Llangollen Railway, 1960s Weekend: Saturday 31st July & Sunday 1st August

Hi Folks,

We're holding a 1960's weekend at the Llangollen Railway this summer, the first time we've tried to host an event with this theme. We are wanting to recreate as many sights and sounds of the era as we can - as well as running trains on the railway that are representative of the period - a mixture of steam, diesel and railcars.

There will be a small music concert at Llangollen, a real ale bar, a vintage 'rail replacement' bus service and an intensive timetable of atmospheric trains working throughout the day and evening.

We would welcome any owners of 1960s vintage cars, bikes, vans, buses, lorries, folk who like to dress up in 60s gear and any trade stands that sell 60s memorabilia or clothes. We have arranged a field for folk to display 1960s vehicles at Glyndyfrdwy. Llangollen station does not have its own car park, but we have some limited spaces on which we would like to display some prime examples of 60s classic cars to add to the atmosphere.

We are pleased to be able to offer two complimentary return tickets for use on our trains for every classic car owner who displays a 60s vehicle and one ticket for everyone who displays a motorbike (pre-registration required). Trade stand pitches are also available at favourable rates to those with 60s items to sell.

More information will be displayed soon at http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/ and more can be found out about our diesel fleet at www.llangollen-diesels.co.uk. I will also post more here as information becomes available.

Please feel free to drop me a PM if you want further details or have a vehicle that you would like to exhibit.

Far out Man!

Tez Pickthall
Event Organiser

 

Plans are coming along nicely for this event! Music line up for Saturday evening's 'Llanstock' should be announced soon and feature two live bands and a Radio Caroline style pirate DJ (any budding Tony Blackburn's out there?). There will be a freight working, which will hopefully be a lengthy parcels train - what would Folk like to see hauling it - steam, diesel or even both?

Unfortunately, the transport minister informs us that in an attempt to cut costs on the Dee Valley Branch, a rail replacement bus will have to operate as part of the timetable. I wouldn't worry though, they'll never close this line down - it's too important, just like that superb mainline they have down South that goes to Evercreech Junction.....

We hope to be unveiling EE Type 3 Number 6940 in that new fangled BR Corporate Blue (but think it will never catch on).

The Warrington branch of the Hillman Imp Club should be bringing some classic motors to show, although they sadly won't be arriving on flat wagons from the Rootes Group plant at Lingwood, hauled by an EE Type 4.

Dig out your Harringtons, Kaftans and get ready for piece, love and trains in the Dee Valley!

 

Advert here.....

 

Will these atmospheric trains we're running be using Brunel's system ?

Bob.

 

Nah, bloody rats have eaten the leather seals again!

 

Yes, bring back the 1960s. In those days seals were real animals. Flesh and blood. Not made out of leather like today. (wink).

I'm keeping an eye on this event. I drive through Llangollen on my frequent mountain hiking visits in Snowdonia, and may well arrange a trip to coincide.

 

I'll be there, apparently I get a Saturday evening with 5643. Could be good fun if the t/t comes out as the guys organising this desire.

 

Realise the gala's still two months off, but when the info's available it would be good to know the locos in the steam/diesel mix?

 

Locos and unit planned (subject to availability etc) are as per the advert - 44806, 80072, 5643, D5310, 37240 and Class 109. Draft working timetable is for a pairing of the 37 and Black 5 then Standard 4 tank and 26.

Cheers

Tez

 

Of interest to all lovers of our English Electric 3 37240, headcode windows are being returned to her noses this morning, as part of her overhaul back into 1960's condition. She is then booked into the Railway's workshops in the next couple of weeks to attend to the remaining corrosion on the bodywork. It will then be all hands to sanders and paintbrushes to put her in pre-TOPS BR blue as '6940'. She was run up yesterday, took power and moved without any concerns. It is hoped that the loco will be unveiled and working trains at the 1960s weekend.

 

From Beach Boys to Beeching!

Come and enjoy a mixture of steam and diesel at the Railways's first 1960s Event. Visitors are encouraged to help recreate the decade of mini cars and mini skirts. Choose your style of Mod/Rocker/Hippy. Discounts to those who do dress up.

-Busy timetable with 44806, 5643, 80072 joined by D5310, 109 Wickham and 6940 debut in BR Blue. Also there is to be a replacement bus service utilising one of the St Helens Musuem's fleet.

