Diesel takeover leads to Llangollen Railway success
A DIESEL takeover saw the Llangollen Railway run its first successful large enthusiast event in three years over September 2-3.
The home fleet turned out for a diesel traction weekend that was blessed with “good attendance levels beyond what I was expecting to see, especially for the Saturday,” said spokesman Terry Pickthall, adding that “ticket sales were ahead of budget and have seen the event make a reasonable surplus”.
The locomotive line-up saw Classes 26 No. 5310, 31 No. 31271, and 47 No. 1566 head passenger services on the 7½-mile – and soon-to-be 10-mile – line. The timetable operated with one rake comprised of BR Mk.1s, a second with the line’s GWR Inspection Saloon coupled to three of its suburban coaches, and a third mixed rake of brake vans and hoppers, along with the railway’s LNER pigeon van for passengers to ride aboard.
“All three locomotives were spot-on, with the ballast train a particular highlight, especially as the hoppers were all loaded,”Terry said. “At about 150 tonnes, this made it the equivalent of about five Mk.1s, so the Classes 26 and 31 had plenty to work at. Unfortunately we were not able to offer brake van rides on the freight, but the pigeon van provided that chance to ride with the train.”
The reduced number of available coaching stock was owing to ongoing maintenance and repairs being carried out to the day-to-day fleet, which are under way with a view to maximising available seating for the railway’s Santa trains this winter.
At Llangollen station, Class 08 D3265 was used for driver-for-a-fiver experiences, which were in high demand throughout the weekend.
“I’d like to extend a massive thank-you to everyone who supported our 2022 diesel weekend, passenger or volunteer,” added Terry. “Save for some minor challenges with the signalling at Goods Junction, everything ran pretty much as we’d hoped for. We have plenty to build on or 2023; on that subject, the provisional dates for our 2023 event are September 16 and 17.”
The Llangollen Railway has announced that its Corwen extension is planned to open on March 1, 2023, at the start of a five-day celebration. Planning was still underway, with more information about the event to come nearer the time.