Footplate experiences announced for railway's Branch Line Gala

Llangollen and Corwen Railway has announced a limited programme of exclusive footplate experiences as part of its highly anticipated Branch Line Gala, taking place from Friday-Sunday, April 10-12.

They will give visitors a rare opportunity to travel in the cab of a working heritage locomotive, alongside the driver and fireman, offering a unique behind the scenes insight into the operation of steam traction on a traditional rural branch line.

 

Footplate passes will be available on two of the railway’s headline locomotives for the gala weekend, resident pannier tank No. 7754 and heavy freight locomotive No. 3802, with a mixture of full-length and shorter runs operating across the three days.

 

Full-length runs covering extended sections of the line will be priced at £130, with shorter half-length experiences available from £65, allowing enthusiasts and visitors alike to experience the sights, sounds and atmosphere of steam operation from the footplate itself. A special intermediate-length run between Carrog and Llangollen will also be offered on the Sunday.

 

The railway says the experiences form part of its commitment to providing immersive and memorable heritage railway events, giving visitors the chance to connect directly with the skills and traditions that define Britain’s railway history.

* Heavy freight locomotive no. 3802.

 

Iain Ross, Organiser of the Branch Line Gala, said: “Footplate experiences are one of the most exciting and authentic ways to experience a heritage railway. They offer a completely different perspective on the operation of these historic locomotives and allow participants to appreciate the teamwork, concentration and skill required to run a busy branch line service.

 

“With an intensive gala timetable, visiting locomotives and a strong Great Western theme, the 2026 Branch Line Gala is already shaping up to be one of our most ambitious events in recent years. Adding a programme of footplate rides allows us to offer something truly special for enthusiasts and visitors who want to get even closer to the action.”

 

The Branch Line Gala will feature an intensive timetable of steam and diesel services across the full length of the line between Llangollen and Corwen, alongside freight demonstrations, brake van rides, shed tours, live music and a wide range of catering and refreshment options at stations along the route.

 

Footplate experience places are strictly limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

 

* Further details and advance booking information for Footplate Passes on the Branch Line Gala are available here - https://llan.hops.org.uk/tickets/branchline-gala/footplate2026

Methodist church is collecting Easter eggs for Ukraine

Llangollen Methodist Church is collecting Easter eggs to send off to children living with the conflict in Ukraine.

Teams4U, the Christian charity based in Wrexham, is going to use its network of contacts in the war-torn country to deliver a little bit of joy to the youngsters and Llangollen Methodist Church is collecting eggs to take to the warehouse. 

A spokesperson for the church said: "You can donate by giving eggs - the 90 gram size is preferred for ease of packing - to any member of the church or by dropping them off over the next two weekends.

"Sunday's 11am service is a Palm Sunday service, and at 6pm there is a special Taize service. 

"Good Friday sees an 11am service followed by a Walk of Witness to Centenary Square. Members from all Churches will be joining together for some Easter songs and readings and to give out Hot Cross Buns and mini eggs to passers-by.  All are welcome to join in.

"There will be a celebration of Easter at 11am in the Methodist Church on Sunday April 5 and then, on Easter Monday, the Memorial Hall is open for Easter craft activities and seasonal refreshments. So there are lots of opportunities to donate your Easter Eggs!"

April's events and activities at Pengwern Community Hub

Here are events and activities going on at Pengwern Community Hub during April:

Latest offering from unsung 4x4 hero

Toyota Land Cruiser drive by Steve Rogers

When it comes to off road legends Jeep and Land Rover are first in line. Fair enough, they’ve been around the longest but we need to add another to the roll of honour.

The Land Cruiser is a bit of an unsung hero yet it has quite a history not to mention enough sales to cover the whole of Wales.

It was born all but 75 years ago in August 1951 as the Toyota BJ and quickly made a name for itself by becoming the first vehicle to climb to the 6th station on Mount Fuji. A lofty 7,874ft along the Yoshida Trail, a favourite with trekkers.

The BJ became Land Cruiser three years later and has clocked up 11.3 million sales in 170 countries. Watch anything on the tele from Africa and the Middle East and you are guaranteed to see Land Cruisers churning up the dust.

