Llangollen Railway
Encyclopedia
The Llangollen Railway (Welsh: Rheilffordd Llangollen) is a volunteer-run preserved railway in Denbighshire
, Wales
, which operates between Llangollen
and Carrog
; at 7.5 miles (12.1 km) long, it is the longest preserved standard gauge
line in Wales and operates daily in Summer as well as weekends throughout the Winter months using a wide variety of steam and diesel locomotives, as well as diesel multiple units (DMUs).
Work is in the early stages of being carried out on 2 miles (3.2 km) of extension from Carrog to a temporary station in the outskirts of Corwen
. A more permanent station on a new site more central to Corwen town will be reached later. This will require civil engineering
work on an embankment at Corwen.
to Llangollen line (see also Ruabon to Barmouth Line) in 1862, as a way for passengers to travel to Llangollen Road (then the nearest railway station, later known as Whitehurst Halt) and then board a coach
to Llangollen. The line was a success and plans were put forward for a line from Llangollen to Corwen
, a market town ten miles (16 km) past Llangollen. Work started shortly after the opening of the Ruabon to Llangollen line and the line accepted its first traffic on the 18th May, 1865.
, the Flint
and Deeside
Railway Preservation Society was founded in 1972 with the aim of preserving one of the "axed" railways. Originally the society was interested in preserving the Dyserth
to Prestatyn
line; however that line was deemed unsuitable because a small amount of freight traffic was still using it. The society refocused its attention on the Llangollen to Corwen section of the Ruabon to Barmouth line. The local council granted a lease of the Llangollen railway station
building, as well as 3 miles (4.8 km) of track to the society, with the hope that the railway would improve the local economy and bring more tourists to Llangollen. The station reopened on 13th September 1975, with just 60 feet (18.3 m) of track.
. The working railway attracted the interest of many private companies, as well as the local council who renewed the lease of the land to the railway for a further 21 years. The Llangollen Railway Trust was gifted significant amounts of track allowing for the next extension of the line to Berwyn
. This involved a £30,000 refurbishment of the Dee Bridge by the local council, which had fallen into disrepair during the period following the commercial closure of the line. The first trains operated over the newly-extended 1.75 mile (2.82 km) line to Berwyn in March 1986.. As rebuilding work progressed train services were later extended to Deeside Halt (in 1990), Glyndyfrdwy (1993) and finally Carrog in 1996.
Work started in 2011 on rebuilding the section between Carrog and Corwen. It is planned that a temporary station will be built on the outskirts of Corwen whilst a permanent station will be constructed in the town centre adjacent to the main car park.
& visiting Brush Type 2 Class 31/1 31162 (5580) (first class 31 to work on the line)
Grange Class
locomotive, known as "the 81st Grange". it is still under construction. When British Rail
stopped using steam locomotives in 1968 none of the Grange Class locomotives were preserved, so the 6880 Society was formed in 1998 with the purpose of eventually completing an operational Grange Class steam locomotive for Heritage Railway work and Mainline Operation. Work is still ongoing on the locomotive but progress has been made on several major components, with some smaller parts being made to order. Other parts have been taken from similar, unrestored steam locomotives to aid the construction of the locomotive. The 6880 Society organised two successful "Steel Steam & Stars" (SSS) gala events in 2007 and 2009, held on the railway, which raised awareness of the Society and generated funds for the build. The next SSS gala is scheduled to take place in April 2012.
LMS Patriot Class
locomotive. None of the class survived, so the LMS Patriot project was formed in 2008 with the purpose of rebuilding an original Baby Scot known as the 52nd or 53rd Patriot. Work is still ongoing on the locomotive but progress has been made on several major components, with some smaller parts being made to order. Other parts have been taken from similar, unrestored steam locomotives to aid the construction of the locomotive. An original Fowler Tender, as used with this class, still exists at Barry, and is to be used with this locomotive. The Society has organised a Gala for 2010, held on the railway which will hopefully raise awareness for the locomotive to provide more funds to achieve the goal of the group.
Denbighshire
Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, which operates between Llangollen
Llangollen
Llangollen is a small town and community in Denbighshire, north-east Wales, situated on the River Dee and on the edge of the Berwyn mountains. It has a population of 3,412.-History:...
and Carrog
Carrog
Carrog is a village in Denbighshire, Wales. Formerly referred to as Llansanffraid-Glyn Dyfrdwy, as it lies within the parish of Llansanffraid Glyndyfrdwy, it takes its modern name from the Great Western Railway station on the opposite bank of the River Dee, which in turn took its name Carrog is a...
