A gala timetable packed with steam, diesel, heritage railcars, freight workings and unusual train movements will bring the Llangollen and Corwen Railway’s year-long 50th anniversary celebrations to a spectacular close this weekend.
The 50 Years Finale Celebration Weekend, taking place on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September, has been designed as a genuine railway gala, with an intensive timetable and trains moving throughout the day across the ten-mile line between Llangollen and Corwen.
The railway has put together what its says is a proper gala timetable, with different locomotive combinations, frequent services, heritage railcars, freight workings, passenger-carrying brake vans, shunting and unusual movements.
Taking centre stage across the weekend will be GWR Pannier No. 7754, GWR Collett 2-8-0 No. 3802, Class 26 No. 5310 and the Class 127/108 Heritage DMU.
Class 31 No. 31271 joins the line-up on Saturday, while Class 47 No. 47449 will be in action on Sunday.
The two days have different timetables, giving visitors plenty of reason to experience both.
Rarely used parts of the railway will also come alive, with volunteers working hard in the run-up to the event to prepare infrastructure including the sidings at Glyndyfrdwy.
The railway has worked out that it is possible to travel on 14 different services in a single day, changing trains at different points along the line and experiencing different locomotives and formations.
Some connections are extremely tight and depend on trains running to time, so completing all 14 cannot be guaranteed. But for enthusiasts wanting to put the timetable, and themselves, to the test, it promises to be a memorable challenge.
And today (Saturday) passengers could potentially make it 15 journeys in a day by adding the evening Ales from Wales Celebration Train.
The special Finale Gala Rover offers exceptional value for anyone wanting to make the most of the weekend. A normal full-line return from Llangollen to Corwen costs £28, or £25 when purchased online.
For just £30 for adults and £8 for children, the Gala Rover gives passengers unlimited travel on event services throughout the day.
That means for only £5 more than the normal online return fare, an adult can spend the whole day hopping on and off trains, changing between steam, diesel and heritage railcars and experiencing as much of the Gala timetable as possible.
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Freight workings and passenger-carrying brake vans will add another dimension to the weekend, alongside shunting and movements visitors would not normally experience during an ordinary operating day.
The railway's Afternoon Tea experiences are now completely sold out for the Finale Weekend.
However, passengers can still add something special to their day. When buying a Gala ticket online, visitors can upgrade at checkout to enjoy a traditional cream tea during their visit.
There is also a final opportunity to experience the railway from the footplate of a working steam or diesel locomotive.
Footplate rides offer the chance to experience the sights, sounds and atmosphere of the railway from the crew's point of view on a journey between Llangollen and Corwen.
The experience also includes a Day Rover, allowing participants to continue enjoying the Gala afterwards.
Saturday's celebrations continue into the evening with the Ales from Wales Celebration Train.
Award-winning vocalist Georgie Hill will perform live on Platform 1 at Llangollen before passengers board the evening train.
Tickets cost £20, including the first pint and a souvenir pint pot, with three Welsh ales featuring during the evening.
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Away from the trains, visitors will be able to discover the extraordinary story of the railway's first half-century, from the earliest days of preservation at Llangollen through decades of rebuilding, restoration and expansion to today's railway through the Dee Valley to Corwen.
There will be special displays and interpretation, behind-the-scenes activities and opportunities to meet some of the people who have helped make that story possible.
At Llangollen, volunteer Ross Beamer will also present a special exhibition demonstrating how 3D printing can be used to recreate railway memorabilia.
Tim Hines from Llangollen and Corwen Railway said: "This is what we've been building towards. After a year celebrating 50 years of our railway, we wanted to finish with a proper Gala timetable and a weekend that really shows what this railway can do.
“There will be steam, diesel, heritage railcars, freight workings, brake van rides, shunting and trains moving throughout the day. The two days are different, so there is a huge amount to see and experience.
“Most importantly, this is the end of our 50th anniversary celebrations. This railway exists because generations of volunteers refused to give up on it. We want people to come and enjoy what they created and help us give an extraordinary anniversary year the Finale it deserves.”
The 50 Years Finale Celebration Weekend takes place on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September 2026, with gates opening from 8.30am.
Gala Rover: £30 adults | £8 children
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