Locos from around Britain at railway's steam gala

* The Grange Class locomotive under construction at Llangollen.

 

SIX mainline locomotives from around Britain will be guesting at gala steam event being held at Llangollen Railway over the next two weekends.

Steel, Steam and Stars IV is being staged by the 6880 Betton Grange Society at the town’s heritage railway this Friday-Sunday and the following Friday-Sunday, March 13-15.

The society, which is a charitable organisation, is currently building a famous Great Western Railway “Grange Class” locomotive at the Llangollen workshops.

The new engine will be the 81^st of its type but the only one still running as all its 80 1936-designed predecessors are now extinct.

Bretton Grange chairman Quentin McGuinness said: “The locomotive is advancing rapidly and will be on display in the workshops throughout the event.”

He added: “The mega gala event with simultaneous beer festival is due to commence this Friday. We expect at minimum 1,000 people a day to visit.

“A whopping total of six visiting mainline locomotives, which is unheard of at most other heritage railways, from as far away as Devon, Leicestershire, Yorkshire and Lancashire, are currently arriving at Llangollen railway to take part in this extravaganza.

“The event will utilize the newly extended railway into Corwen. A trade fair will be open at Corwen Station to support the event.”

Further information is available on the Bretton Grange website: www.6880.co.uk