Steam returns to Carrog, but no complacency
LLANGOLLEN RAILWAY Trust (LRT) volunteers celebrated when the first steam train of the 2021 season operated on August 21. Until now, trains have been worked using DMUS, which continue to share the services. Hauled by GWR 2-8-0 3802, the 10.30 from Llangollen was the first steam-hauled train since October 1. The same date also marked the re-opening of the line westwards from Glyndyfrdwy. On the first trip Martin Fuller was the driver, with Steph Ellwood the fireman.
It comes after much hard work to return 3802 – currently Llangollen’s only working steam locomotive – to the satisfaction of regulator the Office of Rail and Road.
For the footplate crews, it was a day of re-assessments of competencies to drive and fire the engine after a 10 month lay-off in operations, following the collapse of the previous operating company earlier in the year (see feature on pages 50-55).
LRT chairman Peter Edwards said: “The resumption of steam at Llangollen is the culmination of a huge effort by our volunteers and small team of paid staff.
“It is a significant milestone in our return to full operations.
“We can’t afford to be complacent though. We are dependent on ongoing support from the Welsh Government and there are still challenges in front of us if we are to return the railway to stability and profitability.”
Services have been progressively reintroduced since July 9, when a DMU operated initially only as far as Berwyn. Trains were later extended as far a Glyndyfrdwy once engineering works were completed.