* Phil Robinson at the controls of the old 08 loco.
Llanblogger's Phil Robinson samples Llanollen Railway's Driver-for-a-Fiver experience
Like
lots of young boys I imaged myself one day as a driver of a train speeding
along the country’s permanent way.
And
yesterday morning I had the chance to do just that as I got a slice of
trackside action with Llangollen Railway’s current Driver-for-Fiver offer.
The
aim is to allow budding Casey Joneses to take the controls of a vintage diesel
engine for a short chug on the famous Dee Valley line over the Easter weekend and
beyond for just £5.
The
venerable machine being used to provide a taste of what it’s like to be in
command on the footplate is a 66-year-old shunting locomotive that can usually
be found doing unglamorous jobs like moving locomotives and carriages around in
sidings.
The
Class 08 diesel-electric engine number 13625 affectionately nicknamed 'Gronk'
due to the distinctive noise made by its 350hp English Electric diesel engine,
was built in 1956 at Derby Locomotive Works as a plaque on the side says.
According
to Mike Williams a longstanding volunteer guard and Board Member for Operations
at the railway, the 08, as she’s also known, had quite a hard life while
working out of the Great Western Railway’s Cardiff depot before rattling into
another tough career as the chief workhorse at Llangollen heritage railway
around 30 years ago.
Mike
explained that 08 spent lockdown handling a wide variety of heavy chores on the
local line and actually won the distinction of being the first loco to run buffer
to buffer from Llangollen to the new Corwen terminal of the line after the
rails were finished being laid.
The
first Driver-for-a-Fiver services ran on Saturday and drew quite a deal of
business despite the grim weather.
Things
were much drier, brighter and busier on Day Two yesterday when I went along at
the invitation of railway bosses.
The
idea is for people who fancy it to turn up and register for their ‘go’ on the
footplate and by late morning a queue was forming on the platform with both
young and not-so-young would-be drivers.
My
instructor was Charlie Brook who has been driving the old 08 for the past seven
years and has also had plenty of experience in charge of the railway’s steam
engines.
Stepping
up onto the open ‘cockpit’ he invited me to take a seat on a little stool on the side of the big control panel, which looks like something from a
submarine with all its array of heavy metal and brass knobs, levers and switches.
It’s
all a bit daunting until Charlie runs through things and explains that novices
like me only have to deal with a few of these to get things underway and, more
importantly, bring them to a safe halt again.
There’s
a large brass direction lever which is pulled back or forward to get 08 moving
ahead or in reverse.
There’s
then a purposeful-looking power lever to pile on the speed – maximum is only 15mph - the air brake, operated by a big handle painted in
red just above your head and, most important and fun of all, the whistle which you sound by tugging on a chain to let the outside world know you're heading in its direction.
Just
like the driving instructor for a car, Charlie has duplicates of all the same
controls easily to hand in case he’s called upon to take over in an emergency,
which thankfully he didn’t have to do for me.
Under
his watchful eye I pulled all the right controls at the appropriate times and got
us safely a little way up the line and back again, all within an action-packed 10 minutes.
The
only surprise is that although you have to apply a little power to get things
going at a reasonable rate as you head towards Corwen due to the slight
gradient on the line, hardly any ‘gas’ is needed in the opposite direction as
you coast back into Llan station.
Obviously,
they don’t let a complete amateur drive the engine with any passengers aboard and both the carriages we are hauling today - one closed and the other open-topped - are reassuringly
empty.
The
whole thing was lots of fun and, if I hadn’t spent my entire career doing
something else, well who knows?
Apart
from its stints as a training vehicle, the 08 is also working a new and shorter
shuttle service between Llangollen and Berwyn Stations, which will operate between
the three daily steam and diesel trains that run between Llangollen and Carrog.
Mike
Williams who said: “I’ve spent a lot of time working on the 08 over the last
year. The old girl really has been invaluable to us, shunting our yards and
also hauling the works trains to get our railway back in business.
"It’s
a popular loco that doesn’t get much use on public trains and we’re often asked
when there might be a chance to sample a ride behind it. Well, now people can –
and they can even have a go at driving it too!”
Driver-for-a-Fiver
is aimed at everyone aged over 12 and under 16s who must be accompanied by an
adult .
The
experience is available between 11:20-12:05, 13:15-14:15 and 15:35- 16:15.
Tickets can be purchased on the day.
With
a return journey time of 50 minutes, the Berwyn Shuttle allows those looking
for a shorter trip the chance to travel to the beautiful Berwyn station in the
scenic Dee Gorge.
There
is a station tearoom and it is also possible to take a walk to the Chain Bridge
or nearby Horseshoe Falls and return back to Llangollen on a later train if
desired.
Departures
from Llangollen are 10:20, 12:15, 14:30 & 16:30, with returns from Berwyn
at 10:50, 12:16, 12:45, 14:26, 15:00, 16:31 & 17:00.
Tickets
cost £8.50 for adults, £5 for a child and £7.50 for seniors, purchasable from
Llangollen station on the day.
Mike
added: “The rolling stock the shuttle will use is also interesting and quirky,
adding a bit of character to the experience.
"There
is a converted open freight wagon, which has seating and a canopy. Travelling
in this is a real outdoor experience and you’ll be able to hear the river as
well as see it.
"There
is covered accommodation for the less adventurous – a converted LNER pigeon
van, which is fully enclosed but with nice, large windows. This vehicle is
nearly 100 years old and was built to carry racing pigeons around the
country.
"Don’t
worry though, it’s had a lot of work done on it since then to make it suitable
to carry people, including those who have mobility issues."
The
events will run in April on Sat 16th, Sun 17th and Mon 18th, Sat 23rd and Sun
24th and Sat 30th. In May they will run on Sun 1st & Mon 2nd.
* Phil with instructor Charlie Brook. Pictures by Jeanette Robinson.
* Above and below: the Class 08 diesel-electric engine number 13625 being used for Driver-for-a-Fiver.
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