Railway’s Golden weekend

The Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway achieved Gold this weekend, as the popular narrow gauge line celebrated 50 years since reopening as a preserved railway operated mainly by volunteers.

Saturday marked the exact 50th anniversary of the reopening in 1963, seven years after the eight-mile long narrow gauge line had been declared uneconomical by British Railways and closed.

Throughout the weekend the railway’s usual service trains were joined by special Nostalgia Trains. These ran from Llanfair Caereinion to Castle Caereinion at times designed to match as closely as possible the reopening day timetable.

Castle Caereinion is now the mid point of the railway but in 1963 was the limit of working from Llanfair. When the preservationists took over the railway the then local authority denied them the section of line that ran through the streets of Welshpool, and included the maintenance sheds at the livestock market.

As a result the society was forced to build a new headquarters at the other end of the line in Llanfair Caereinion, and passenger services to a new Welshpool station at Raven Square were not restored until 1981.

On Saturday, almost to the hour of the 50th anniversary, W&LLR Chairman Alan Higgins addressed the many members and friends of the line present (pictured), speaking from a wagon parked in Llanfair station – the very same wagon that the railway’s first Chairman, Sir Thomas Salt, stood on to make the opening day speech in 1963.

Alan recalled the pioneering spirit of the early days of preservation, recounting Sir Thomas Salt’s inaugural speech in which the fledgling preservation society received best wishes from the then newly-reopened Talyllyn and Ffestiniog Railways – fellow pioneers of a heritage railway movement that has grown to become a major sector of the UK tourist industry.

Alan also recalled how the Welshpool & Llanfair has grown from an initial shoestring operation to the major tourist attraction that it is today. He praised the many achievements of volunteers and staff, including obtaining, restoring and maintaining locomotives and rolling stock from across the world, relaying track and rebuilding stations – and in the case of Welshpool, building an entirely new station.

Many took the opportunity over the weekend to ride the nostalgia trains, including several members who were present on the opening day in 1963. The carriages of these trains were decorated with storyboards describing the line’s preservation and the many achievements made in the past half-century.

Motive power for the trains was provided by the W&LLR’s two orginal 1902-built locomotives, ‘The Earl’ and ‘Countess’, as well as other locomotives obtained over the years by the preservation company.

Members stayed at Llanfair long into the evening, enjoying a specially-brewed Anniversary Ale and swapping memories of working on the W&LLR over the years.

Speaking after addressing the members, Alan Higgins said that it had been great to start the season with an event celebrating the past 50 years of preservation on the W&LLR, “and in particular sharing the weekend with a number of members who were actually present at the reopening of the railway in 1963.

“So much has been achieved in that half century,” Alan added. “While many challenges lie ahead, particularly in the harsh realities of today’s economic climate, we are confident of meeting them and flourishing far into the future.”

The members’ weekend provided a successful start to a year of celebration for the railway which will also greatly involve the local community, particularly the next event scheduled for the May 18/19.

This will be a 1960s-themed weekend and memories of the period in which the line opened will be visible right along the route from Welshpool to Llanfair, including 1960s outfits, transport and a host of other attractions currently being planned.

Tickets are now on sale for a dance night at Welshpool Town Hall on Saturday May 18 with music provided by 1960s tribute band ‘The Suits’. Tickets will also be available for a special evening train running to the event from Llanfair Caereinion.

Further details of the 1960s-themed weekend and tickets for the dance evening can be obtained from the Anniversary page of the railway’s website at www.wllr.org.uk, by calling 07722 949581 or emailing 2013.wllr@gmail.com.