Llangollen Railway Spring Steam Gala 8th, 9th and 10th April

I have now uploaded my video from the Saturday too...nothing like spring, steam and sunshine

[Youtube]D_RbAUbx4jk[/Youtube]

Cheers,
Lewis

 

I have recently got back from three days at this excellent gala; very good indeed. It's interesting that 'alanfrombangor' thought that the railway was busy, because I got completely the opposite impression, with Llangollen pretty empty on Saturday morning and Carrog the same on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons. It'll be interesting to see any visitor numbers when they are published.

Regards

 

Just returned from our Three days at Llangollan, Over all I would say for a None SSS gala things were busy looking at the loading, however from a photographic point we were more despesed than usual, due to the field out of llangollan, and a lot of photographers were attanding more than one gala. Depending on which day you may not seen me & penny, as I found several new High spots around llangollan.

 

DMon't know which gala you were at, but Friday and Saturday were especially busy. Sunday was much quieter, but the trains were still filled quite nicely and not just with enthusiasts. Watching on from the footplate i'd say there were more families visiting for a day out than anything else.

Lovely to see (and hear!) Foxy back in traffic. Shame about 7812 but she did still appear in spirit, and we never know hopefully one day in the future we will see doubleheaded Manors in the Dee Valley again. An enjoyable gala though despite the lack of a visiting engine.

 

Had a very enjoyable Sunday visit to the Gala and thought it was a good mix of Engines.
Thanks also to the many friendly people working on the Railway, that and wonderful scenery makes it all the more enjoyable.

Here are just a few of the pics' I took. =
http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldsteam/sets/72157626344896127/

 

I was at the Llangollen Railway's Spring Steam Gala would you believe and when my videos of the gala are published on YouTube you will see why I drew the conclusion I did. I spent a little time at Llangollen on Friday afternoon and on Saturday morning and the station wasn't actually deserted but it wasn't well populated either. Similarly with Carrog on Sunday afternoon while Glyndyfrdwy seemed to be inhabited mostly with very friendly and helpful volunteers! I was told by some who had enjoyed them that the evening booze train was well patronised!

Personally I had a really excellent weekend, and I do hope that the railway made a substantial profit for the three days, but I do have my fears that it won't.

Regards

 

So you didn't actually travel on the trains?
I was there on the Saturday, travelling. The 11.30 from Llangollen was well filled, as were the other two later trains I was on. Carrog refreshment room was busy when I called in for a pasty, and later for an ice cream. As lil bear says, there were plenty of families on the trains.

 

This wasn't a 6880 SSS event, so the sight of crowded platforms all over the show would not be there. But this doesn't mean it wasn't busy. I note you also went in the afternoon and morning, which is when it would be a little quieter. During the middle of the day it was very busy, especially onboard the trains.

FYI the evening 4coach beer train was well patronised with very few seats left despite it running late due to a signalling fault. Also most of the beer was consumed too which is even more income. Overall the event was seen as a success for both visitors and the railway, so you need fear no longer. It was helped that there was reduced costs due to the unavailability of 7812, but we still got the return of the ever popular 7822.

Congratulations to LR shed staff for finishing her btw, as the guys were still finishing a few bits and pieces early Friday morning!

 

Just posted the first Part of our film from the gala.
[video=youtube;Y9_sO4kSruw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9_sO4kSruw?hd=1[/video]

 

Can i say thanks to everyone who turned up to the gala, and bought a ticket to ride on the trains! As a few people have mentioned above, it was busy. Infact it is the busiest i've seen a gala at Llan for a long while. The fact that all railways are getting together with the HRA to plan when each gala event will be held, so as they don't clash really helps this (well, untill certain places throw in a gala at the last minute!!!!!)

I must say i had a good day firing 3802 (7812!) on friday, and all the trains we hauled / crossed were looking very full. It was a shame that we didn't have a visitor, but i'd say it's an impressive feat that we have a home fleet of 6 locos available (10 if you include the 4 running industrial locos on Llan MPD at the moment)

And i hope everyone liked my North Wales Radio Land Cruise headboard that 'Tinkerbelle' was carrying over the weekend.

Cheers

Iain

 

No, I didn't travel. I don't normally because I prefer to film the railway rather than occupy a seat in a BR Mk 1 TSO. I did, though, buy a senior rover and a book at Llangollen as my contribution to the event. You can see a lot of the loading from the outside and I would estimate that the carriages were, at different times, between one third and one half full, a little disappointing.

Still, I enjoyed it; a good event.

Regards

 

I'm agreeing with what lil Bear & RA & FC have said. The Gala was a huge success, and I was told that the event broke-even at some point on Saturday afternoon. So whatever we made on Sunday was profit.

Despite the fact that we didn't have a visiting engine, and couldn't find 1 at such short notice. It looked as though everyone was enjoying themselves, not just the people who visited to ride the trains, but the volunteers from each department. What also helped was the good weather which brought people over to Llangollen.

It's safe to say that Foxcote Manor is back... And back in style. I've only seen 1 video of the Gala on YouTube, so will have to watch the others in due course. 7822 now takes a rest and will be used on trains over the Easter period.

 

It's very impressive that the railway have managed to build up an operational fleet like that at a time when so many other railways (just off the top of my head, the ELR and CVR both relatively near-by) are struggling for even two operational steamers at any one time. The MPD and management should be congratulated. A visiting engine really isn't needed when you have six of your own!

My photos from the event are on my flickr.

 

"trains were busy (but uncomfortably so)" should have read "trains were busy (but not uncomfortably so)" :redface:

I don't think I'd have enjoyed it any more if 7812 had been present, it was a great day out.

My photos are on flickr now at http://www.flickr.com/photos/alanfrombangor/sets/72157626476554488/

 

I have uploaded two films of the Llangollen Railway's Spring Steam Gala for 2011

Friday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTIaU2t7IOI

Saturday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnwG7WoLa74

A film of Sunday will follow tomorrow. I hope everyone enjoys them!

Regards

 

Great shots Pennysteam, nice locations.
If you were a top of the hill above Berwyn on Sunday then I saw you from the Platform.

 

Only made it up that hill on friday (twice), however I did mention the location to one or two other people I bumped into during the weekend.

 

Thats the kind of feedback we like to see. Glad you enjoyed it, and hopefully we'll see you back for the 60's weekend in July, where there should be one or two surprises, and the September steam gala.

Iain

 

I was up there on Sunday morning after seeing hill walkers on it on Saturday and then discussing it with Ken later that day. It's a really good spot and highly recommended but I imagine it will be better with a bit of cloud around to diffuse the sun! Park the car in the picnic area car park and walk up the footpath. The hill is NT property, so access is OK.

Regards

 

Following on from my last post, my third and last film of this event is now live on YouTube. Locations are the hill above Berwyn, Garthydwr from the opposite side of the river, Glyndyfrdwy and Carrog before the sun finally got to me and I went home.

You can find it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDUSXiVZlLo and I hope everyone enjoys it.

Regards