'Along Birkenhead Lines' Steam Gala - Llangollen, 3rd to 5th March

Genuinely struggling to know what to do for the best. I only live 16 miles from Llan but I have a lineside pass at the KWVR and their line-up is equally mouth-watering.

 

Do both! I am.

 

Shame about the clash with KWVR, but it was always going to clash with something. There must be at least 40 railways doing a spring / autumn gala which practically fit within the same 6 weeks!

Both main galas this year have been pushed to the beginning / end of the season a little more to make it easier getting hold of visiting locos. The usual April and September dates were in most railways high days.

 

I probably will.

 

We can now confirm that Black 5 - 45337 will be masquerading as 45292, a true 6C engine in weathered condition and followed up by 44680 the locomotive which returned with the SLS special on the 5th March 1967. Plenty more nostalgia which will be recreated over the weekend to be announced shortly. It's certainly a weekend not to miss!

 

Who can't resist this

 

Just for the record 45292 was an 8H loco for just under four months at the end of 1967, from August to November, which is when the shed closed.
44680 was the last steam loco to work into Birkenhead Woodside on 4th November 1967, when it worked a parcels train.The station closed that evening.

Bob.

 

The 6C shedcode had transferred across to Croes Newydd in 63. Still people know the shed for the code it had the longest. Croes Newydd is best known for 84J, even though it was 89B previously, and 6C after.

 

http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Spring-Gala-PTT-2017-v1-Preview.pdf

Timetable for the event now online.

 

Does anyone know when loco allocations might be announced?

Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk

 

The first one arrived today. Not long to go now.

 

When will the loco roster be ready? Only 5 days to go!

 

I believe the loco allocations will be out this week.

 

On the basis that the gala starts this week that would make sense.
I'll start you off with 80072 on the o9.55 departure from Llangollen on Friday.

Bob.

 

Looking forward to this, attending Fri/Sat

 

It was more to say that loco allocations are going to be released, as opposed to having to wait till you arrive or have to pay extra to find out what's on what.

 

For the pedantic 44680 had a longer wheelbase than 45337, fluted rather than plain coupling rods, longer connecting rod and different cab window frames.

 

Neither did it have South African injectors, a concrete fire arch, superheater header access panels on the smokebox, metric size fasteners and rivets, etc etc,

Sorry could'nt resist that

 

And they say all Great Western engines look the same!

 

Not too much longer to go until the event so time to start showing what can be seen. A number of named trains will be recreated over the weekend, starting on Friday 3rd of March with: The Wrexham, Mold and Connahs Quay Railtour. This train ran on the 29th of April 1967 from Crewe then travelling over a number of routes in North Wales and the Wirral. Hooton on the Chester to Birkenhead route was one stopping place, but more notably was Llangollen Goods Junction. This being the final passenger train to travel down the 'Barmouth Road' as far as Goods, though not being allowed to stop in the station itself at Llangollen. For this portion of the tour 8F - 48697 was in charge of the Maroon / Blue and Grey Rake of Mk1 coaches. This train is being recreated on the 3.10 departure from Llangollen on Friday using 8F - 48624 hauling a maroon rake of coaches, with the Blue and Grey MK1 in the train.

Below 80072 models the 2 headboards and reporting number.