Llangollen Winter Warmer - 2nd and 3rd January 2015

I should imagine the owning group still want it doing. Just a case of waiting for a suitable time when people don't want to throw work, and more importantly money at them!

 

Not sure where the information about the Wickham being used came from. It is currently "out of ticket" and tucked up in Pentrefelin shed for the winter. It is not scheduled to be examined until March, ready for its summer season. Most likely unit will be the Class 104, which has awesome heating fitted - and more important has four engines and a bit of weight to assist with adhesion in slippy conditions!

 

Just an assumption from the working timetable. DMU is labelled as Set W. My mistake.

 

Will the three steam locos be working on both days ?

I'm planning to visit on the Friday if they are, also is the timetable-roster likely to be released to the public at some point ?

 

Yes, the 3 locos will be out both days. I'd have thought a timetable will be put online in due course. Keep an eye on the website.

 

Timetables now available online.

http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/event/winter-warmer-2nd-january-2015/

http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/event/winter-warmer-3rd-january-2015/

 

Friday night booked in The Cambrian, see you onboard the RAT (unless you're crewing the 26 again?).

 

Excellent, thanks !!

 

I've got the firing turn on the Saturday beer train, so will do the Day turn on the 26 on Friday. So will be on the beer train for a change!

 

Looking forward to this, assuming the Dee Valley isn't submerged under snow! Any news on what's making up the Parcels set? I assume it'll involve some Van Fits and maybe a freight brake van but what about a GYV, CCT or those old Fruit Vans?

 

The parcels set appears to be a maroon Mark One full brake, a maroon LMS full brake , an S.R. 4 wheel pmv & SR Queen Mary brake van.
There is quite a bit of ice still about, the snow being on the higher ground.

Bob.

 

Thanks for the update, that sounds an interesting parcels set....

 

Make sure you give the 26 some thrash on the Friday!

 

Will Glyn station bar be open, and is there anything at Llangollen (stands / bar etc) ?

 

Excellent day yesterday, some delays early on but caught up by the end of the day. The parcels set looked excellent and it was great to get down to Corwen. 5199 really is a little pocket rocket and good to have here back. Best run was the first of the day off Llangollen with 3802 and the Class 26 taking turns for power.

Uploading pictures on my website at the moment and hopefully able to share them this evening and will upload video tomorrow when I'm back in England with better internet.

Only annoying thing, and something which I've seen happen to others before, is on the DMU in the evening we were held outside Glyn (heading for Crowen) for a few minutes and then moved forward to being held again this time at the level crossing for a few minutes (not sure of the reason but I'd presume to exchange tokens and get the Llangollen trains token ready to enable to crossing gates to be opened just the once) before finally drawing into the station, making changing trains with no barrow crossing or foot bridge impossible in this instance (which caught me out, normally I'm fine with not having guaranteed connections but it is frustrating when you've been held outside the station for a long period of time). I'd get this if we were running late which we weren't by this time, but there always seems to be trains held outside of stations at Glyn for long periods of time when they could instead be held in the station. Yes this would mean having to open and close the crossing gates twice, but surely passenger experience comes first?

 

Pictures from me online here... http://preservedrailway.weebly.com/llangollen-winter-warmer.html

 

So I wasn't the only one to be prevented from changing trains at Glyn. Did mention it to the gala organiser, who said he'd have words to ensure it was a one off. RA&FC also spoke to the RO after it happened to me, so the railway is aware of it. Would appear more to be an individual's error than a railway protocol. Did result in me only getting 1 disjointed full trip out of my Rover in daylight because of it, which at £25 doesn't make great value-for-money.

However was still a decent event, really liked the addition of the Blood/Custard CK to the subs running with 5199. Fantastic combination that looked the part (needs recreating at 60s weekend). Nice to go to Corwen for the first time, and the Real Ale Train was enjoyable too. Only comment on that though is the lights on the coaches could do with looking at, as 2 out the 5 had no lights whatsoever. Nevertheless another enjoyable visit and shall see you guys later in the year.

 

Having seen the weather forecast on Thursday evening I decided to go on Friday instead of Saturday. Glad I did as it was pouring down most of today.

Had a great time at the railway though.
My photos are here if anybody wants to take a look.
http://evergreen.zenfolio.com/p379701199#h566c31a

My thanks to the staff and volunteers. Well done.