And so the story goes on with a spanking new model, this one sitting on a new platform that has a body-on-frame set up for the first time aimed at increasing rigidity and improving the ride and handling on and off the road.

As for the new body design it looks as if it has been carved out of granite. It's all sharp edges without a curve in sight. It caused quite a stir at my local recycling centre, loads (all men) wanted a look and said it looked great but no one could put a name to it.

See what I mean about Land Cruiser being an anonymous unsung hero.

At almost five metres long and standing at 1.935m it is an intimidating monster and looks as if it is ready to turn into a Transformers super hero. The running boards and handles on each door frame are needed just to haul yourself into the seats.

Something you don’t have to worry about are potholes, the 20 inch wheels crash through them as if they weren't there yet the ride is still on the jiggly side in spite of the new platform, but then what can we expect from a car that can do amazing things when tackling the most treacherous offroad conditions?

The Land Cruiser uses the same four-cylinder turbo diesel as the Hilux pick up. It is robust but agricultural and someone paying more than £80 grand might expect something a little more refined but we have to accept where the majority of sales come from and drivers on rough tracks in the Middle East are not too fussed with such niceties. They want something that won’t break down.

In spite of its whopping 500Nm of torque this is no flyer even with a new 48v hybrid battery that supplies 12kW of power and is good for an extra 65Nm or torque at start off. Hauling its three tonne body weight means acceleration is ponderous but it can pull three and a half tonne which is probably more important.

All that reflects on the economy which is around average. My best result was 29mpg but most of the time I was hovering between 26-27mpg, thankfully an 80 litre tank ensures more than 400 miles between fills.

I doubt the Land Cruiser will spend much time off road in the hands of UK buyers and that lofty price tag doesn’t sound quite so intimidating when you go through the spec sheet which goes on forever. You are left wanting for nothing whether it is driver and

passenger safety aids or those luxuries like heated and ventilated seats front and back, yet don’t expect Range Rover style luxury. In many ways the car’s cabin is dated, I counted 36 switches, not counting those on the steering wheel, which for me is a joy. You can play them like a piano without the stress of dabbing at a touchscreen, although it has one of those as well.

What I liked about the Land Cruiser is that it doesn’t carry the snob reputation of its posher rivals. Lots will look on this as the king of the castle as far as luxury off roaders go and who can argue with that.

Favourite feature: The ice cold cool box between the front seats.

Fast facts

Land Cruiser Invincible

£82,845

2.8 litre diesel; 204bhp

8 speed automatic

0-62mph 12.3secs; 105mph

26.4mpg combined

282g/km. 1st VED £5,690

Insurance group 49

Boot: 742-2000 litres

Railway partners with Wales Comic Con on Red Dwarf steam train

Llangollen and Corwen Railway has announced a new partnership with the Wales Comic Con ahead of this year’s event, which takes place on April 4 and at the Llangollen Pavilion. 

To celebrate the new collaboration, fans will have the opportunity to travel to  Comic Con in unique style aboard a special Red Dwarf Steam Train on Saturday April 4, featuring celebrated actor and comedian Chris Barrie. 

Best known for his role as Arnold Rimmer in the long-running sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf, Barrie will travel on the steam train, meeting fans in a special meet and greet experience as it journeys through the Dee Valley. 

Barrie has enjoyed a distinguished career as a vocal impressionist on ITV’s Spitting Image and starred as Gordon Brittas in the BBC sitcom The Brittas Empire, as well as appearing as Hillary the butler in the Lara Croft Tomb Raider films. He is also known for his personal enthusiasm for steam railways, making the collaboration a natural fit.

 

The special service will depart Corwen at 9am on Saturday April 4, before arriving in Llangollen at approximately 9.40am, just a short walk from the Pavilion. 

Capacity is limited to the first 200 passengers. Tickets are priced at £40, £12 for kids and includes a full-line return journey between Llangollen and Corwen, with return services available at 12.20pm, 1.45pm, 3.15pm or 4.20pm. The ticket also includes priority entry to Wales Comic Con. Significantly; ample parking is available at Corwen.

 

On Sunday April 5, the partnership continues with a special Cosplay on the Trains experience. The first 200 passengers will receive a full-line return journey on the railway plus priority entry to Wales Comic Con, offering exceptional value as both travel and event access are included. Organisers have also promised surprise appearances and themed experiences throughout the day.

