19th Annual Railcar Convention
Llangollen Railway, 1st-4th October 2014.
Report by Chris & Paul Moxon
Introduction
This year, the Railcar Association’s Nineteenth National DMU convention crossed the border into Wales to the Llangollen Railway, who became the first railway to host the event three times, the previous occations being in 2005 and 1998. Our thanks go to the large team of the Llangollen Railcar Group who made the event possible as well as all the railway's operating staff.
Four railcar sets were in action with a fifth under restoration and available for inspection.
Thursday
Not forgetting that the planning for the four day convention was being undertaken months in advance, the event itself began on the Thursday with Driver Moxon and Driver Moxon enjoying a round trip on the interesting Class 127/108 hybrid set. This involved the first driver experience run ever to Corwen over the second part of the Llangollen Railway’s extension, which had been passed for public use on 14:00 that very same day! An honour indeed.
Friday
The Friday of the event saw much increased activity as delegates descended on the railway for the main day of driver experiences. The sets on offer were the Blue/Grey Class 108 and the unique Wickham Class 109, arguably the biggest attraction for members and even more so given the circumstances of being able to take the controls! These two units operated the full length of the line all day on experiences with the majority of slots booked up.
After the experiences finished the two sets returned to Pentrefelin depot joining the other operational vehicles, the Class 104 and 127/108, on the depot fan for a posed evening photo shoot using floodlights. This was the first time that this feature had been offered at a TRA event and was successful with approximately 20 people taking the opportunity to get some atmospheric photography in. The overall scene of all four sets was captured first and the rest of the evening was spent concentrating mainly on two pairs of sets from different eras, the green 108 & 109 as well as the blue 104 & 108.
Saturday
As is traditional with the convention, the Saturday was the main day with the most delegates in attendance. During the day from 09:30-17:30 all four operational sets in the Llangollen Railcars fleet ran intensively on the 10 mile line offering a 30 minute service to Corwen. This was very useful for anybody wanting to experience different units with all four having plenty of runs throughout the day. The usual attractions that the Llangollen Railway offers were all present. In addition to this at Llangollen itself was to be found the railcar group’s sales stand packed with items of interest. Also on display was a freshly overhauled exhibition coach which contained a display detailing the 60 years that had elapsed since British Railways first introduced First Generation DMU’s as well as the 20 years of Llangollen Railcars. Most amusing were the early 1990’s photographs reminding members how they looked before railcar restoration (and two decades) took its toll!
After the first round trip there was an opportunity for a guided tour around the loco shed at Llangollen, also the home of the railway’s commercial arm Llangollen Engineering. Such was the demand for this tour that the official guide was overwhelmed by the numbers and delegates had to return to the station to follow slightly later in two further parties with another guide! The tour itself was a fascinating insight into a commercial operation running side by side with the “home grown” projects keeping steam alive at the railway. Of particular note were the three new build steam locomotives (The LMS Patriot and the GWR Grange & Night Owl), which at the time of the visit were all in residence for inspection. The shed visit was followed by a nosy outside where the resident diesel shunters, operational steam locomotives and various accommodation and stores coaches/wagons were all viewed and photographed with accompanying commentary.
Those who took up the tour had approximately an hour to ride the trains again before it was back to Llangollen for the official meeting and AGM of The Railcar Association. This was held in the railway’s conference room inside the station building on the first floor, handy access being obtained from the station footbridge. The meeting itself was interesting and successful with a mix of speakers covering the running of the association, the history of the railway, railcar group, history of DMU’s and technical discussions. Taking approximately two hours, attendance this year was 47.
Another opportunity to explore the railway and travel on the four DMU sets was available after the meeting before the daytime trains stopped running at 18:30. At 19:00 there was the traditional and favoured Fish & Chip special which this year used the Class 104 due to its popularity within the DMU world! The 2-car set was very well patronised and set off in the dark to Corwen where a spirited ascent of Berwyn bank left no delegates disappointed! The special then returned to Glyndyfrdwy station where the station bar was opened and the evening continued with a social for an hour or so where friends and contacts were made and many stories told. The 104 then proceeded back to Llangollen signalling the end of a fantastic day, except for those staying over in the area who had the opportunity to continue for a further two hours in the public houses of Llangollen!
Sunday
The Sunday was quieter than the Saturday as many delegates had returned home or were travelling back that day. However many features of the Saturday such as the 30 minute intensive service, sales stand and exhibition coach were available for those delegates who made a full weekend of the event. They were rewarded with an opportunity not available on the Saturday, a morning visit around Pentrefelin depot which was the home of Carriage & Wagon and the railcar group. Available for inspection was the group’s fifth DMU set under restoration, Class 104/105 M50447/M56456. The latter had run continuously at the railway with the Class 127 from 1984-2010 whilst the former had yet to run in preservation. Also on view were the workshop facilities and under restoration coaching stock which included some interesting items of stock including Mark 1 suburbans and LNER Thompson carriages. Snatching the prize for the most unusual resident was a narrow gauge Dudley & Stourport tram being restored for the Black Country Museum! Following the tour more DMU running finished off what had been a great weekend, the 19th Railcar Association Convention and also 60 years of First Generation Railcars. As always, the host railway and railcar group deserve the thanks of the association for making delegates so welcome and putting on such an enjoyable event.
Gallery
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Llangollen station before the event, 1/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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Class 109 E56171 stabled at Pentrefelin, 1/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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M51618/M56223 on a driver experience run at Carrog, 1/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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M51618/M56223 on a driver experience run at Carrog, 1/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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The Class 109 pauses on a driver experience run at Glyndyfrdwy, 2/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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The cab of the Class 108, 2/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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Trevor Daw after enjoying a drive of the Class 109, 2/10/14. Tim Stubbs |
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Tim Stubbs takes control of the Class 108, 2/10/14. Tim Stubbs |
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The Class 109 pauses on a driver experience run at Glyndyfrdwy, 2/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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The Class 108 on a driver experience run at Glyndyfrdwy, 2/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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M56223 & E56171 posed at Petrefelin depot during the evening photographic shoot, 2/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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M54490, M50528 & M56223 posed at Petrefelin depot during the evening photographic shoot, 2/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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M54490 & M50528 posed at Petrefelin depot during the evening photographic shoot, 2/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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M56223 & E56171 posed at Petrefelin depot during the evening photographic shoot, 2/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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A cameo at Petrefelin depot during the evening photographic shoot, 2/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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M54490 & M50528 posed at Petrefelin depot during the evening photographic shoot, 2/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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The Class 104 at Carrog, 3/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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Delegates explore the yard at llangollen during the tour, 3/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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Examining patterns in the loco works during the tour, 3/10/14. Tim Stubbs |
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The Class 08 shunter at Llangollen steam shed, 3/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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Eddie Knorn on the Class 108 at Carrog, 3/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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The Fish & Chip special awaiting departure, 3/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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John Joyce after driving the Fish & Chip special, 3/10/14. Tim Stubbs |
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E56171/E50416 depart Llangollen, 4/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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M54490/M51907 arrive into Llangollen ECS, 4/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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M51618/M56223 depart Llangollen, 4/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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Paul Moxon awaits the 104 at Llangollen, 4/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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Looking round the signal box at Llangollen, 4/10/14. Tim Stubbs |
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M50528 stands at Llangollen before working its first train, 4/10/14. Chris Moxon |
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M50528 stands at Llangollen before working its first train, 4/10/14. Chris Moxon |