LLANGOLLEN Railway is looking forward to turning the clock back for its 60s weekend early next month.
Making a very welcome return after several years’ absence, this is a great weekend with something for everyone.
The event, which takes place on August 3 and 4, will include live music at Llangollen station, vintage vehicles, a heritage bus service from Corwen, a real ale bar at Llangollen station and the chance to drive a diesel shunting locomotive at Corwen station.
What is on at the event. (Image: Llangollen Railway)
There will be a busy timetable of steam, diesel and railcar trains, all of which would have been seen at work around the country in the 1960s.
The 1960s saw monumental political, social and technological change. The railways in Britain were no different, seeing the end of steam locomotives, the birth of the famous "double arrow logo" and the controversial closure of a third of Britain's rail network, masterminded by BR Board Chairman Dr Richard Beeching and controversial Transport Minister Ernest Marples.
The Ruabon-Barmouth railway was one of the victims of the Beeching Cuts, closing at the end of 1964. The closure of rural railways was extremely unpopular and attracted considerable resistance from the communities about to lose their transport links.
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Demonstrations were not uncommon and LR volunteers, dressed in period clothes and bearing placards, will recreate anti-closure protests at Glyndyfrdwy station over the weekend.
Volunteers worked for nearly 50 years to rebuild 10 miles of the abandoned line between Llangollen and Corwen, with the first trains running in 1985 and a brand new station at Corwen finally opening in June 2023.
The event is being organised by mother-and-son team Mandy Towers and Joe Walker, who both volunteer at Llangollen station.
Mandy Towers and Joe Walker (Image: Llangollen Railway)
Joe said: “Mum and I knew 60s weekend had always been a very popular event and thought it would be great to bring it back for 2024.
"I have a strong interest in the history of the Ruabon to Barmouth line and want the event to portray the character of our line as it was in its heyday alongside the familiar favourites from previous events such as vintage vehicles, music and a real ale bar.
"There are some new attractions too, such as reenactment of protests against the Beeching Closure. We asked some of the local residents about their memories of our line before it closed, many of which will be re-enacted in the protest. There will also be an exhibition about the Beeching Report, educating our visitors of the major changes during this decade and how Beeching's 'Reshaping of British Railways’ report affected rural communities including the Dee Valley.
"We hope you have an enjoyable time during this action-packed weekend."
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