A Trip Along the Line
Well, it'll never be the same as actually sitting on one of our trains and admiring the scenery, but here is a 'virtual' trip on the line. Click the link below to begin by leaving Carrog, heading for Llangollen! As with most of the photos on this site, click on them for a bigger image. Many thanks to John Rutter for a lot of the photos and his help with the captions.
The route runs from West to East (Carrog to Llangollen); you can either start at the beginning, or jump to an intermediate station using the menu on the left.
Also shown here for interest is the gradient profile of the open section of line. (click it for a larger version)
Carrog Station
We start our journey down the line at Carrog Station, currently our Western terminus. We view the station from the road over bridge and, what appears to have been in place since the 1860s, was in fact carefully restored to its current pristine condition and reopened to the public in 1996. As well as passengers from the railway, many walkers and motorists break their journeys to visit the cafe, then sit down to tea and cakes on the platform whilst watching the trains go by.
Resident 2884 class heavy freight loco no 3802 waits outside the cafe whilst, behind it, 6430 with Autocoaches 167 (nearest) and 163 await the road before passing the reconstructed signal box, the original being demolished when the Railway was lifted. The waiting room seen on the 'down' platform is similarly a reconstruction. The station building is original and fully restored to a Great Western Railway appearance.
The sidings contain a variety of stock which changes according to the needs of the railway. In the cattle dock is the full brake coach converted into a shop which sells railwayana, second hand books and other items in support of the rebuilding of 5532, a Great Western Small Prairie Tank Locomotive.
In the background, the lower slopes of the Llantisillio Mountain range meet the flood plain of the River Dee.
Carrog Village is a short distance away across the river.
(John Rutter)
Leaving Carrog
UK Maritime North Westerly weather again. Winter returns to North Wales somewhat
unexpectedly in mid-
Since Carrog is the present westerly terminus of the line, the train arrives and leaves from the 'Up' platform alongside the station building and cafe. (In the UK 'Up' is usually towards London) When the extension to Corwen is completed, the station will revert to normal operation using both platforms.
(Photo: David Hardy)
Leaving Carrog
Unlike the previous picture, the weather isn't always bad in Wales and warm sunny days are common. Long time resident Black 5 no 44806, now just returned from a 10 year overhaul, heads off towards Glyndyfrdwy, two miles away, with a scheduled passenger service.
In the background the line of the Berwyn Mountains can be seen which, together with the Llantisilio range to the north, form the deep valley of the River Dee (Afon Dyfrdwy). At this point the floor of the valley is quite wide, but this narrows at Glyndyfrdwy as the river begins to descend more steeply.
Leaning against the station sign can be seen a restored platform trolley, used for transporting passenger's luggage in the days of plentiful porters.
The notice at the end of the platform warns against trespassing on the line. (John Rutter)
This Trip up the Line (Up in the Railway Sense -
(Photo: George Jones)
