There’s s-no-w stopping us opening!

Leading Mid-Wales tourst attraction the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway is looking forward to opening its 55th season as a heritage line on March 24, after a winter of hard work punctuated by some special new trains.

The railway’s first-ever Winter Warmer services in February, running to the intermediate station of Castle Caereinion during the two weeks of school half terms, proved a major success and thankfully were concluded just before the district was hit by very heavy snow.

Now, however, staff and volunteers are looking forward to reopening the full eight miles of line between Welshpool and Llanfair Caereinion, having carried out a great deal of hard maintenance work over the winter. The major task completed has been the relaying of a section of track leading out of Welshpool Raven Square, the largely volunteer track gang working in the worst of the winter weather including the snow (pictured).

At Llanfair Caereinion just as much effort has been expended in the mechanical engineering workshop, carrying out essential winter maintenance on the three operating steam locomotives while also continuing the restoration of loco no 10 ‘Sir Drefaldwyn’.

Other work carried out has included sending away one of the line’s bogie carriages for specialist modifications as part of a grant-aided project to improve facilities for wheelchair-bound passengers. The usual winter tasks of cleaning and repainting have continued apace, while the railway’s hedgebashers group has been busy clearing excessive growth of greenery and improving the views for the travelling public.

The first train of the new main season leaves Llanfair Caereinion at 10am on March 24, and trains will also run on Sunday 25th and then daily from March 27 until Sunday, April 15.

Afterwards the railway will operate at weekends until midweek services begin in May.

Over the Easter Weekend, (March 31-April 2), the W&LLR will be running its Easter Bunny services. Accompanied children travelling on the train will receive a free chocolate egg, and there will be eggs to spot along the route, and the Easter Bunny will be putting in an appearance too.

W&LLR spokesman Andrew Charman said: “The Easter Bunny’s visit is a sure sign that Spring is here, and that the snowy season is finished!”

Full information on the railway, including online ticket booking, can be found on the www.wllr.org.uk website or by calling 01938 810441.