Llangollen Railway kicks of its 50th anniversary year in fine style with a spectacular Branchline Gala this weekend, on Friday 11th, Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th April.
A packed timetable will see 4 steam and one diesel locomotive in use, including two visitors alongside the railway’s home fleet. This will include No 6880 “Betton Grange”, the 81st member of the famous Great Western Grange class, which was built from new by a group of enthusiasts.8
The project started at Llangollen in 1998 and much of the locomotive was built and assembled in the railway’s workshops. 6880 left the railway in 2018 and was then completed at Tyseley Locomotive Works in Birmingham, hauling trains for the first time in 2023. 6880 arrived at Llangollen last week and has been put straight into use on two enthusiast photo charters this week.
Also visiting is Class 14 diesel No D9525, another product of the Great Western Railway’s world-famous Swindon works. Built in 1964, this little loco was designed to haul short freight trains between towns and goods yards. Unfortunately, with great change taking place on the railways at this time, the engine was largely redundant by the time it was built, so it was sold on to the National Coal Board, who found plenty of work for her in the Northumberland coalfields until 1987. Nicknamed “Teddy Bears” by Swindon Works, the Class 14 is staying on the railway for the whole season.
The line’s home fleet of locomotives will contribute two more Swindon-built GWR steam locomotives – 1938-built 2-8-0 “Heavy Freight” No 3802 and 1930-built 0-6-0 “Pannier” tank No 7754. Former Austin Motor Company Longbridge factory shunter Kitson 0-6-0 ST "Austin 1” will also play a starring role. This was the first steam locomotive to work a public train at the railway in preservation, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary since members of the Flintshire & Deeside Railway Society began restoration work at a derelict Llangollen Station in September 1975.
Austin 1 worked the first public trains on a short piece of track in the station in 1981, using two suburban coaches and a brake van – which are also taking part in the event. Visitors will be able to book footplate rides on “Austin 1” between 11am and 1pm on each day of the event and can also travel in a special brake van train (limited capacity).
The 2025 Branchline Gala is the largest event that the railway has put on for 10 years. It has been organised by longstanding volunteers Iain Ross and Matt Davies, working with new Commercial Manager Nicola Reincke.
Iain said:“Creating the right theme for the Branch line gala in our 50th anniversary year was very important. Matt and I looked at various options; locos that originally worked the line and locos that have either visited or been based at Llangollen during Preservation. We concluded that a star attraction would be a loco built at Llangollen.
"Many thanks to the Betton Grange Society for allowing it to happen!” Matt Davies added “6880 was what got me involved as a volunteer at Llangollen over 20 years ago. Seeing her in steam for a test run last Saturday evening was a very special moment and I can’t wait to drive her on our line during the gala.”
Aside from the busy timetable of trains, visitors can also undertake shed tours of the Llangollen Motive Power Depot and see the incredible work that has been put in by volunteers to improve the facilities for locomotive overhaul and maintenance.
Two further Great Western locomotives under restoration will also be on display – No 5967 “Bickmarsh Hall” and Prairie Tank No 5332. 5532 will be on display outside of the locomotive shed for the first time in 30 years and it’s owning group are launching an appeal to raise the final £55,000 required to return her to steam for the first time since 1962.
The Sunday of the event will have a special South Wales theme, with all the locomotives carrying “target” headboards with letters and numbers that helped signalmen identify busy passenger trains leaving Cardiff bound for destinations like Newport, Swansea, Rhymney and Rhondda in the 1960’s.
Named express trains like “The Pembroke Coast Express” also sped passengers away from this busy part of Wales for places like Fishguard or Bristol. Betton Grange will carry these express headboards, which have been recreated and hand-painted by Iain Ross.
Real ale bars and shops will also be open at Llangollen, Glyndyfrdwy and Corwen stations along with food stalls. Berwyn Station café, recently voted one of the top 10 most beautiful railway stations in the world, will also be open.
Nic Reincke said: “I have been at the LR for 18 months and do not have a railway background but love being a part of our team. You can feel the dedication and enthusiasm of our volunteers over the last half century all around the railway and it gets into your blood. We cannot wait to welcome everyone to our Branchline Gala. Betton Grange will only be with us for a short time, so anyone wanting to take a trip with her needs to come along this weekend.
"Our team have worked extremely hard to get our railway ready for the biggest gala we have put on for many years. This is the first of several events we are putting on this year to celebrate our 50th anniversary. The railway has come such a long way in that time – from a few hundred yards of track to a 10-mile heritage railway with a brand-new station in Corwen, which was built by volunteers and opened in 2023.”
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