LLANOLLEN RAILWAY BACK IN BUSINESS

[viscount]

I've been asked to let NWAN members know that following the enforced shut-down due to Covid-19, the Llangollen Steam Railway is back in business. Not just in business again but desperately looking for income from passengers with half the summer season now lost.

Fancy a non-aviation day out?

www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/18616596.llangollen-railway-prepares-resume-services/

[viscount]

I've been passed on a link to a further internet news article on the subject of the precarious state of tourist attractions such as the steam railways of North Wales and the desperate need to get customers on board for the rest of the season.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-53614567

[ronturner]

Takes me back a long time. We were in the habit of visiting my grandparents at Chirk. Bus to Pier Head, ferry cross the Mersey then Train from Woodside on the line to Paddington. Stopped among other places at Ruabon where there was a large sign "Change here For Llangollen, Corwen and Barmouth" These place names just fascinated me and I wanted to go there. During our holidays we always visited Llangollen, once travelling on a canal barge direct from a hew yards from where my grandparents lived, across two aqueducts and through a long tunnel, and I pestered my much older cousin to take me to Barmouth on the train. Day trip there and back. Cannot remember that much except it was a good day out and I was probably lucky to have done it.

Another strange memory. There was a great Fish and Chip restaurant on the other side of the river from the station at Llangollen. My family always ate there and loved it. About 15 years later I was out with my girlfriend (now Mrs T) on a day trip in a mini I borrowed from my mate Robert Powell. (She was never keen on riding my AJS) We went to the same place to eat and it was as good as was imprinted in my memory.

Finally there was a local train which ran from Wrexham, through Chirk to Gobowen where it branched off to Oswestry. An old steam tank engine pulled two ancient coaches to and fro. on this line which we used to go to the Oswestry market now and again. I also remember not far from my grandparents house there was a long walk we would take, through fields and woodland; the footpath crossed the railway. There was just a stile and a gate. Not far away there was a "halt" A very small station where you could hail the local train to stop.

I reckon all these memories are from the mid 50's.