Llangollen Railway - 18th-26th April 2009

The 6880 Betton Grange (Society) Ltd are following up their extremely successful Steel, Steam & Stars Gala of April 2007 with a 9-day event in April 2009. This promises to be “the“ steam gala for 2009 and, following contacts between the Gala committee and the Merseyside, Chester & North Wales branch, RCTS members are invited to attend one of the days (at a discounted admission price).

The Gala’s organising committee intend to run some trains with headboards from railtours and invite the societies concerned to attend. Tuesday 21st April will be themed the “Scottish Day” when the visiting D49 No. 246 (Morayshire) and B1 No. 1306 (Mayflower) are scheduled to be in service together with Llangollen’s newly-restored Standard 4 tank No. 80072. The Standard 4 will be renumbered to a Scottish-based example and will carry a headboard from the Joint RCTS/SLS Scottish Railtour of June 1962. If 80072 ’s restoration is not complete than resident Black 5 no. 44806 (suitably renumbered) will substitute.

All RCTS members are invited to attend the gala and travel on the ‘railtour’. Members will be entitled to a discount on the day ticket for Tuesday 21st April (only) on production of a current membership card. The day ticket will also allow travel on all service trains - the LNER Beavertail observation saloon is planned to be attached to one of the coaching sets. The ticket will also give entry to the many public attractions at Llangollen, Glyndyfrdwy & Carrog.

The Merseyside, Chester & North Wales branch will be organising a formal outdoor fixture at Llangollen that day and it is hoped that a guided tour of shed and yard will form part of this fixture. Members from other branches are welcome to join their party.

The Gala committee would like to be able to use the original headboard from the railtour (the RCTS/SLS Scottish Railtour of June 1962). If the original headboard from the railtour is in someone’s collection, or anyone knows of its whereabouts, then please would they advise Gordon Davies, the Merseyside Branch’s Chairman immediately. His contact details can be found in the January 2009 RO. If the original cannot be traced then a replica will be created.

Much more about the gala can be found at their website http://6880gala.co.uk/

26/01/09