Llanfair Santas scuppered

WHILE A number of railways managed to run their Santa and Steam Lights specials, the Welshpool & Llanfair Railway’s programme was scuppered at the last moment. The closure of the England-Wales border, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, meant that the line, which draws many volunteers and visitors from the nearby West Midlands, was faced with not having enough people to run the operation due to start on

December 5, 2020. People from England were not allowed to cross the border except for certain paid work and other limited reasons. The line has now turned its attention to preparations for its 2021 season.

A recreation of this 2010 scene was not possible last December. 823, one of the two original WLLR locos, climbs Golfa Bank on December 18, 2010. (Andrew Charman)