Llangollen Railway 1960's Weekend 30th & 31st July

Plans coming together well!

Intensive timetable with steam, railcar and diesel diagrams.

Steam traction to be confirmed, but likely to be Cambrian 60's legend Foxcote Manor and hopefully 44806 doing the honours on IT57 again. Bring your cameras!

Diesel traction drawn from a pool of Class 26 D5310, Class 31 5580, Class 37 6940 and it is also hoped that Class 47 D1566 will be running - the first time there have been 4 diesel locos available at Llan for 3 years. Mixed traction diagrams planned - just like it was back in the day!

Beer festival, buses, live music on the Saturday, vintage vehicle rally at Glyndyfrdwy. We are pleased to be welcoming the Cavernites, a superb Beatles-style tribute band, who will play on Llan station on Saturday evening.

Bring a 60s era vintage vehicle (car, bike, lorry, tractor - anything goes!!) to display at Glyndyfrdwy and claim two free rover tickets (t's anc c's apply). Apply via the LDG website (link below) or contact me by PM.

Regularly updated detailed details, event flier and vintage vehicle entry form:
http://www.llangollen-diesels.org.uk/?page_id=460

Best wishes

Tez Pickthall & Iain Ross
Event Organisers, From the Beatles to Beeching Weekend, Llangollen Railway

 

Llangollen Railway have confirmed that 7822 'Foxcote Manor' will be in a 'weathered condition' for this event.

 

Yes Jeff that's the plan!

If I get my way, we'll be doing the same to the 26 and 47 to give them that grubby, knocking about the steam era railway look they quickly picked up when new. Only question is, what's the best way to do it so that's its easily reversed without damaging the paintwork?

The thought of scratching 7822's pristine paint with grime makes me feel sick!

 

Sounding better by the day! :lol: As for how to weather them, maybe have Foxcote drag them to Berwyn tunnel and sit there for a few minutes?

 

The Steam loco crews have been given instruction by the CME, to NOT TOUCH the paintwork on 7822 after 2nd July. However, as you said Tez, how do you 'weather' engines, without scratching the paintwork??

 

A top job was done on 34072 for the Severn Valley S&D weekend about 10 years ago now I think. It was grimed down to cover up the Harry Potter maroon Hogwarts livery it was carrying before Olton Hall got the job as the WC was "too modern looking" for the film luvvies. Would be really interested to hear from anyone involved at the SVR who knows how it was done - and if it came off again afterwards!

 

We are very pleased to announce that we hope to have a Mk1 repainted into blue and grey livery especially for the 60's weekend to give an authentic mixed-livery rake. The coach will obviously also look the part behind Class 31 5580 and Class 37 6940!

The TT will be released soon - and should include an interesting and nostalgic working involving 7822 and a diesel loco each day - watch this space!

3 vintage buses are expected to work the rail replacement service and 10 real ales are lined up for the beer festival. Not a bad combination!

 

More news on locos taking part, the event will feature a steam locomotive that has not operated on the Llangollen Railway before. Recent arrival Hunslet 0-6-0ST Austerity No. 3777, running in pseudo-BR livery as J94 No 68030 will run on both days, a most suitable loco for the era!

On the diesel front, Class 47 D1566 was started today for the first time in nearly two years and the coolant system appears water tight. The power unit ran for half an hour without any problems, but there are some electrical faults to remedy on the loco before she can move under her own power. All being well, these should be sorted in plenty of time for July 30th!

 

Sounding better by the minute! (I take it there's no chance of removing the animals from the tanks? :lol

 

How long is 68030 staying at Llangollen? I fired it many times on Strathspey in 2006 - 2009 period. Sometimes erratic at steaming, it did struggle with having to generate steam on uphill gradients over a long time (we have 7 miles of constant climbing) but overall it is a good engine.

 

Should be interesting up Berwyn Bank then Neil!

AFAIK, the loco is going to be based at Llangollen for overhaul and repair and be part of the hire fleet, so will travel to wherever she is required.

 

She used to eat her brick arch to no-end which made her pretty difficult to fire. Like any Austerity 0-6-0T she's happy at about 20mph but once pushed to 25mph doesn't seem to like it too much.

 

I wonder if I'll get the J94 as I've been rostered on the Sunday??

 

Just over two weeks to go, so here's an update.

TT still being checked and tweaked (it's a big job on a railway like the LR with so many passing and pathing points), but loco roster is provisionally:

Steam (both days):
Manor 7822 - Foxcote Manor (name + numberplates removed, and loco in dirty 60's Cambrian-style condition)
5MT 44806 - BR Black, Late (nameplates removed, running with IT57 headboard)
Hunslet Austerity - disguised as J94 68030 - BR Black (loco making LR debut)

Some interesting stock should also be in use alongside the usual Mk1s:
Set M = LNER 4-wheel Pigeon Van (BYP) 6854 (Clarabelle with names and face removed). 2 x Mk 1’s and 4 box vans
Set V = 1 x BR 20T brakevan (For ‘scrap’ train). This should be good!!

Diesel:
Saturday: Class 26 D5310, Class 37 6940 & Class 47 D1566
Sunday: Class 31 5580, Class 37 6940 & Class 47 D1566

Work continues to progress very well on D1566, the loco has been running again over the last week with auxillary machines now operational. A faulty relay has been removed and refurbished and, once refitted later this week, we hope to be able to move the loco under her own power for the first time in nearly two years. Fingers and other extremities will all be crossed!

DMU (both days): the wonderful Class 109 Wickham

Other attractions:
Bodywork to enable repaint of Mk1 CK E16071 into blue and grey progressing well
Over 70 vintage vehicles expected over the weekend including some rather rare beasts such as a Rochdale Olympic.
Bus rides between Llan and Carrog included in ticket price - 3 vehicles expected inlcuding an open-topper.
Mod scooter posse courtesy of Chester and Wrexham scooter club expected to descend on the Valley
The Cavernites are playing on Llan station between 8 and 10pm on Saturday evening.
Matt Nicholls, an excellent local singer-songwriter will now be performing on Sunday evening, 5 to 7pm.

With such an intensive timetable and mix of traction, this is shaping up to be the biggest event of the year at the railway before the return of Steam, Steel and Stars next April.

 

I am sure the even will be great. Will be waiting and hoping to see great videos and photos of it all

 

Will the diagrams be released before the event? Plan to be there on the Sunday.

 

Yes, a full TT will be released as soon as it is approved, including the locos allocated to each diagram.

 

I'm waiting to see you produce the LNER bogie pigeon van - It only had 4 wheels when I saw it last week.

Bob.

 

Thanks for that - above corrected to say LNER 4-wheel Pigeon Van (BYP) 6854 & 70250

 

Timetables are now available to download on our website.

Saturday: http://www.llangollen-diesels.org.u...Weekend-Timetable-Saturday-30th-July-2011.pdf
Sunday: http://www.llangollen-diesels.org.u...s-Weekend-Timetable-Sunday-31st-July-2011.pdf

Many thanks