; at 7.5 miles (12.1 km) long, it is the longest preserved standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
line in Wales and operates daily in Summer as well as weekends throughout the Winter months using a wide variety of steam and diesel locomotives, as well as diesel multiple units (DMUs).
Work is in the early stages of being carried out on 2 miles (3.2 km) of extension from Carrog to a temporary station in the outskirts of Corwen
Corwen
Corwen is a town and community in the county of Denbighshire in Wales; it was previously part of the county of Meirionnydd). Corwen stands on the banks of the River Dee beneath the Berwyn mountains. The town is situated west of Llangollen and south of Ruthin...
. A more permanent station on a new site more central to Corwen town will be reached later. This will require civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
work on an embankment at Corwen.
Commercial Service: 1865–1962
The railway was originally opened as the RuabonRuabon
Ruabon is a village and community in the county borough of Wrexham in Wales.More than 80% of the population of 2,400 were born in Wales with 13.6% speaking Welsh....
to Llangollen line (see also Ruabon to Barmouth Line) in 1862, as a way for passengers to travel to Llangollen Road (then the nearest railway station, later known as Whitehurst Halt) and then board a coach
Coach (vehicle)
A coach is a large motor vehicle, a type of bus, used for conveying passengers on excursions and on longer distance express coach scheduled transport between cities - or even between countries...
to Llangollen. The line was a success and plans were put forward for a line from Llangollen to Corwen
Corwen
Corwen is a town and community in the county of Denbighshire in Wales; it was previously part of the county of Meirionnydd). Corwen stands on the banks of the River Dee beneath the Berwyn mountains. The town is situated west of Llangollen and south of Ruthin...
, a market town ten miles (16 km) past Llangollen. Work started shortly after the opening of the Ruabon to Llangollen line and the line accepted its first traffic on the 18th May, 1865.
Reopening: 1972–1975
After the Beeching AxeBeeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
, the Flint
Flint
Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
and Deeside
Deeside
For Strathdee in Scotland see River Dee, AberdeenshireDeeside is the name given to the predominantly industrial conurbation of towns and villages that lie on, or near the River Dee in Chester. These include, Connah's Quay, Mancot, Pentre, Shotton, Queensferry, Sealand, Broughton, Hawarden,...
Railway Preservation Society was founded in 1972 with the aim of preserving one of the "axed" railways. Originally the society was interested in preserving the Dyserth
Dyserth
Dyserth is a village in Denbighshire, Wales. Population : 2,566 . Its main features are the extensive quarrying remains, its waterfalls, railway line , and mountain ....
to Prestatyn
Prestatyn
Prestatyn is a seaside resort, town and community in Denbighshire, North Wales. It is located on the Irish Sea coast, to the east of Rhyl. At the 2001 Census, Prestatyn had a population of 18,496.-Prehistory:...
line; however that line was deemed unsuitable because a small amount of freight traffic was still using it. The society refocused its attention on the Llangollen to Corwen section of the Ruabon to Barmouth line. The local council granted a lease of the Llangollen railway station
Llangollen railway station
Llangollen railway station in Denbighshire, Wales was formerly a station on the Ruabon to Barmouth line. It closed to passengers on Monday 18 January 1965 but the section between Ruabon and Llangollen Goods Yard remained opened for freight traffic until April 1968. Immediately afterwards the track...
building, as well as 3 miles (4.8 km) of track to the society, with the hope that the railway would improve the local economy and bring more tourists to Llangollen. The station reopened on 13th September 1975, with just 60 feet (18.3 m) of track.
Rebuilding: 1975–2011
Early progress was slow due to a lack of funding, though in 1977 Shell Oil donated a mile of unused track. Volunteers started laying the track with an aim of reaching Pentrefelin, 0.75 miles (1.2 km) from Llangollen. Work finished in July 1981 with the remaining quarter mile of track used to lay sidings at the old Llangollen Goods Junction to form a home for the railway's growing fleet of rolling stockRolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
. The working railway attracted the interest of many private companies, as well as the local council who renewed the lease of the land to the railway for a further 21 years. The Llangollen Railway Trust was gifted significant amounts of track allowing for the next extension of the line to Berwyn
Berwyn
Berwyn originally referred to the Berwyn range of mountains in northeast Wales:*Cadair Berwyn or Cader Berwyn is a mountain summit in north east Wales*Cadair Berwyn North Top or Cadair Berwyn is a top of Cadair Berwyn in north east Wales...
