STEEL, STEAM & STARS II - Llangollen Rly - 18 to 26 April 09

It'll be nice to meet you again!

 

I presume that Flange Bandit might be the best person to organize the Dwile Flonking contest then - as he's guaranteed to be legless :smt023 :smt023

 

Oh well im looking forward to this now, just booked my accomodation so im sorted, just hope i can get a beer glass before they run out so Will save me one please. I had the pleasure of meeting some fantastic people at the last S.S.S. and trust this event will as well run and laid back as the last one. I know im bringing up an old problem here but did anyone discuss lineside photography and platform passes for photographers yet as this was by far the biggest cause of grief on the gate at the last gala. Maybe chain em to the platform so they cant board the trains eh.

 

Yep we discussed this at the beginning. There is to be no platform access at Llangollen unless you have a rover ticket, as the platforms will more than likely be just as packed as last time, and we feel that a person wanting to travel on the trains should have priority over someone wanting to take pictures. Plus you get good enough photos from the bridges either end of Llangollen stn anyway.

Lineside access is simple; THERE IS NONE. There are ample number of places to take pictures without the need to go trackside. IF you really do want to though then the only way to do this will be by going on one of the photo charters before/after the event (details still to be confirmed). We are planning on on sending volunteers to the more popular locations with buckets asking for donations off those who haven't bought a ticket. They will also be removing any tresspassers that they come across aswell.

 

Fantastic that seems well covered then, i suggest you make these rules more than a little public well before the event to avoid confusion if you know what i mean. See you for the Santas mate il be doing all of them bar one i think all being well.

 

I'm looking forward to meeting the legend that is Flange Bandit. Although i do wonder if all the stories i've heard are true.

 

Hmmmm maybe the odd one im not that bad you know, anyway look forward to meeting you dude, we can have a few beers and put the world to rights.

 

Is now also the time to start publicising a Hi-Vis clothing ban , especially in the magazines ?

Bob.

 

Probably best in the new year as by the time the gala comes round some will not remember.

 

Llangollen Platform update:
The last of the vegetation has been removed from Platform 1 and thus giving more room

 

Thats looking good.

Apart from the warning sign it is timeless.

I like the shock van.

 

The platform looks a lot better - except for the fact that the section covered with chippings should be tarmac & the building in the foreground should have been demolished long ago. How many other major railways have a building made of old packing cases on their platforms ?
When this eyesore was first built the builders were told it had to be 'Western Style' to blend in - but it looks more wild western than Great Western.
I'll gladly demolish it prior to the gala !

Bob.

 

There are efforts afoot to replace it with a tin hut of GWR design, but not before the gala. Although it's days are numbered.
But strictly speaking if you look at the picture of the station before preservation there wasn't a hut there but then the needs of storage have to be met.

 

Bit of a shame IMO really, however I'm now going to start looking back to see how many people walk into the lamp posts :smt003

 

What exactly is a bit of a shame?

 

Losing the flowerbeds. Having seen the flower beds develop over the last 20 odd years its a shame to see them removed.

What exactly is your problem?

 

If people want to see flowers they can go to the park. That 'garden' was an eyesore & created a dangerous bottleneck on the platform on busy days. Just the shack to get rid of now, then get the S.V.R. to give back the water cranes & tank removed from the station 30 plus years ago & still dumped in one of their sidings.

Bob

 

Not sure about the cranes, but if the tower is the one I'm thinking of, you would have a bit of a job on your hands to get it to hold water again...

 

Those water cranes are dumped in the triangle for the old branch line, between Bewdley and Kidderminster. If not the old llangollen ones, they must be of a similer type, and obviosly aren't used...

Platform 1 looks neater without the Garden. Be nice for some wall mounted lamps next.

As for the hut next to the toilets, i believe that storage goes before everything else... Considering it was built from packing crates from Shotton Paper Mill about 20-odd years ago, it hasn't done too badly...

 

Bob, I tried to get a water crane out of the SVR a while ago. Dealt with Alun Rees and it was a no go. There is only one decent crane left apparently and that was earmarked to replace a leaking crane somewhere on the SVR. Unfortuantly when the SVR removed the cranes from Llangollen station, Flint & Deeside Preservation Society hadn't taken over the station, so they have never been the railways to get back. I had people ready to donate money to purchase one back as well. I believe the tower would make a very good sieve.

Anyway as I'm sure it will be now pointed out, this thread is about SSSII not water cranes and flower beds :smt003

So a question for the organisers of SSSII, is there going to be a variety in the direction locos are facing next year?