The Llangollen Railway has released an update on their project to bring steam trains back to Corwen, something of which, is becoming more and more a reality.

The team are continuing to make progress on the site during the summer and autumn days with different aspects of work being completed thanks to many donations and share purchases.

The completion of the wall on platform 1 for the upside loop has reached the point where the last 70 yards of foundations are in place with the building up of the blocks to follow to complete the length (6 coach train).

Once this is complete, the filling in of the area to create the island platform will resume. However, in the meantime, where two walls exist around the subway access, infilling has taken place with spoil from the old Ruthin branch. Meeting the expense to employ a contractor to carry out this work has been assisted by the many contributions to the Tenner for a Tonne appeal which has reached its initial target of £10K.

Within the area that has been filled and compacted the foundations for the platform waiting room have been excavated and concreted, with provisions for drainage and water supply made. When the filling in is complete, the surface will be paved by a contractor, who will need an estimated 40,000 pavers to be laid before further platform furniture can be installed.

Foundations for the canopy are being prepared and the recovered stanchions have been cleaned and refurbished and are now ready for installation.

Another job currently taking place is the refurbishment of a set of heritage railings which will be installed around the subway access area.

The water tank was delivered to the site and installed at the end of June. It is now connected up with the borehole. The pumphouse has gained a roof to allow completion of the electrical installation.

The other installation task has been the delivery of the signal box cabin from Carrog. The cabin was delivered back in 1991 and has waited until Summer 2018 for a group of volunteers to give it some attention and a repaint. In October it was taken down the A5 road by a low loader and lifted on to the previously built locking room where it looks the part as a major item of station infrastructure.

The temporary station building adjacent to the subway access has received a new roof to make it watertight as well as disabled entry and exit doors have been fitted. , as well as getting an external coat of chocolate and cream paint to look the part. The work internally will now begin thanks to station staff who transfer from the redundant building at Corwen East, which closed on the 4th November.

The dismantling of the platform at Dwyrain Corwen East has begun with the recovery of 660 wooden palings.

Finally, when all this is done and no further deliveries of materials to the site are required, the last task will be the infilling of the infamous gap in the embankment and allow for the two railheads connected up, hopefully by early spring 2019.

What did the officials say?

Llangollen Railway Trust Chairman, Liz McGuiness said:

“ In the expectation that we will be able to run into Corwen Central during 2019, we have taken the decision to close the temporary platform at Dwyrain Corwen East and the structure will now be dismantled. An opening date for the new terminus depends on the winter’s weather and continued availability of resources – manpower, materials and finance – if we are to complete the new station providing basic facilities for the locomotive run-round and passenger access, as has happened elsewhere with new developments.

“ What has been achieved so far by the project team members is amazing and the subject of much favourable comment from various VIPs who have visited the site and seen what has been created with minimum resources and within budgeted costs.

“ Continued help with contributions to the project are essential if trains to Corwen are to be a feature of the 2019 timetable and an anticipated boost to the railway’s fortunes. It may have been a long time coming, but we are nearly there and your support will ensure it is operational next year when trains can stop over in the platform adjacent to the town’s centre. FOR THE WINTER OF 2018/19 trains will terminate at Carrog.”

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