Llangollen Railway's 1960s weekend as track extends

A heritage railway in Denbighshire is hosting a 1960s weekend as work to extend the track continues.

The weekend both commemorates the time when the original line closed, and celebrates the continued success of Llangollen Railway as a tourist attraction.

The old line closed to passenger traffic in 1965 and to goods in 1968.

Llangollen Railway is halfway through a £4.6m extension of its line from Carrog to Corwen.

They look lovely and smell nice, and provide a connection with the past”

Currently 7.5 miles (12km) long, the extended Llangollen to Corwen line should be open by the end of 2013.

"We have painted a locomotive for the weekend to look like it would have done before Dr Beeching's axe sent steam locomotives to the scrapyard and closed many branch lines and stations, including the line that is now the Llangollen Railway," said event organiser Tez Pickthall.

"The engine is usually shiny green, but we've used kids' poster paint on it and it's looks really grimy, it's very authentic."

Hundreds of people, many in 1960s fancy dress, are expected over the two-day event with extra trains - including a late-night one - being laid on.

Work on extending the line another couple of miles to Corwen is ongoing, although it depends on funding, said Mr Pickthall.

He attributed the appeal of heritage railways and steam trains to the increasingly small number of people who remember them in use.

"They look lovely and smell nice, and provide a connection with the past.

"There's a real affinity with a steam engine because you have to coax them into life, it's a labour of love."

There are also two vintage buses at the event.

"They run alongside the trains and show visitors how things changed when Dr Beeching's cuts came in," he added.