Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway Autumn Gala 4 - 6 Sept 2026

Event up on their website, timetables with loco/stock allocations. Most trains double headed steam + diesel in line with fire risk (their statement not mine):
https://wllr.org.uk/events/steam-gala/

 

I think it was always advertised as steam and diesel gala

 

Version 3 of the timetable has appeared today with most of the diesel piloting gone, I guess as a result of local authority reducing the fire risks?

 

The Zillertal loco has disappeared from the line up, leaving 3 steam.

 

Trains running around 1h15 late, looks like last train will be diesel and Premier instead of 1877+Premier.

Have decided to abandon it in favour of the bus as otherwise there's a serious risk of missing my train home. (As have many others).
Would probably been sensible to cancel the last run of the Wasp instead for the 'greater good!'

The rumour mill mentioned something about an issue with a token thar meant delays snowballed.

 

1877 responsible for a lineside fire causing quite a bit of the delay so was withdrawn at LLA and replaced with a diesel

 

Apparently, the single line token fell off 18777 as it was leaving Welshpool, but the crew didn’t notice it had gone until we got to Sylfaen, so we then had the wait there for about 30 mins until a pilotman arrived.

 

Bus probably did a round trip to Llanfair in that time!

 

Sounds like a typical gala, we'll see tomorrow, making the long drive down nice and early. Hope things don't run too late, booked a meal on the way home!

 

Gosh that delay you reference escalated from when I left at 1410 from Welshpool.

1st train left 20L from Llanfair this morning the Welshpool station staff advised me when I collected my wristband.

That train arrived under 20 late at Welshpool, but then had to go to length of shunting the wagon and BV to what became the back of the train. We made a little time up to Llanfair after leaving 17L from Welshpool and it was a treat to be on such a special train. It made up further time by reaching Llanfair, so well done.

I then journeyed back on 1235 L C to Welshpool which left 26 late with 1877. The driver made up a few minutes on route then lost some due to other trains, we arrived Welshpool 23 late. I was nervous at one point that I'd not make the 1455 Welshpool Birmingham train as W and L delays were in danger of escalating when I was waiting for the 1235 at Llanfair. Some context to my comments, I worked on main line railways for 40 years, and have managed single lines, so used to dealing with delays.

I enjoyed the day to a large degree and well done to people that went to lengths to make it happen but it was frustrating that opportunities were missed to recover time. It wouldn't be fair to trot them out here but I'll follow up with the railway.

I hope tomorrow goes well for the railway and I'll be back again for my third visit this year soon. So here's pictures from 2 smashing runs with lovely locos. Thank you.

 

Just spent 2 days at the gala, which despite issues, was very enjoyable. Fridays double header to Welshpool was great fun. These are mostly from Friday, which seemed to offer more opportunities to both ride and photo.

 

Well despite yesterday's late running, I still had an enjoyable day. The WLLR really does know how to put on a show. Premier was certainly making its presence felt even when double headed with the diesel. Did also manage to get rides between 822 and 1877 before the latter disgraced itself.
One year, I'll try and do it over two days so I have more time to check out the displays at both ends and Garden Railway show as well as riding trains.
Was good to see the railway nice and busy.

I did comfortably make my last connection home, thanks to the bus driver kindly agreeing to drop everyone who needed back at the main line station before going back to wait for the late running train at Raven Square. It sounds like I might just have made it had I taken the train, but it would have been stressful rather than fun, as it could easily have gone astray and I didn't fancy being stuck in Birmingham!

Obviously, I don't know the full picture, but as an armchair enthusiast I'd have cancelled the run of the Wasp so that the last train could get away as soon as the loco was ready, rather than having to wait for it to clear the section ahead.

One thing I would say is that passenger information was a bit lacking once things started getting delayed. A lot of information was coming from platform end gossip rather than official sources.
For example, the railway posted on Facebook that the bus would be held at Raven Square for the late running train, but only after that train had departed Llanfair and many people had decamped to the bus.
It could really have done with someone going down the platforms at each end with a megaphone giving out service updates.

This seems to be a bit of a common theme on heritage railways, along with an attitude amongst some (but not all) that delays are not a big deal as it's assumed everyone drives there.
Not a rant, but certainly some opportunities for improvement.

Looking forward to next year's event.

 

Thanks for the photos, guys. They look superb together