Railway swings back to the 40s this weekend

* Winston Churchill and General Montogomery look-alikes will be visiting the 1940s weekend.

Llangollen Railway will be putting the clock back to the World War Two era when it stages its Home Front Weekend this Saturday and Sunday.

The event will be feature displays of military personnel, equipment and vehicles - both British and American - located at the stations along the line to Carrog.

The Home Front side of the period will also be represented with civilian vehicles parked at various locations together with displays of life in the 1940s. 

There will be a mock air raid and demonstration of military firepower on both days. 

Entertainment will be provided at each station along the line by live performers singing songs of the era including George Formby, the Bluebird Belles a group of WAAF entertainers, the Airborne Angel and Jayne Darling.

* Jayne Darling will sing live during the event.

On Saturday night Llangollen Station will offer live acts for the evening dance with a real ale bar from 7-1p.m.  

Look-alikes of Winston Churchill, General Montgomery and Air Vice Marshall Harris will visit the Dee valley during the course of the event to undertake inspections and make patriotic speeches. 

A drum head church service will be held on Sunday morning at Llangollen Station.

Steam-hauled trains will run at regular intervals through the scenic Dee valley during the day with an evening service on Saturday to convey visitors to the concert at Llangollen Station.

* George Formby will also put in an appearance.

A demonstration goods train will also be in operation carrying vital wartime materials along the line.

The main display of military vehicles will be at Glyndyfrdwy Station, about halfway along the railway. 

Unrationed refreshments will be available at stations along the line.

There will be a real ale bar at Llangollen which will be open during the day and into the evening during the concert.  

Visitors are invited to enter into the spirit of the event and come dressed in period costume. 

Any children being evacuated should have the appropriate labels. Unfortunately the line between Carrog and Corwen will be closed due to ‘enemy action’.

* Further information on departure time so of trains and events can be obtained by contacting the Station Office at Llangollen on telephone number 01978-860979, or the website at www.llangollen-railway.co.uk   

On Friday evening New Dot Cinema is screening A Matter of Life and Death, a great 1940s epic, in the Town Hall in Llangollen. Doors open 7.30pm and the film starts at 8pm.