I S S U E D M O N T H L Y U N D E R T H E A U T H O R I T Y O F T H E C O M P A N Y. [GRATUITOUS COPY. AND OTHER RAILWAYS IN CONNECTION. TIME TABLES MAY, 2016, and until further Notice. C O N T E N T S. M A I N T A B L E S. PAGES Llangollen, Berwyn, Glyndyfrdwy, Carrog and Corwen.................... 2 Route and Mileage Guide.................................... 4 Attractions Along the Line.............. 5 View from the Window Between Llangollen and Corwen..................... 6 M I S C E L L A N E O U S I N F O R M A T I O N. PAGES PAGES Berwyn Station............ 7 Refreshments................ 11 Carrog Station............ 8 Safety During Your Visit........ 11 Corwen Central Station.......... 9 Souvenirs and Sales............. 11 Corwen East Station........ 9 Third Class Trains.............. 2 Deeside Halt.............. 7 8 Tickets................... 11 Glyndyfrdwy Station.......... 8 Useful Postcodes............. 11 Llangollen Station......... 6 Volunteer Support Groups.......... 11 Plas Bonwm............... Pentrefelin............ 9 7 Walks from Berwyn Station.......... 10 Version 1.2 21/04/16
GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. THIRD CLASS TRAINS B E T W E E N LLANGOLLEN A N D B E R W Y N D E E S I D E H A L T G L Y N D Y F R D W Y C A R R O G C O R W E N E A S T M a y, 2 0 1 6 F R O M L L A N G O L LE N a. m. a. m. a. m. p. m. p. m. p. m. p. m. p. m. p. m. LLANGOLLEN Dep 10 00 10 30 11 00 12 15 12 40 1 15 2 30 2 55 3 45 Berwyn Arr 10 09 10 39 11 09 12 24 12 54 1 24 2 39 3 08 3 54 Glyndyfrdwy Arr 10 22 10 51 11 21 12 38 1 06 1 36 2 53 3 20 4 08 Carrog Arr 10 30 11 00 11 32 12 47 1 15 1 47 3 02 3 30 4 17 Corwen (East) Arr 10 41.. 11 42 12 57.. 1 57 3 12.. 4 27 T O L L A N G O L LE N a. m. a. m. a. m. p. m. p. m. p. m. p. m. p. m. p. m. Corwen (East) Dep 10 50 11 50 1 05 2 05 3 20 4 35 Carrog Dep 11 15 11 40 12 15 1 30 1 55 2 30 3 45 4 25 5 00 Glyndyfrdwy Arr 11 25 11 47 12 22 1 37 2 02 2 37 3 52 4 32 5 07 Berwyn Arr 11 37 12 01 12 40 1 52 2 16 2 55 4 10 4 46 5 22 LLANGOLLEN Arr 11 45 12 09 12 48 2 00 2 25 3 03 4 18 4 55 5 30 The published Time Tables of this Company are only intended to fix the time at which Passengers may be certain to obtain their Tickets for any journey from the various Stations, it being understood that the Trains shall not start from them before the appointed time; but the Directors give Notice that the Company do not undertake that the Trains shall start or arrive at the specified in the Bills, nor will they be accountable for any loss, inconvenience or injury, which may arise from delay, or detention, unless upon proof that such loss, inconvenience, injury, delay or detention arose in consequence of the wilful misconduct of the Company s Servants. Fares will only be accepted and tickets issued upon the condition that there shall be room in the train by which the passenger desires to travel. The Company reserves the right to despatch Trains from Junction Stations before the arrival of other Trains shown in the Company s Time Tables as connecting Trains, should the incoming Trains through unforeseen circumstances be running late. THIRD CLASS TRAINS On and after the 16 th May, the Third Class Trains between Llangollen and Corwen will be as follows: from Llangollen at 10.40 a.m. and 1.0 p.m. and 3.10 p.m. ; from Corwen East at 11.20 a.m. and 1.40 p.m. and 3.50 p.m. Full details of services are available by request from the Stations along the line.
