Western steam power for the Dee Valley!

THE Llangollen Railway has hired GWR 0-6-2T No. 5619 from the Telford Steam Railway for the 2022 season. Following the completion of its winter maintenance and annual examination, it is due to enter service in the Dee Valley before returning to Telford to work the Polar Express Christmas trains.

Resident GWR 2-8-0 No. 3802 is expected back in action by May or June. The wheel lathe at West Coast’s Carnforth depot was repaired in mid-March and

No. 3802 is working its way up the queue, after which it is due back at Llangollen for reassembly and testing.

An added attraction will be ‘Driver for a Fiver’, using Class 08 No. 08195 in Llangollen station on weekends and Bank Holidays in April between the hours of 11.20-12.05, 13.1514.15, and 15.35-16.15. Over12s only, and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

On the same dates, the ‘Gronk’ is due to work shuttle services between Llangollen and Berwyn, designed to target those who would appreciate a shorter journey.

Meanwhile, sufficient funds have been raised to purchase former Laira Cowans Sheldon crane No. ADRC95221 outright from the current owner, Sandbach Commercial Dismantlers (SCD).

A settlement price including a generous discount from

SCD has been agreed and ownership is to transfer to the Llangollen Railway Trust Ltd.