A CELEBRATION of locomotives is being held near Wrexham next month. 

Following a very successful Spring Branchline Steam Gala, the Llangollen & Corwen Railway will hold its second large gala event of 2024 early next month.

Their Diesel and Industrial Weekend is set to take place on June 1 and June 2, 2024. The event will see six diesel and steam locomotives along with an historic diesel railcar

The railway, which continues to recover following the collapse of its PLC operating company in 2021, continues to welcome trains to its brand new Corwen Station, which opened in June 2023.

Visitors can also enjoy a visit to our scenic countryside stations at Berwyn, Glyndyfrdwy and Carrog and a walk in the surrounding Dee Valley, an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

Discussing the event next month,George Walker, Volunteer Gala Organiser, said: “This weekend is all about celebrating the evocative era of diesel-hauled trains on Britain’s Railways between the late 1950’s and 1990’s and the part that railways have played in industry.

"We will be showcasing our fleet of historic and powerful mainline diesel locomotives, with 3 taking part. We have our Class 26 No 5310, which was built in Smethwick in 1959 and spent most of her working life in Scotland. She has been with us at Llangollen since 2009.

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"Then we have our Class 31, which carries 1980’s Railfreight Construction Livery and worked the very last stone train out of Blodwel Quarry near Oswestry in May 1986, not too far away from our railway.

"Finally, we have our Class 47 No 47449, the most powerful locomotive on the railway. Powered by a 2,580hp 12-cylinder Sulzer diesel engine, 512 of these locomotives were built for British Railways and a handful can still be found in mainline use today."

Tom Taylor, Llangollen Railway Trust Manager added. “Another busy event lies ahead for our beloved railway. George has done a brilliant job of planning this event, which should offer visitors the chance to reconnect with both our industrial past and the railway that many of us can remember from our childhoods in the 70’s, 80’s & 90’s.

"What is particularly inspirational here is that George is one of your younger volunteers and still only in his 20’s. His passion for the railway and our diesel fleet is great to see and explodes the myth that heritage railways face a volunteer crisis due to younger folk not wanting to get involved. The Railway is always however on the lookout for new volunteers in all areas and we are holding a recruitment open day on Saturday, June 8.

More details on the event can be found here: https://llangollen-railway.co.uk/diesel-weekend-event/.