L L A N G O L L E N, N o r t h Wa l e s THE HAND HOTEL This is one of the most convenient in this Lovely Vale, and second to none in North Wales for comfort, catering and situation. 58 Bedrooms Electric Light throughout. Extensive Motor Garage Telephone: (Llangollen) 860303 Address Bridge Street, Llangollen ROYAL HOTEL LLANGOLLEN. The above first-class Establishment is beautifully situated on the banks of the Dee, close to the far-famed Llangollen Bridge and within three minutes walk from the Railway Station. Famous former guests at the Royal Hotel include the young Queen Victoria and her mother, the Duchess of Kent. Berwyn Restaurant serving fine British cuisine offering both table d hote and a la carte menus. Telephone: (Llangollen) 860202 Address Bridge Street, Llangollen The Chain Bridge Hotel, Berwyn Dating from 1828, The Chainbridge Hotel is an historic country hotel, with a unique location on the edge of the fast-flowing River Dee, overlooking the magnificent chain bridge and within a few minutes walk from Berwyn Railway Station. With more than 30 bedrooms, a bar and lounge, riverside restaurant and function room, The Chainbridge Hotel is the perfect place for drinks, a meal, an overnight stay or as a venue for a special celebration. Telephone: (Llangollen) 860215 BRYN HOWEL HOTEL Accommodation at the Bryn Howel Hotel comprises of 36 bedrooms, all en-suite. We have a selection of Four Poster Deluxe, Superior double, Double and twin bedrooms available. Most of our rooms have views overlooking the Fabulous Dee Valley, others across the Llangollen Canal down onto the local Golf Course Telephone: (Llangollen) 860331 Reproduction period advertisements updated to reflect modern information. Llangollen Railway accepts no responsibility for any discrepancies in these details and the advertisements are for illustrative purposes only.
GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. Mileage & Route Guide 0 LLANGOLLEN Llangollen is the main hub of the railway. The Station Cafe & Bar serves a wide selection of hot meals and snacks. The Gift Shop stocks a wide range of Llangollen Railway merchandise, alongside Bachmann & Hornby models. Horse-drawn boat trips are available from the nearby Llangollen Wharf, with Plas Newydd, Llangollen Museum and high street all within easy walking distance. For the more adventurous, why not try the walk up to the medieval hill fort of Castell Dinas Bran? (Miles from Llangollen) 1½ 5¼ 7¼ 10 BERWYN Berwyn station, located in the Dee Gorge, is staffed by volunteers and has a small tea room which is open most weekends during the operating season. Toilet facilities are available only when the station is staffed. A large number of footpaths meander through the area providing a wide choice of lowland or upland walks Chain Bridge Hotel, Restaurant and Bar is located on the opposite side of the river, accessed by the oldest chain link bridge in the world. Also located at Berwyn is the Railway s very popular Berwyn Stationmasters House holiday let. GLYNDYFRDWY Historically renowned for its association with Owain Glyndwr. It was here, at his Manor at Glyndyfrdwy, that Owain (Baron of Glyndyfrdwy) proclaimed himself Prince of Wales in 1400 so beginning his 14 year rebellion against English Rule. At this delightful rural station, pronounced GLYN-DOVE-DWEE, why not enjoy the tranquil picnic areas or take a stroll down to the nearby river Dee. Toilets and a Tea Room at the station are open on all timetabled Gala Event Days. A real ale bar has been installed within the station building CARROG Carrog station, set in the picturesque village of Carrog, is the perfect stopping point to visit the 17 th Century Dee Bridge, river, mountain vistas and traditional pub, The Grouse Inn. The quaint tearoom at the station serves a variety of snacks and is open on all running days. CORWEN The picturesque market town sits at the foot of the Berwyn Mountains, at the western end of the Dee Valley. The town is just a 5-10 minute walk from the station. The railway is now fundraising for phase two of the Corwen extension, which includes building a new station building and run around loop.
