Llangollen Railway - Corwen extension.

Six-car DMU reached the site of Corwen West Station today (Friday 8th) to check clearences on the new platform, which has been under construction for a week and which is due to be completed in about two weeks time. This was the first proper (rather than works) train over the extension and was driven by the Llangollen Railway's recently-elected Chairman, Elizabeth Harland. On reaching the station site she met up with the extension team and congratulated them on their achievment. Pictures and updates will appear on the Llangollen Railway site in due course. Not long to wait now but no official information on an actual opening date.

 

Fantastic news so, (fingers, toes, eyes crossed) I might be able to ride into Corwen at the end of August?

Licking my lips in anticipation.

Congratulations to one and all involved in this.

 

Great News! Well done to all concerned. I really must pay another visit to the Llangollen Railway soon. The Corwen extension will provide an even better grand day out!

 

Well done to all concerned heres to seeing 45551 @ Corwen!

 

I went up to Corwen to see the progress at 15.00 today. The scaffold platform will be finished in approximately two weeks , but the access ramp is still to have its final design sorted.
It will be at least a month until the platform is ready for use.
The final loads of ballast are being dropped & the tamper will hopefully be finished by next weekend.

Bob.

 

And to whet your appetites, take a look on Youtube at 'First passenger stock to Corwen since 1964'
I'm sure that you will be impressed.

Bob.

 

Interesting. I thought the platform was going to be behind the health centre next to the town car park. Doesn't look that way from the video

 

The platform being constructed is a temporary one, hence the scaffolding. The proposed permanent station is on the 3 track wide section of embankment behind the health centre. We couldn't go that far with this phase, as Welsh Water have cut an access road to their sewage works through the embankment.
The next phase will include a new access road for them on the other side of the railway.

Bob.

 

Great progress anyway and there are a number of good photo locations on the new sections by the looks of it.

 

Indeed! That's quite a stretch of track. Congratulations to all who helped put it in. (And let's hope that the river doesn't flood and wash any of the bed away anytime soon!)

Noel

 

Is the clearance on that overbridge at about 8.30 a bit tight?
Or was the driver just not sure?

Well done anyway.

 

I asked the lads the same question after they had laid it & was told that the original line was laid like that.
There is apparently 12" plus clearance.

Bob.

 

The stretch of line looks reasonably flat. Is there any gradients on the section of line ?

 

Its uphill to Corwen at a gradient of about 1 in 700. Very similar to the Glyn to Carrog section.

 

What a lovely stretch of line! Congratulations. Next stop Barmouth Jn....?!!

Dave

 

Dual gauge alongside Bala Lake ?

Bob.

 

Very good to see the progress and achievement being made, but long term can see problems with ground over as not cleared very far at all along most of extension.
Some will no doubt shout and moan at my next comment, but, from a passenger point of view a very boring stretch of track with very little I way of views, with even the river in many parts hidden by trees and foliage. Just my personal view of course, and traveling along this roadside, other than access points for photographers, not a route you would want to do more than once.
When properly completed with the line actually going somewhere, Corwen (town?). One hopes that will help with passengers, but again not very aspiring at present I'm afraid.
The route is also no effort for engines and crews as reasonably flat along whole length.

 

The view from the front of the train doesn't really give an indication of what the view from the carriage windows is like, which is actually pretty good on the river side.
A lot of the trees on the river side are not on our property & we therefore can't cut them down. There are plenty of photo opportunities on the new section, including the site of Bonwm Halt & an overbridge nearer to Corwen.
I'm sure that our team will do further tree cutting, but keeping photographers happy isn't one of their priorities.
I'm sorry that we couldn't incorporate some gradients for you, but at least we can tell our footplate staff that they will have an easy time on this section.

Bob.

 

I think I agree with Spamcan, a temporary scaffolding platform isn't incredibly attractive, but I expect it will become more popular once you get a station proper there. It is why I was relieved when I joined the gwsr a group was already rebuilding the station at broadway as opposed to waiting until we got there then starting.