Llangollen Branchline gala…

This weekend has seen the valley busy with trains and visitors. It has been a wonderful experience, to soak up the trains, to see the railway thronging with people enjoying the weather, the journey and our beautiful valley…

I’ve spent the weekend with my camera capturing photos from both new and old favourite locations. Deliberately breaking some photography rules shooting into the sun on occasion, framing a photo as a composition rather than just the train, trying to show the experience rather than a traditional 3/4 photograph. It has been a great deal of fun, and I share them with you here…

7754 looks great hauling the brakevan special and the opening train of the Branchline Gala, passing Pentrefelin crossing at 8:54, bang on time. 
Friday 11th April 2025.

3802 storms out of Berwyn with the late running 9:24 this morning. Looked great and worth the wait! Friday 11th April 2025.

 

The beauty of the Dee Valley is evident here with lush green fields, blue skies reflecting in the river and 3802 with its first down train of the gala.
Friday 11th April 2025.

3802 hurries alongside the river at Bonym with the first train to arrive at Corwen this gala weekend.
Friday 11th April 2025.

D9525 makes its first passenger outings since arriving at the railway this weekend. Seen here arriving at Glyndyfrdwy with her first train from Llangollen.
Friday 11th April 2025.

Glyndyfrdwy is usually a wonderfully quiet rural stop on the picturesque Llangollen Railway. Today however it sees throngs of visitors for the gala and multiple trains coming and going - along with unusual platform departures like this, 3802 about to leave for Corwen wrong road before D9525 runs around to leave wrong road for Llangollen!
Friday 11th April 2025.

D9525 waits to return to Llangollen 'wrong road' at Glyndyfrdwy. The angle here makes it look like a normal running day, but most passengers were on board and the throngs of photographers behind me out of shot.
Friday 11th April 2025.

First train of the gala running non stop through Glyndyfrdwy this morning, 7754 hauls the brake van special. Early morning sun looks set to haze over later on but a great start to the day.
Saturday 12th April 2025.

A few moments later - and a different framing.
Saturday 12th April 2025.

Departing Glyndyfrdwy with the second train of the morning, 3802 puts on a fine show, framed by the Barmouth South box and the home start signal… 
Saturday 12th April 2025.

The afternoon clouded over but there was time for a beer down at the village station.
Saturday 12th April 2025.

Residents 3802 and 7754 cross at a busy Glyndyfrdwy. 
Saturday 12th April 2025.

Well the saying goes the early bird catches the worm but in my case it was a Teddy Bear. Out with the first train of the third day of the Branchline Gala, D9525 leads the vans into Glyndyfrdwy. 
Sunday 13th April.

It has been a wonderful weekend to enjoy the trains in the valley. It has been equally lovely to welcome so many visitors to enjoy our sleepy little branchline. I hope everyone went home with a smile on their face, an empty wallet and left a little piece of their heart here, to draw them back again in the future. Until next time, more soon...

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