ALONG THE LINE. During this special weekend, a journey along the 10 mile heritage railway between Llangollen and Corwen will also be a journey back in time. Stations along the line will be transformed to showcase a wide range of Victorian attractions and cameos. LLANGOLLEN STATION Vintage steam traction engine on display Punch & Judy shows Confectionary stall Live music on the platform Victorian railway exhibition in the Henry Robertson suite The Station Café & Bar BERWYN STATION Recreated Victorian station all set for its Royal Visit Live music on the platform Station tea rooms Walk across the oldest chain link bridge in the world. ½ mile walk to Lineside Viewing Area at Berwyn tunnel GLYNDYFRDWY STATION Sheepdog Trials Vintage Victorian Fair The Cambrian Bar and station refreshment rooms CARROG STATION Take a ride onboard the station s miniature railway Station refreshment room Carriage shops selling second-hand books, railwayana, pictures, prints and DVDs. CORWEN EAST STATION Corwen Museum open to the public (5-10 min walk). Free entry. Whilst every effort will be made to provide the specific attractions and particulars, the Llangollen Railway reserves the right to amend or cancel these without notice.
GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. View from the Window between Llangollen and Corwen, North Wales. The 10-mile journey along the Llangollen Railway from Llangollen to Corwen provides visitors with some extremely fine views of the Dee Valley that are denied to road visitors to the area. This guide is written starting from the Llangollen end of the line. It can be followed from the opposite direction too, however left and right will be reversed. LLANGOLLEN TO BERWYN Before the departure of your train it is likely that the steam locomotive will have run around the loop, then have replenished with water from the tank on Platform 2, before running on and coupling up to the front of the train, ready for the off. At departure time the guard makes a final check with the station staff that no more passengers are expected, checks the doors are closed, blows his whistle and waves his green flag, giving the signal to the driver to open the locomotive s regulator to get the train moving. Looking forwards in the direction that our train leaves the station, the line curves to the right through the platforms before passing under Green Lane bridge. The fireman will need to ensure that the locomotive has a good fire and fine head of steam as we climb up the gradient through a short cutting and on to the river bank. River Siding is passed on the right and is used for the stabling of some of the line s historic railway carriages. Next on the right, the access line to the locomotive works joins the main line. This area is under the control of Goods Junction signal box, located on the left of the train and
here the driver will exchange the single line token with the signalman. The line now runs between the Llangollen Canal and the River Dee. The canal is above the line on the right look out for the horse drawn trip boats. There is a canoe slalom course and white water rafting on the river to the left of the train. The Railway s Carriage Restoration Workshops at Pentrefelin come into view on the right. Built on a site originally developed to tranship slate from nearby quarries in the Berwyn Mountains onto railway wagons, the yard contains rolling stock in varying stages of restoration. The line crosses the river on the Dee Bridge, which marks the start of the 1-in-80 gradient for the next mile and a half through the Dee Gorge. This steep gradient means that the locomotive and its crew are working hard, especially with a heavy train and in wet weather conditions. BERWYN TO DEESIDE LOOP Located some two miles west of Llangollen, Berwyn Station is soon reached. It is located beside Telford s historic A5 road overlooking the famous Chain Bridge and Hotel. The Chain Bridge spanning the River Dee has been recently restored back to its former glory and is reputedly the oldest chain link bridge in the world. Berwyn station with its distinctive half-timbered style is one of the most photographed on heritage railways today. The location of the building is unique in that it sits on a rock shelf above the river with spectacular views of the viaduct and bridges around it. Part of its platform is attached to the side of the viaduct. This stretch of river is popular with canoeists who, because the river is controlled, can canoe virtually all year round. They call the stretch below the Chain Bridge the Serpents Tail. The line passes over the impressive six-arch viaduct which straddles a stream and minor road. After a short cutting, look down to your right through the trees where you can see the Horseshoe Falls and the feeder stream to the Llangollen Canal at the right hand end. Shortly Llantysilio Hall comes into view with a backdrop of the Llantysilio Mountain Range (highest point Moel y Gamelin, 577 metres). The line continues to climb for a further half mile to the 689 yard long Berwyn Tunnel, the longest single bore tunnel on a preserved railway in the UK. One of the most exciting experiences, especially for children, is passing through this tunnel. Built in order to carry the line through an outcrop of the Berwyn Mountain Range back in the 1860s, the uphill gradient continues right through to the western end. It also has a sharp left hand curve just before the exit, which means that the centre of the tunnel is pitch dark. The railway emerges from the tunnel on a ledge high above the river, and here the reverse curves offer a good view along the train to the locomotive. From this point onwards the river meanders across the valley bottom. There are sweeping views of the Llantysilio Mountains to the right and the Berwyn Mountains to the left (highest point Cadair Berwyn at 827 metres) as we follow the line on to Deeside Halt, a picturesque old style railway halt.
