For the first time in over 60 years, children will take a train from Corwen to Llangollen on Tuesday, July 2 to attend the Eisteddfod children's day.
The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and the town's heritage railway have organised this journey for 160 pupils from three schools in the Dee Valley alongside their teachers.
In the summer of 1963, the last ‘Eisteddfod special’ departed from Corwen before the line was closed the following year due to the infamous Beeching rail cuts.
Since then, railway volunteers have worked to reopen the entire 10-mile line.
The final piece of this project was the reintroduction of Corwen station last June after a £1.25 million construction, officially opened by Lord Hendy, chairman of Network Rail.
Chairman of the Eisteddfod’s marketing committee, Ian Lebbon, who has overseen the special excursion, enlightened the audience about this one-of-a-kind event.
Ysgol Carrog children leave the train at Llangollen station heading for the Eisteddfod’s Children’s Day in 2019 (Image: Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod)
He said: "Llangollen and Corwen Railway has agreed to run the special service for pupils to attend our children day instead of travelling by coach.
"Not only is this good for our environment but adds to the children’s excitement.
"The last children to use this exact route would have been pupils from Llangollen’s Ysgol Dinas Bran travelling from Corwen in 1963, which means it has taken over 60 years to return such a service.
"We did do our best to recreate the Eisteddfod special pre-pandemic in 2019 but that was before Corwen opened and we had to board the children at Carrog, the station further along the line.
"It’s quite possible that some of our 2024 travellers may have had grandparents who used the service daily in 1963."
Three Dee Valley schools partaking in the journey are Ysgol Bro Dyfyrdwy in Cynwyd, Ysgol Caer Drewyn in Corwen and Ysgol Carrog.
The pupils are in for an exciting day at the Eisteddfod, where they will join students from several schools across North Wales.
The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has joined forces with Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor for this year's festival.
A representative for Llangollen and Corwen Railway voiced pride in the railway's association with the esteemed Eisteddfod.
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They said: "The railway is very proud to be involved in the International Eisteddfod again after a long absence of running trains to bring schoolchildren and other guests to this historic and prestigious event.
"Our beautiful station at Llangollen has welcomed many visitors to the town since it first opened, some 162 years ago.
"We hope all those who travel with us over the next few weeks thoroughly enjoy their time at the Eisteddfod and take away extra special memories of travelling to the event by train."
The Core Eisteddfod starts on Tuesday, July 2.
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