. This involved a £30,000 refurbishment of the Dee Bridge by the local council, which had fallen into disrepair during the period following the commercial closure of the line. The first trains operated over the newly-extended 1.75 mile (2.82 km) line to Berwyn in March 1986.. As rebuilding work progressed train services were later extended to Deeside Halt (in 1990), Glyndyfrdwy (1993) and finally Carrog in 1996.
Work started in 2011 on rebuilding the section between Carrog and Corwen. It is planned that a temporary station will be built on the outskirts of Corwen whilst a permanent station will be constructed in the town centre adjacent to the main car park.
Operational Steam Locos
- GWR: 4-6-0 Manor Class 7822 "Foxcote Manor"
- LMS: 4-6-0 Stanier Black 5 44806
- LMS; 4-6-0 Stanier Black 5 45337 (On Loan from East Lancs Railway)
- GWR: 2-8-0 Heavy Freight Loco 3802
- BR: 2-6-4 Standard Class 4 Tank 80072
- GWR: 0-6-2 Tank Locomotive 5643
- GWR: 0-6-0 Pannier Tank 6430
- LMS: 0-6-0 Jinty 7298
- Industrial: 0-6-0 Saddle Tank "Jessie"
Away from Llangollen
- GWR: 2-6-2 Large Prairie Tank 5199
- Industrial: 0-6-0 Saddle Tank "Austin No 1"
- Industrial: 0-6-0 Saddle Tank "Darfield No 1"
- Industrial: 0-6-0 Side Tank "Jennifer"
Steam Locos under Overhaul/Restoration
- GWR: 4-6-0 hall class 5952 "Cogan Hall" (Parts Used for 6880) Will be restored in future
- GWR: 2-8-0 Heavy Goods 2859 (In Scrapyard Condition)
- GWR: 2-6-2 Small Prairie Tank 5532 (Restored from Scrapyard Condition)
- GWR: 2-6-2 Small Prairie Tank 5539 (Restored from Scrapyard Condition)
- GWR: 2-6-2 Large Prairie Tank 4141
- TVR: 0-6-2 'O1' class No 28
- GWR: 0-6-0 Pannier Tank 7754
- Industrial: 0-4-0 Tank Desmond
Diesel Locomotives
- BRCW Type 2 Class 26/0 26010 or D5310
- English Electric Type 3 Class 37/0 37240 or 6940
- Brush Type 4 Class 47/4 47449 or D1566
& visiting Brush Type 2 Class 31/1 31162 (5580) (first class 31 to work on the line)
GWR 6880 Betton Grange Project
GWR steam locomotive no. 6880 Betton Grange is a 4-6-04-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles in a leading truck, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. This wheel arrangement became the second-most popular...
Grange Class
GWR 6800 Class
The Great Western Railway 6800 Class or Grange Class was a mixed traffic class of 4-6-0 steam locomotive. There were 80 in the class, all built at the Swindon works.-History:The GWR locomotive standardisation policy pursued by G.J...
locomotive, known as "the 81st Grange". it is still under construction. When British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
stopped using steam locomotives in 1968 none of the Grange Class locomotives were preserved, so the 6880 Society was formed in 1998 with the purpose of eventually completing an operational Grange Class steam locomotive for Heritage Railway work and Mainline Operation. Work is still ongoing on the locomotive but progress has been made on several major components, with some smaller parts being made to order. Other parts have been taken from similar, unrestored steam locomotives to aid the construction of the locomotive. The 6880 Society organised two successful "Steel Steam & Stars" (SSS) gala events in 2007 and 2009, held on the railway, which raised awareness of the Society and generated funds for the build. The next SSS gala is scheduled to take place in April 2012.
LMS 45551 The Unknown Warrior Project
LMS steam locomotive no 45551 The Unknown Warrior is a 4-6-04-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles in a leading truck, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. This wheel arrangement became the second-most popular...
LMS Patriot Class
LMS Patriot Class
The Patriot Class was a class of 52 express passenger steam locomotives built for the London Midland and Scottish Railway. The first locomotive of the class was built in 1930 and the last in 1934. All of the Patriot class locomotives were withdrawn from service by 1965...
locomotive. None of the class survived, so the LMS Patriot project was formed in 2008 with the purpose of rebuilding an original Baby Scot known as the 52nd or 53rd Patriot. Work is still ongoing on the locomotive but progress has been made on several major components, with some smaller parts being made to order. Other parts have been taken from similar, unrestored steam locomotives to aid the construction of the locomotive. An original Fowler Tender, as used with this class, still exists at Barry, and is to be used with this locomotive. The Society has organised a Gala for 2010, held on the railway which will hopefully raise awareness for the locomotive to provide more funds to achieve the goal of the group.