My first sight of Llangollen
station was in 1975 on the day the Llangollen Railway took it
over. It was in dreadful condition and rubbish had been dumped
so that it was possible to walk across from one platform to the
other without difficulty. Times have changed and visitors can
see the effort that has gone in to making this a place to visit
and remember. The town itself is worth visiting and my family
have spent many happy days picnicking alongside the river. There
are many cafes and restaurants around the town, one worth trying
is situated opposite the station and provides a timber walkway
out onto the river. Inside the building can be seen a huge rotating
mill wheel actually powered by the river water and I suspect
this was used to drive weaving looms but this needs checking.
The line is part of the closed Ruabon to Dolgellau route and
runs West from Llangollen to Carrog where it currently ceases,
the plan, I understand, is to run further West to Corwen. The
line originally left the Chester-Shrewsbury line at Ruabon and
ran through to Bala junction where it branched North to Llandudno
Junction. This line is now truncated at Blaenau Ffestiniog although
there was an extension beyond Blaenau which fed the nuclear power
station at Trawsfynydd but I suspect that this is now disconnected
and may already be lifted. |