DEESIDE LOOP TO GLYNDYFRDWY Deeside Halt became the terminus of the line in 1990 and a small platform was built to enable passengers to view the engine running round the train for the journey back to Llangollen. When the railway extended further to Glyndyfrdwy, Deeside became a true wayside halt. The signal box was built in 1990 on the site of the original box, demolished when the railway closed. Deeside remains as an example of a wayside station built to serve isolated communities when railways were the only way of travelling. The station has no road access and is a request stop. It is used as a passing point on busy weekends when trains held in the loop, waiting for the line to clear, can frequently be seen. Look out for the loco crew exchanging the token with the signalman to allow the train to pass into the next section of the line. On leaving Deeside, the train crosses a small stream and passes through a wooded area with fine views of the Llantysilio Mountains. Look out for the typical Dee Valley farms with their mixed herds of sheep and cattle grazing the rich pasture land. Listen for blasts of the engine s whistle as the train approaches farm occupation crossings and as the driver warns the signalman at Glyndyfrdwy of his approach to the station. Half a mile before Glyndyfrdwy Station on the right of the train is the Fixed Distant Signal and original fogman s hut from the days of British Rail. The line then follows a long left hand curve on to a ledge above the river, then round a right hand curve into the station yard. GLYNDYFRDWY TO CARROG The train approaches the station on a shallow left hand curve, passing on the left hand side a children's playground, which now occupies the site of the former goods yard and narrow gauge quarry incline. The Nant-y-Pandy tramway once delivered slate slabs to the railway from quarries high above Glyndyfrdwy in the Berwyn Mountains. There is now a public footpath up to the tramway from the A5 above the station. The siding on the right is now used to store good wagons. The station is approached past the signal box on the right and over the level crossing, the only one on to the railway. The signalman will open the crossing gates, pull the signals to line clear and allow the train to enter the station. There are two signal boxes at this station, but only the one by the road crossing is in operation, the other box was saved from demolition at its original location at Barmouth on the west coast of Wales and is preserved here. It is intended to be used as a signalling display area. Leaving Glyndyfrdwy behind, the Dee Valley broadens out and there are good views of both the Berwyn and Llantysilio Mountains, dotted with hill farms, and high on the left hand side is Glyndwr s Mount, reputedly the site of Owain Glyndwr's summer palace. Carrog is approached as the train follows a long reverse curve across wide river meadows giving good views of the station from the left of the train. The station was reopened in 1996 and is an outstanding example of a Great Western Railway country station. The main building was, like Glyndyfrdwy, sold as a private dwelling on closure of the line but was bought by supporters of the railway. The signal box and down platform waiting room have been rebuilt, having been demolished by British Rail. An example of a typical rural cattle dock has been rebuilt backing on to the main platform.
