Llangollen Railway 60's Weekend - 27th & 28th July

Our 4th 60's weekend is looking like it will be a bit of a belter, with a better TT and themed on 45 years since the end of Steam and the closure of Lostock Hall.

5MT 44806 will be weathered (how this is done will be a forthcoming feature in Steam Railway magazine) and we are looking at putting both 6940 and D5310 out each day, along with a DMU and steam. The blue and grey coach will be back in use and we're hoping to tag the superbly-restored Presflo cement wagon on a passenger train to recreate the 60's Trawsfynydd power station workers and construction trains. 2 vintage buses (a rare Chester back loading Guy Arab which is about to turn 60 years of age and the LCC Leyland open topper again, subject to head gasket repairs) will be working rail-replacement shuttles between Llangollen and Carrog, the vintage vehicle rally will be at Glyndyfrdwy. Trade stands, live music and a real ale bar will also feature at Llangollen as per usual.

It's a shame our event clashes with a similar 60's gala taking place at the East Lancs on the same weekend, along with the GWR and SRPS diesel galas, but hopefully folk will fancy spending one of the days in the Dee Valley. The date was unfortunately set well in advance as part of the LR's portfolio of busy summer events and before the dates for the other events was known.

 

Anyone able to confirm whether platform tickets will be available please? I'm intending to spend a day taking photos, but would like to be able to spend a bit of cash on a platform ticket and some lunch...

 

We will be doing platform tickets again, but possably only for the late afternoon / evening music event. As soon as we've finalised details they will be on here.

Steam locos in use each day are 7822, 80072 and 44806 (i weathered it last saturday for steam railway magazine, and it looked superb!)

 

I know its still 7 weeks away but when will the timetable be available tous Joe Public?

 

Thanks for the info. Particularly looking forward to seeing 44806 weathered (hopefully with the blue/grey mk1 behind it?)

 

We are currently planning an open station during the day to encourage folk to support our trade stands, tea room and real ale bar. Tea rooms will also be open at Glyndyfrdwy and Carrog station with light refreshments on offer at Berwyn.

The timetable is in the process of being finalised - we've had some TBCs after problems with 6940 and D5310 at the weekend, but both have now been repaired and passed as fit for traffic, so we hope to be able to publish it soon. Be prepared for a busy one Folks - there'll be plenty out - steam, diesel and railcar.

!STOP PRESS! We are delighted to announce a visiting locomotive for the event! 44806 should be joined by a second Black 5, 45337 running as 45156 "Ayrshire Yeomanry", which is currently at the Railway for axle repairs. We are very grateful to the owners for allowing us to use the loco at our event (provided repairs are fully completed) before she returns to her usual base. BOTH locos will be weathered, providing some fantastic photographic prospects and lots of 60's atmosphere, especially as our blue and grey coach will be back in use. Let's hope this wonderful weather is still with us and we can commemorate the 45th anniversary of IT57 and the closure of Lostock Hall MPD in style!

 

Cracking news, both on the part of the open station (though I'll probably end up buying a rover anyway )and a second weathered 5 - think that's swung it for me ahead of the Lancs!

 

An update on the event for you. We hope to issue the timetable very soon but are currently having to deal with the fallout of an incident that took place between Deeside and Glyndyfrdwy last Satuday night that resulted in 44806 sustaining damage after hitting an object placed on the track. A full statement on this is available on the news section of the LR's website.

The LR Eng team are working as hard as they can to make sure we get at least one Black 5 for the event, but it's going to be close - and a real challenge to get both ready after what has happened. I will provide updates when I know more.

The incident was totally beyond our control, a very sad reflection of the times and something we can well do without. It could however have been much worse, which we are thankful for.

The rest of the event remains unchanged and, if the weather stays like this, really will be a cracking weekend. The vehicle rally has some rather interesting machines in attendance and we will have 8 local beers from Llangollen, Ludlow, Stonehouse and Purple Moose and Wrexham Lager breweries in Dr Beechings Bar at Llangollen.

 

Still no TT on the website......Will there be one?

 

Please read my post above - TT is being finalised but may need to be recut thanks to 44806 being damaged.

 

A link to details of the incident mentioned above http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/article.php?id=26

 

Lineup for this weekend is looking like 45337, 3802 and 7822. 44806 is awaiting repairs (the focus is on getting 45337 ready) and 80072 is pending replacement springs. D5310, 6940 and 109 Wickham railcar. Will confirm the steam fleet for definite later in the week when we have a further update on progress from Llan MPD.

The timetable is an ambitious one - approx 40 min departure schedule from Llangollen, 09:00 until 17:25, with late running on Saturday evening with Class 26 D5310 after the evening music concert. The railcar will operate a Glyndyfrdy-Bonwm shuttle and the 09:00 train will run top and tailed to Bonwm with steam in the down (Bonwm) direction and diesel up.

Around 50 cars will be on display at Glyndyfrwdy each day with a few trade stands also in attendance. Plenty to see and do!

Full TT will be on the LR website shortly - once steam diagrams are confirmed.

 

Roll on the fun, games and fireman dancing!

 

Just wondering, with 44806 now out of the game and the repairs with 45337 running tight, the latter now only rostered, will there be any use of the 'weathering' paints for the gala as intended, or has situations led to that being unviable?

 

Is there any info on when and where 45337 is likely to be running after the gala ?

 

Re 45337, The extensive work on the "bottom end" which has been done over the last few months is now complete and the loco is in the final stages of re-assembly. It was always our intention to do some running in at Llangollen for proving purposes. Hopefully this should happen this week and if both Llan Eng and ourselves are happy with the tests then 45337 running as 45156 "Ayrshire Yeomanry" will put in an appearance at the gala.

After that she will return to the North Norfolk Railway to run there until further notice.

John Bennett,
Director,
26B Rly Co Ltd

 

Many thanks for the update, I'm planning to visit the North Norfolk Railway for the gala at the end of August, so may have the chance to ride behind her then?

 

As John has said above we hope to have 45337 in use all weekend and will be weathering the locomotive for the event. The tender will be reattached today, so the team at Llangollen have made fantastic progress.

I will update on the other two steam locos when known, but it is likely to be 3802 and 7822. If replacement springs for 80072 arrive and can be fitted in time then she may replace 3802 to provide a fitting partner for the 5MT, but it's going to be close!

We would like to thank 45337's owners most sincerely for allowing us to use their loco this weekend before she heads back to Norfolk.

 

The timetable is now available:

Visit: http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/event.php?id=80 and click "download pdf"

 

Although it says on the page to 'Click Download PDF to the right of the page', there's no link actually available?