Heritage DMU gala ends a successful operating season for Llangollen Railway
THE LLANGOLLEN Railway held its popular Heritage Railcar Weekend on October 8/9 at the end of a successful season for the North Wales line.
The railway’s Class 104 DMU was running again as a two-car unit following the repainting of vehicle 50528 into BR blue, with the line’s Class 108 and 109 DMUS both in service during the event too.
For part of the weekend, the Class 104 also carried a tail load of the railway’s Inspection Saloon 80975.
The Llangollen Railcar Group’s Class 105 Cravens trailer 56456 was also on display at Llangollen station, allowing visitors to see the ongoing restoration work being carried out on the vehicle, which also doubled up as a shop for the owning group.
A landcruise trip was operated to Carrog on the Saturday evening, with a hot pot supper available to travelling passengers.
The Llangollen Railway has had a successful season, having run a higher proportion of railcar and diesel services throughout 2022 than in previous years. Publicity officer Terry Pickthall told Railways Illustrated that this had brought about reduced operating costs, but not at the expense of patronage on the railway.
Regular bookings from tour operators have also proved to be a boost, with healthy passenger numbers being reported for 2022. The railway’s main season ends after the final trains run on Sunday, November 6, with
Santa Special services and post-christmas seasonal running rounding off the year during December.
Mr Pickthall also said that it is planned that the railway will open its extension to Corwen Central in March next year.
For more information, visit https:// llangollen-railway.co.uk