Monday, June 26, 2023

Railway's classic transport weekend gets into gear


* Above and below: The line-up of vintage tractors and buses from previous shows.



* A busy timetable of steam, diesel and railcar trains will operate on the railway.

Over 300 vintage and classic cars, buses and other vehicles will be on display at Glyndyfrdwy Station on the Llangollen & Corwen Railway this weekend, July 1 and 2, as the much-loved Classic Transport Weekend takes place.

A busy timetable of steam, diesel and railcar trains will operate on the railway, centred around the  village station of Glyndyfrdwy, where a large vintage vehicle rally is to be held in a large field right next to the station. 

All trains are now running to the new station at Corwen, which opened on June 2nd.  A free vintage bus service will also operate between Corwen and Glyndyfrdwy, allowing visitors to follow trains from the adjacent A5 road and take in the views of the stunning Dee Valley AONB.

The event has again been organised by two of the railway’s younger volunteers, Tim Hines and George Walker, who are both under 30 years old. 

Tim said: "Last year George and I had our first go at running this event and put a lot of hours in to make it happen. As well as volunteering at the railway, George and I are also both owners of vintage buses, which we’ve restored and take to shows. 

"Last year’s event was such a great success that we couldn’t really do anything other than say yes when we were asked if we could do it again.

"We now have over 300 vehicles booked to attend the rally at Glyndyfrdwy station across the weekend. We will use two of our neighbouring farmer’s fields to fit them all in and provide a car park. Our neighbour has always been extremely supportive of the event – especially the vintage tractor display."

Husband and wife stationmaster team at Glyndyfrdwy, Paul and Wendy Bailey, said: “We always look forward to welcoming so many visitors to our station, which is usually a very quiet and beautifully-restored country station with fascinating links to the local slate industry, some of which you can still see. 

"Our tearoom and brand new Porters station bar will be open all weekend to refresh both exhibitors and visitors. It’s a great opportunity to see our country station at its busiest, with a wonderful parade of classic cars, motorbikes and buses all making their away across the traditional, gated level crossing between the station and signal box. 

"There’s also a lovely village picnic field and playground right next to the station where you can watch the cars, trains, wildlife and see if you can spot the old loading wharf, where slates produced at the Deeside Slab and Moelfferna quarries up in the Berwyn mountains above the village were brought down on a narrow gauge railway and trans-shipped into standard gauge wagons for onward transport around the world."

* Tickets for the event are available in advance from the railway’s website or on the day from station ticket offices. 

Parking for visitors is also available at the Glyndyfrdwy rally priced at £5 for the day or £8 including a reduced price programme. The railway’s website also has an event information page: https://llangollen-railway.co.uk/classic-transport-weekend/

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