Welshpool and Llanfair 2016 timetable

The provisional 2016 timetable is up on the website and it looks far more interesting than in previous years. As well ass the usual September gala, there is a June event as well as a diesel day in September. In addition, the peak timetable has 6 departures including early and late diesel hauled trains.

http://www.wllr.org.uk/sites/defaul...ailway Provisional Calendar and Timetable.pdf

 

Is the Welshpool and Llanfair a good line? How does it compare to other Narrow gauge lines in Wales?

 

The WLLR is rather more interesting to travel on than most of the Welsh lines with a combination of steep gradients,pleasant scenery and best of all most the coaches have open end balconies. Think more of a country branch line than a traditional slate railway. Very friendly staff too!

 

It's my favourite narrow gauge line. Standing on the balcony of one of the carriages with the smokebox of the hard working loco barely feet away is an experience not to be missed. It also portrays a typical light railway atmosphere with halts in the middle of nowhere and the line following the undulations of the land.

If you haven't been I would thoroughly recommend a visit.

 

And also has the two original locos and replicas of the original coaches. Cracking little railway. Just a pity they no longer have the town section at Welshpool.


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Freindly staff (who will show you around the sheds if you ask nicely and they are not to busy). Lovely scenery, interesting stock and well looked after track. Plus if you are from England not to far over the border unlike some. I did my first visit this year just before the SVR Autumn Gala and it was around an hour from Bridgnorth.

I will be back.

 

The concept behind the diesel-hauled trains is to provide a much earlier departure from Welshpool (9.45, almost 90 minutes earlier), and a later last return which allows those wanting to do two things in one day, principally visit us and Powis Castle, to achieve this. The diesel haulage will only be one way, so the first morning train to Welshpool will be steam as will be the last to Llanfair, the return to Welshpool being diesel where the set will be stabled overnight for the next day's early train. Hope that makes sense!

We're planning a number of changes for 2016 and a number of special events. The June Country Railway Weekend will be aimed at recreating the W&LLR in the 1920s with demonstration freight movements and trans-shipment, and steam-powered road vehicles. It's also worth pointing out that the five weekends of Vintage Trains, which have long been part of the timetable, will in future be mixed workings, combining the Pickering carriages and our heritage freight stock with shunting at either end of the trip.

Finally with regard to the Gala, this will be a three-day event in 2016, 2nd-4th September, and we are planning a number of attractions including a visiting locomotive, though I can't yet reveal its identity!

Andrew C (in W&LLR press officer mode...).

 

Ooo, sounds interesting.


...usually the Coed Y Dinas/Monty Vintage Club's gathering on the last Sunday in June (although the steam section there can be 'variable' in size Lol), also Kelsall - although I don't think the usual local suspects go there.

 

With it being the same weekend as the Llangollen Autumn Gala this year, it look likely I will be in Wales in early September.

 

I think the early and late diesel hauled trains are a good idea, it will be interesting to see how they work out. I also like the idea of the cream tea train using the SLR carriages, I haven't ridden in these since they were refurbished so I'm looking forward to travelling on these.

 

It's my favourite narrow gauge line. First visited as a nipper when Bagnall Monarch hauled us, and kept going back ever since - lovely staff and the rolling stock is a bonus too. The experience of riding on a balcony coach is not to be missed as a loco gets into its stride on the steep gradients. I'll be back this year.

 

Hi there , could anyone please tell me why the " Pickering Coaches " are so called . I know Boston Lodge built them to an original design , and very wonderful they look too . Not had the pleasure of travelling on one yet as the W&L seen to keep them tucked up out of the way and only come out on special occasions .

Paul. K

 

Have you tried typing "Welshpool pickering coaches" into Google??

 

Not yet but soon to .

 

Paul - R&Y Pickering of Glasgow (Wishaw) built some fine coaches for standard and narrow gauge railways - IMHO the W&L vehicles were the finest.

The attached gives a flavour of Pickerings work -
http://www.hfstephens-museum.org.uk/rolling-stock/pickering-steam-rail-motor

Yours Paul

 

Hi Devonbelle , many thanks for that . I've always admired the W&L's Pickering stock but thought that was down to Boston Lodge's handiwork . I live on the I.OM. now and the Steam Railway here have some fine rolling stock some dating back to the 19th century . I will now try and find out more .
Cheers
Paul .

 

IIRC the W&L have special "heritage train days" about once a month when they bring out the Pickering coaches, with Countess in matching livery at the head.

 

There's also the Welsh Highland Super Gala with its Garratt fleet the following weekend so may be worth a week's holiday touring the other Welsh lines (especially the narrow gauge ones).

 

Hi, just seen this. You are talking about our Vintage Trains - this year they run on five weekends, the first being 14th-15th May. We've made some changes this year - while Countess and the Pickerings are still part of the line-up, the trains will now be mixed, also including our heritage freight stock and requiring complex shunting moves at each terminus.
Also, there will be two return trips each day, not one, which will enable those who start their journey at Welshpool to travel both ways in the vintage train.
Full details including the operating days and times, are on the website at www.wllr.org.uk. Hope this helps!

 

Will be returning home from a few days firing at Bala on the 14th - tempting to have a ride before the long motorcycle ride back to Kent.