MONTHLY REPORTS
JULY 2009 - PAGE ONE

THE LLANGOLLEN RAILWAY 15th July 2009

Holiday time again and the annual pilgrimage to The Llangollen Railway. We had planned to ride the Welsh Highland line from Caernarvon to Beddgelert but at circa £25 per head we felt it was a little bit too expensive. One wonders what it will cost to ride from Caernarfon to Blaenau Ffestiniog? On duty was GWR pannier tank 6430 and we boarded at Carrog where the parking is easier and the surroundings pleasant and unhurried.

The journey was, as ever, picturesque with medium loading on the train and very pleasant staff.

One nice touch was the detailed locomotive information displayed at Llangollen station.

The little pannier did its runround while we headed off for something to eat at the pub across the river.

The Corn Mill has a walkway that stretches out over the river giving a distant view of the station with its GWR footbridge looking somewhat precarious as it clings to the retaining wall, completely safe of course.

While waiting for the next train and with the Sun shining a walk along the river bank was in order and what a pleasant walk it is with much work having been carried out to improve matters under foot. This was the view looking back towards the station and the road bridge.

Looking up river from the same spot gives some indication of much the river (The Dee by the way) falls on its journey through the town which is why it is so favoured by canoeists.

Looking up river from the road bridge gives an indication as to how this town and its railway fit snugly into the valley.

Back to the trains and 6430 arrived from Carrog when its runround was witnessed from the other end of the station. The access slope has long been a favourite spot from where to photograph the trains but now, sadly, the railway has decided to replace the exiting fencing with something much more obtrusive which will probably end the practice. Shame Llangollen Railway.....

After being held at the signal, much to the annoyance of the lady driving, the pannier switched tracks to return to its train.....

.....where it was hooked up in preparation for the return journey to Carrog.

Watching the locomotive change ends brought to aclose another very enjoyable day on the railway even if we did get choked in Berwyn tunnel as the pannier slogged its way up the gradient - all part of the fun!

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