CARROG TO CORWEN EAST On departure from Carrog, the train passes under the B5437 lane and through a minor cutting before following the bank of the River Dee once more. At the point where the river and railway diverge again, there was originally a short siding on the left hand side, serving a small slate wharf. From here a 2ft gauge tramway climbed up to Penarth Quarry, above and south of the A5 road. The tramway closed during the 1930s. The farm on the left of the train at Plas Bonwm marked the temporary stop block for passenger trains over the Corwen extension between 2012 and 2014. The line from Carrog to Plas Bonwm was opened in time for the Steel, Steam & Stars mega gala in April 2012, with trains operating in top and tail mode. Beyond the farm, the line appears sandwiched between the A5 road and River Dee on its approach to Corwen. In 1935, a small wayside halt was opened at Bonwm, the location now being where the A5 road swings in to run parallel with the line. The platform was a very basic affair, being only 70ft in length and boasting a simple wooden shelter, station nameboard and one electric light. There are currently no plans to reinstate this halt in the near future. Passing a restored wooden P-Way hut on the right (made from old railway sleepers) and the fixed Distant signal on the left, the line passes through a fine stone overbridge. Swinging gently northwards the line enters the temporary terminus at Dwyrain Corwen East. The Llangollen Railway celebrated the official opening of the station at Dwyrain Corwen East with a special train on St David s Day 2015 for the conveyance of 270 invited guests from Llangollen to Corwen. The five coach Corwen Special left Llangollen with locomotive No.3802 attached to the front and No. 5199 on the rear. CORWEN CENTRAL Now that the extension of the railway to the Dwyrain Corwen East temporary platform is complete, attention has turned to constructing the permanent terminus station at Corwen Central, a little further west along the embankment. Corwen Central, at the point where the old Denbigh, Ruthin & Corwen Railway made a junction with the Ruabon Barmouth route, will incorporate an island platform and run-round loop, with subway access from the platform to the town s main car park. Train movements around the station area will be controlled from the ex-weston Rhyn GWR signal box, currently in storage at Carrog. Monthly newsletters on the Corwen extension are available to download from the Llangollen Railway s website.
WALKS FROM BERWYN STATION 5 5 5 5 USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS Llangollen Railway 01978 860 979 Bus Enquiries 08712 002 233 Tourist Information 01978 860 828 Route to Horseshoe Falls Route to St Tysilio s Church Route towards Valle Crucis Abbey Canal Towpath to Llangollen Route to Velvet Hill Summit
GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. TICKETS Tickets may be purchased directly from all the station Booking Offices on the day or in advance on our website. At times when our intermediate stations are closed, tickets should be obtained from the ticket inspection on board the train. Discount tickets are available for children, senior citizens, families and groups. SOUVENIRS AND SALES The railway s main souvenir, models and book shop is at Llangollen Station, stocking a wide range of our own range of souvenirs, railway books, models and DVDs at competitive prices. Two carriage shops selling railwayana, books and collectables are located at Carrog, with funds raised supporting the restoration and operation of some of the railway s historic steam locomotives. The stations along the line also have dedicated sales areas open over the weekend. REFRESHMENTS The Station Café and Bar at Llangollen will be open over the weekend offering a variety of fresh coffee, teas, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages as well as freshly prepared sandwiches, cakes, cream teas & afternoon teas. At Berwyn, Glyndyfrdwy and Carrog stations there are small and friendly Tea Rooms offering Tea, Coffee, freshly made sandwiches, pasties and homemade cakes. A Buffet is available on-board one of our trains (see timetable for details) SAFETY DURING YOUR VISIT Steam locomotives are used throughout the year and the smoke from them adds to the heritage ambience of our historic railway. Please take care when close to the locomotives, especially when trains are leaving the stations. Please take the following simple precautions during your visit: Don t lean out of train windows or open doors whilst the train is in motion. Don t cross railway lines unless authorised. Don t drop litter from the train. VOLUNTEER SUPPORT GROUPS The Railway is operated mainly by volunteers. The Llangollen Railway Trust welcomes both active and armchair members to support the line. Benefits of membership include travel concessions and a regular news magazine Steam at Llangollen. Shares in the Llangollen Railway PLC can also be bought. The majority of the railway s historic locomotives and railcar fleet have their own dedicated supporting groups, including: Foxcote Manor Society; The 5199 Project; Llangollen Railway GWR Locomotive Group, 80072 Steam Locomotive Company; Llangollen Railcar Group and Llangollen Diesel Group. SOME USEFUL POSTCODES Market Street Car Park, Llangollen (Pay & Display): LL20 8PS Mill Street Car Park, Llangollen (Pay & Display): LL20 8RQ Royal International Pavilion, Llangollen (Pay & Display): LL20 8SW Carrog Station (Free but limited parking): LL21 9BD Green Lane Car Park, Corwen (Pay & Display): LL21 0DN