 

Dave Hennigan, Trust Manager at the Llangollen and Corwen Railway, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be partnering with the team behind Wales Comic Con to bring these exciting plans to life. 

"Having worked with them previously, we know just how passionate and creative they are in delivering memorable events, and it is fantastic to be collaborating once again. The opportunity to welcome fans aboard a special steam service, particularly with such a well-known guest, is something truly unique for our railway and the local area.

 

“It makes it even more special that Chris Barrie himself has a genuine love of steam trains, which adds an extra layer of excitement for both railway enthusiasts and Red Dwarf fans alike. 

"This partnership marks the beginning of what we hope will be a strong and lasting relationship, and we are very much looking forward to working together on this and other future events that will help attract new audiences and showcase everything our railway and Llangollen has to offer.”

 

Wales Comic Con brings together stars of film, television, gaming and comics alongside cosplay, traders and immersive fan experiences. The new partnership with the Llangollen and Corwen Railway aims to enhance the visitor experience while showcasing one of North Wales’ most scenic heritage attractions.

 

* These exclusive tickets can be bought here: https://llan.hops.org.uk/tickets/products/comic-con

Middle East war forces cycling lads to pick safer route into Asia

 

* A busy day's sightseeing for the lads in the city of Tblisi, Georgia.

"There's no need to worry about us and we're now heading for Asia."

That is the latest positive message from the three young friends from the Llangollen area embarked on a mammoth cycling trip to Thailand in aid of a heart charity.

Dyfan Hughes, 18, from Llangollen, Louis Dennis, 19, from Garth, and James Thomas,19, from Wrexham aim to cycle the 10,000 miles to the Far East in memory of Tony Edge, the father of a friend who died following a heart attack in 2024.

The intrepid trio, calling themselves the Westheads, set out from Lllangollen Football Club's HQ last August on their marathon ride which they reckon will take them at least 18 months to complete. 

To date they have cycled through Holland, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Turkey and Georgia and are now heading for central Asia.

Along the way they aimed to raise £10,000 for the British Heart Foundation but, so far, well-wishers following their daily social media updates have pledged more than £24,000 to their cause.

The lads spent the winter in the town of Batumi on the Black Sea coast of Georgia and recently got back on the road as the weather improved.

A few weeks ago they used one of their daily social media updates to outline the problem they faced of exactly how to get safely into Asia with political problems in both Iran and Russia.

But the war now raging in the Middle East has forced them to make a major adjustment to their route.

They will now take a plane ride with their bikes across the Caspian Sea to Aktau in Kazakhstan. 

While they are waiting for their flight they have been spending some time sightseeing in Tblisi in Georgia.

In a recent update they revealed how they have been contacted by many people back home expressing fears for their safety but their message was that they are all safe and well and excited about getting into Asia.

They also gave out the good news that their visas to enter China had now come through. 

* To follow the journey on their social media and make a donation if you wish, go to: https://linktr.ee/westheads

Public toilets to have £1 entry charge from April 1

* The Market Street public toilets.

Public toilets in Market Street and Riverside Park, Llangollen will have an entry fee of £1 from April 1.

The charge is part of a package of measures announced by Denbighshire County Council to keep open its conveniences. 

The proposals were developed after money received by the council had not kept up with financial pressures and the increasing cost of delivering services, especially statutory services like social care and education. 

The county worked with city, town and community councils to collaborate together on a sustainable model to fund and protect as many facilities as possible. This model incudes direct financial contributions from the city, town and community councils.

Following this work, there are changes to charging for the toilets which will see the installation of contactless payment/entry systems commencing in March, the refurbishment of toilets and the closure of three facilities across Denbighshire - not including Llangollen.  

Work to introduce the contactless system at Llangollen is expected to take between two to three days dependant on weather but the toilets will remain open for use during this work.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport. said: “I want to once again thank the town and community councils for their positive energy and collaboration that supported everyone in reaching this position where we can now keep most of our public toilets open. 

"I’d also like to thank residents and visitors for their support and patience whilst refurbishment work is carried out on some of the sites.”