Llangollen Railway

I see that Llangollen Railway won the North Wales Attraction of the Year award last night.
Many congratulations to all involved.

 

Thank you! We were absolutely delighted to win and see the hard work of our staff, volunteers and supporters recognised.

 

Well done everyone

 

Considering where they were a couple of years ago the turn around is remarkable

 

So I have recently read something on PressReader and can I just say this, I now have an excuse to visit you guys!

TWO Steam Galas:
12 - 14th April: Steam Orientated Branch Line Gala:
3802, 7754, 68067 "Robert" + A diesel.

September [Dates TBA]:
3802, 5459, 7754 + VISITOR!!!

Passenger trains, engineering trains, brakevan rides, intensive timetable.
My goodness I have missed you guys! So hope this is the September visitor!

 

Excellent news,

Hopefully a sign of a positive future, I look forward to visiting in 2024.

Chris

 

Does that indicate that Robert's hire is up in mid-2024? Or am I reading too much into that?

 

That wouldn't surprise me, given that with 7754 and 3802 returning to action Llangollen now have 2 resident steam locos which they may well judge to be adequate for their needs. No use spending extra money hiring in a loco if you think you can run your required service pattern with your home team

 

As I understand it, Robert's hire expires in April so the branch line weekend will probably be the final chance to see it running at Llangollen.

 

The railway's events now listed on the website. The more observant will notice an absence of the aforementioned autumn gala. Unfortunately a private charter clashed with the proposed September dates and with strong competition on subsequent weekends it was felt best to hold over to next year, for which guest loco negotiation is already under way.

The April event still promises to be a great one with three or four steam locos out and the formal launch of the pannier.

https://llangollen-railway.co.uk/events/

 

Here's the Gen for our Branchline Gala (have also set up as events thread, so hope the double-posting is OK with the Admins?).

Initial details of our first big event of 2024, the 12th-14th April Branchline Gala, are now available. Poster and thread is on our Unofficial LR Facebook page for those who use FB.

Our MPD team are working very hard to have 4 steam locos available for the first time for a number of years. The line-up should be:

LR Trust-owned GWR 57xx No 7754, which will be formally rededicated to traffic at the event.
GWR heavy freight 2-8-0 No 3802, in public operation for the first time in over 2 years.
Kitson 0-6-0 Austin 1 hauling a brake van train.
Austerity Robert / "68067", operating her last trains with us before heading off for hire to another railway.

Austin 1 was lifted on 24th Feb and had her new driving axle crown brass fitted, ready for her to take part. This has been made in-house by our machine shop team, an incredible achievement given where we started from in the summer of 2021. Both lifts used our Cowans Sheldon crane. which we were able to save from scrapping after the PLC auction thanks to donations from supporters, many of whom I know frequent this forum. Thank you!

BRCW Sulzer Type 2 (Class 26) diesel 5310 is working with 68067 top-and-tail on a Glyndyfrdwy-Corwen shuttle. This avoids run-rounds taking place at Glyn, which can be a bit problematic and hold up a busy TT and at Corwen, so the focus can be on watering the Austerity. We'll be sorry to see 68067 go in the Spring, she's been a little cracker.

A railcar diagram will also feature, which will be either recently restored Class 127/108 hybrid or the 108, which has recently received fully refurbished seating. The Type 2 and DMUs are all green.

As well as our usual excellent catering at Llangollen station, the team at Glyndyfrdwy Station will be opening the station café and Porters Bar. Berwyn station cafe will also be open over the weekend.

Obviously, this ambitious line-up (for us at Llan anyway!) is subject to the usual caveats around availability. The timetable will be confirmed closer to the time and advance tickets will then be available on the railway's website.

Please be patient with us on this - we are all working very hard to put on a great gala for everyone and still finding our feet with big events

Thanks

 

Have you still got the crane that was bought by a scrap man?

 

That's OK, just book two visitors to make up for the visitor-less event this year.
Although, I am going to say this now, wouldn't it be easier to just run the four steam trains between Llangollen and Carrog, then the 108/127+108 in tandem between Carrog and Corwen?

 

I visited for the Gala on Friday and just wanted to say what a great day it was.

I did however notice that at no point during the entire day did anyone check our tickets. There seemed to be plenty of staff around on the stations, but apparently no TTIs. I hope only honest people visited the gala. . . .

 

I went on Sunday and our tickets were checked through the compartment window of the commuter set before we left Llangollen on the 10 o’clock. It was the only time though, out of seven trains we travelled on.

It’s the first time I’ve been at the railway since 2018 and it was great to be back.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Great to hear folk enjoyed it. We are very pleased to announce that we had record advance ticket sales before the event and healthy ticket office activity over the weekend, so folk are very honest. Thank you for everyone's support.

As observed, we are very short of TTI's, many of those who do this role also undertake others around the railway that they needed to fulfil over such a busy weekend.

 

I didn’t go (due to family commitments rather than any other reason) but from the photos I’ve seeen, it looks like an excellent event. I hope a Branch Line Weekend where smaller engines can have their day will become a regular feature of the Llangollen calendar