Llangollen Railway
Branchline Gala
Saturday 14th April 2024
In the railway's "biggest event we have held since before the pandemic@" the Llangollen Railway held their Branchline Gala with an intensive timetable headlined by recently outshopped Great Western Railway 5700 class Pannier Tank No 7754. The loco was joined (literally on an 8 coach Llangollen to Corwen, no stations stops, double header each morning) by GWR 2-80 3802 which was also fresh from the workshops after 2 1/2 years work.
The railways pioneer ex-Longbridge car factory steam tank engine “Austin 1” also made appearances over the weekend. The locomotive which was the very first steam locomotive to work on the railway when it was reopened by the founding preservation society, saw use at first on Llangollen to Goods Junction shuttles with a Toad brake van and the 'sunshine coach' (LNER Brake 4-Wheel Pigeon (BYP) No. 6854, which had previously carried the livery of Thomas' carriage Clarabel during Day out with Thomas events, and now in a crimson livery), before hauling the last train of the day from Llangollen, a top and tailed service to Berwyn with Austerity Robert.
The ex-Bold colliery Austerity locomotive Robert, carrying British Railways livery as J94 No 68067 was making one of its final appearances on the railway following an 18 month stay and spent most of the weekend paired with 1958-built Class 26 diesel locomotive No 5310. The lines two car Class 108 diesel railcar completed the line up.
www.preservedrailway.co.uk
(C) Lee Andrew Davies 2024