-Variety of single headed and double-headed combinations, including Diesel/Steam combinations.

-Mixture of freight and Passenger services, including a long parcels train.

-Vintage Vehicle display at Glyndyfrdwy station.

-60s inspired menu at Carrog Tea Rooms.

-Real Ale available at Llangollen stn and on some trains.

-Llanstock Music Fest on Llangollen station.
Featuring evening performances by local band "The Doktors", local singer/songwriter "Matt Nicholls" (http://www.myspace.com/mattnichollsacoustic) and Rhyl-based 60's tribute band "Cavern" (http://www.facebook.com/cavernsixtiestributeband) plus a Radio Caroline style pirate DJ.

Free entry to those with a LR60s event ticket, otherwise £5 station entry.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=156879192806&index=1

-Also Elvis impersonation competition and much more.


All subject to availability.

 

A bit of gen on 'Llanstock', our weekend music festival as part of the event. It's more like The Beatles to Beeching now!

Beer festival on both days. Entry to station and concert is £5 (including a beer glass while stocks last). Ticket holders can enter for free, with the £5 refundable on ticket purchase.

Saturday:
7pm: Harry Barber and the Doktors band performing, real ale bar open and BBQ. Trains run until 10pm with DMU running a late working back to Carrog for any campers.

Sunday:
12-2pm: Recorded original Radio Caroline radio shows featuring the legendary Tony Blackburn and including the original adverts courtesy of Cavern. Display of original 1960's guitars.
12-3pm. Cavern take a ticket to ride. Cavern are a four piece band in the classic Sixties style (http://www.facebook.com/cavernsixtiestributeband), performing hits from the famous Beat groups. The band will travel on an LR service train in Beatles-style dress and busk in the guards van, recreating scenes from the "Ticket to Ride" Beatles film.
2-4pm: Matt Nicholls (http://www.myspace.com/mattnichollsacoustic). Matt is a talented local singer-songwriter playing acoustic guitar and mouth organ. He will be recreating the sounds of Bob Dylan and other acoustic artists of the 60's.
5-7pm: Cavern play "Ticket to Ride" finale concert, two 45 minute sets.

Entrants to our vehicle rally are coming in nicely, we hope for at least 30 vehicles. We also have 3 60's buses expected. The refurbishment of Class 37 D6940 is also on schedule and the loco will be in very early BR Blue condition for the event, complete with headcodes and buffer beam skirts. Timetable will be published soon. Keep an eye on either our diesel group or the Railway's website for more information - at the latter you can book online.

 

Looking good Tez!
It will be nice to book of 80072 at 5pm, grab a bag of chips and head to "Llanstock" to groove to some 60s hits!
Looking to be a superb event, might even have to curtail Berwyn Station duties abit early on the Sunday to see the Beatles tribute band at Llan!

 

The rly have put a leaflet for Llanstock on the website;
http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/Llanstock Ammended SM 150710.pdf

 

Timetables now available to download here: http://www.llangollen-diesels.org.uk/?page_id=679

Cheers

 

Are those 4/5 coach trains and is the saloon included ?

 

I was thinking of going on the Saturday but...

10.00 ex-Llangollen 5643 Set F
13.00 ex-Llangollen 5643 Set F
16.00 ex-Llangollen 5643 Set F

Set F Demonstration Freight NO PASSENGERS

Why do some railways insist on using one loco purely on freight trains all day? Surely it would give more variety for both the lineside photographer and the fare-paying passenger to swap locos around a bit?

 

Because thats just how it worked out when i wrote the timetable.

 

There's no insistence here Malc, just operational constraints. There are 3 different steam locomotives, two diesels and one DMU to ride behind and photograph. The freight is also worked by D5310 on its last run back from Carrog on Saturday - quite possiibly the first time a Class 26 has hauled a freight train in Wales (I could stand corrected here!) and certainly the first time D5310 has worked a public freight at Llangollen. You can also see 80072 doubled headed with classes 26 and 37 and a 5MT doubled headed with a 37, all in appropriate liveries and largely matched with appropriately liveried stock.

If that's not variety then I don't know what is!

Whilst locos have to largely stay with the same sets for operational reasons, passengers are obviously welcome to change between trains for as much variation in traction as they like.

 

So 5643 runs both days with no paying passengers and earns the gala/railway........nothing..... and costs steaming fees and coal about £1400

I see the logic

Very well thought out