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.
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)
UK Maritime North Westerly weather again. Winter returns to North Wales somewhat
unexpectedly in mid-April 1998. Fortunately, at this time of the year the snow does
not last very long but it looks very picturesque from the warmth of the train.
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)
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 - ie towards London so we run from
Carrog - down the hill - to Llangollen) is as originally published on John Joyce’s
website. I present it here in it’s original format, but I will be updating it as
time and new pictures allow.
