitable lever frame has been sourced.

The sale of Carrog station house is most unfortunate, both to the Railway and her long-term owners, who we will all miss very much when they leave. However, the comments above about the railway "falling from a premier line" are a little unfair. With Corwen opening later this year, the footfall at Carrog as an intermediate station will reduce. We sincerely hope the new owner will wish to continue to lease the ticket office and waiting room to the LRT. The rest of the station is Denbighshire County Council property on long-term lease to the LRT. This includes Platform 1 beyond the toilet block, the signal box, all of platform 2 (including the waiting room), the yard and car park. Carrog will still be a beautiful railway location for many years to come.

The LRT's management carefully reviewed the opportunity to purchase Carrog station building and also whether the waiting room and ticket office could be acquired separately from the house, which did not prove possible. We received a lot of support from the current owner and wish them very well with their purchase. With around half a million pounds the likely total spend for acquisition and repairs/improvements to the whole building, it was not felt a suitable use of Trust funds in the current climate. This was also based on experience from having custodianship of Berwyn station house, which we use as a holiday let. There is surprisingly little profit to be made from renting out an old structure and trying to meet the expectations of holiday guests - largely using volunteer labour for building work and repairs. The LRT's strategic focus is on finishing Corwen station, renewing worn-out infrastructure (long-overdue), investing in the existing carriage fleet, acquiring more suitable passenger rolling stock and improving passenger facilities at Llangollen station. These are all urgent priorities and also sensible decisions rather than the kind of emotive ones that ultimately led to the Plc's downfall in 2021. If money were no object then of course we would have acquired the house at this wonderful and classic railway location.

If we take classic premier line intermediate stations like Highley and Arley on the SVR - aren't the station houses all private residences though? Genuine question - in my regular visits there they certainly appear to be.

Loco Fleet Update:

Husdwell Clarke 0-6-0ST "Austerity" 68067 (NCB Robert). Staying with us until further notice and working all steam services. With many thanks to her supportive owners. Has proven to be an excellent little loco for our shorter trains.

GWR 57XX Pannier 7754. Boiler testing completed before Christmas. Boiler and tanks back on overhauled frames. 7754 is now in the final stages of reassembly, with backhead pipework being fabricated and fitted (some of original piping has unfortunately gone missing). It is hoped to have 7754 back in traffic for the main 2023 season and opening of Corwen station. What livery will she carry? You'll have to wait and see, but my money is on BR blue with yellow ends.

GWR 28xx 3802. Reassembly of the pistons and bottom end continues to progress steadily. It is hoped to have the loco back in traffic by the main season and hopefully in time for the opening of Corwen.

Kitson 0-6-0ST. "Austin 1". Returned from S&S Midsomer Norton in early 2023. Undergoing some repairs to valves and motion before going out on hire again, hopefully to the team at Peak Rail, for the main 2023 season.

Standard Class 4 80072. A brand new bunker and rear cab has been delivered back to Llangollen (along with the original worn one), along with refurbished tanks. The tubes are about to be removed from the boiler, ready for overhaul work to start once 7754 is complete. The boiler will be done at Llangollen with support of our part-time boilersmiths. The frames and running gear are being stripped where required and cleaned ready for dispatch to LMS Loughborough for overhaul later this year. A small but dedicated team of supporters continue to work on 80072 every weekend. The Group has sufficient funds to progress the overhaul but are looking to raise funds to fabricate a new ash pan. Their "Pony for a Pan" appeal has already received great support with 51/100 £25 target donations already received. If you would like to donate please contact Paul Bailey at “paulbaileywincham@yahoo.co.uk".

Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST No 52 "68030". Boiler off site for overhaul, frames and cab are stored pending further discussion with the owner about progressing the overhaul once the boiler is complete

Prairie 5532. Boiler due to be dispatched to Tyseley later this month for overhaul. The owning group are holding their AGM on 18th March and will be able to provide an outline schedule for completion of this never-steamed-in-preservation loco, however it is expected to be around 2-3 years.

Class 26 5310/26010 has been withdrawn from traffic with cylinder head coolant leaks after a busy couple of years. Work has already started on stripping the power unit for replacement of soft iron rings, head and liner seals. The aim is for this work to be complete for the summer but will depend on our limited resources. If any of the Sulzer massive out there fancy a working holiday to help us blitz getting the liners out, re-sealed and back in, you will be made very welcome!

Class 31 31271. Stored undercover for the winter. Due for annual exam imminently and scheduled to operate all April diesel services. 271 will have been with us for 4 years in June and has been a very welcome member of the fleet. We are very grateful to her owners A1A Locomotives Ltd for all their continued support.

Class 47 1566/47449 will hopefully be in use later in the spring, subject to post winter exam.

Class 03 03162 is now undercover in Llangollen MPD and work has begun on stripping the bottom end ready for lifting to allow tyre turning and repairs to the final drive. It's a longer-term project and there's plenty of other work to do on the bodywork etc, but it's great to see this great survivor's future secure with us and her finally receiving some TLC.

Class 08195. Remains available for shunting, works trains, driver for a fiver and Berwyn shuttle trains following replacement of drive belts.

YE 0-4-0 "Pilkington". Back on duty as Llan MPD shunter following repairs to the water pump.

Hunslet 0-4-0 Diesel Mechanical Shunter No.2145 built 1940
Arrived from the Tanat Valley Railway on 20th February. This interesting ex-WD loco is owned by a longstanding LR volunteer and will be restored to working order by the Railway’s Suburban Group for shunting duties at our Pentrefelin Carriage Works. Built for the Royal Ordnance Factory at Newport, which was taken over by Standard Telephones & Cables when the site was decommissioned at the end of the war. 2145 spent its working life at the site until rail operations ceased in 1968. The loco entered preservation at the Dean Forest in 1971 and was acquired by her current owners around 9 years ago. The loco was operational in 2017 but now requires some repairs and restoration work before it can be used to shunt carriages and wagons.

 

Yes, and was Hampton Loade which has now been taken on by the station for overnight accommodation.

 

Tez,

What's happened to the other wheelset from 'Austin 1' ?

Bob.

 

If use of Platform 1 outside of the ticket office is not forthcoming from the new owners, how long (roughly, in coach lengths) would the usable remainder of Platform 1 become?

Sent from my moto g(8) power lite using Tapatalk

 

The lease that the railway holds includes the 6 feet from the platform edge over the section in front of the house.

Bob.

 

Not sure, so I'd have a word with Andy M or Tim P if you want an update on it Bob.

 

Tez,

'Austin 1' is an 0-6-0 not an 0-4-0 as quoted in your Spring running update !

Bob.

 

Thanks for that information, it doesn't sound too bad in that case

Sent from my moto g(8) power lite using Tapatalk

 

Oh yeah. Next time, why not just be drop me a line so I can correct it?

 

Just popped up on my YouTube feed. Great to see!

 

Great to see it operational at last.
That river looks close by - hope that doesn't give trouble in the future.