Llangollen Diesel Group

A chapter in the history of the Llangollen Diesel Group came to a close today when 46010 left the railway for the GCRN on an Allelys low loader.

Many thanks to Peter Cheshire for the excellent photos.  First we see her on her way through Acrefair. The rainbow seems very apt;  as one rather sad chapter closes, a new and happier one begins.

And then making her way slowly through Rossett on the A483.

Good luck in your new life old girl. You really are a true survivor!

More photos and information can be found on the Western 46 Group website at http://46010.co.uk/, to whom we wish every success at their new home in Leicestershire.

Cheers

Tez Pickthall, Publicity Officer

We’re pleased to be able to confirm that Class 46 No 46010 will soon be moving to a new home at the Great Central Railway (North), at Ruddington, Leicestershire. The announcement (along with lots more information about this impressive heritage line) can be found here: http://217.158.157.207/railways/GCRN-Diesel/news.htm.

We can also confirm that the ‘Peak’  will be cared for by a new owning group; The Western 46 Group, formed of 4 former members of the LDG. The new group takes its name from the fact that 46010 is the only surviving Western Region allocated class 46 ‘Peak’, having been allocated to Plymouth Laira depot until being withdrawn for storage at Swindon in 1980.

The Group have launched a new website for the loco. Have a look at http://46010.co.uk

The Western 46 Group will be looking for plenty of additional support in the future, so please have a look at their website and register your interest. The LDG hopes to retain close links with the Group and it goes without saying that we wish them every success at their new home.

Whilst the LDG are very sad to see 46010 leave the railway, we’re happy that she’s going to the GCRN along with a very dedicated bunch of supporters who will secure her future. The GCRN is an excellent railway and being and ex-main line, she will look most at home working there. The presence of an NR connection should also allow her to visit other heritage lines in the future, something that has not been possible while she has been at Llan.

The loco was scheduled to leave Llangollen on Monday 23rd November, but we’ve just heard that roadworks in Cheshire has delayed this. Further updates will be made when we know the revised departure date.

Tez Pickthall, Publicity Officer

Welcome to our new website, which has been kindly produced by Diesel Group member and IT whizz Gareth Evans. As many of you will already know from what has been reported elsewhere in the railway press, the Llangollen Diesel Group is in the process of going through some major changes to both our fleet and membership.

We hope you enjoy looking round our new site. Please note and bookmark the new address and come back to visit regularly. We have used new software which will allow the site to be updated much more regularly than in the past.

Best wishes

Tez Pickthall, Publicity Officer

Our recent press release explaining what’s going on is reproduced for you here, in full:

27th June 2009. LLANGOLLEN DIESEL GROUP FLEET CHANGES

Following the successful conclusion of discussions and negotiations with various parties, the Llangollen Diesel Group is now in a position to announce three significant changes to our fleet. These changes aim to leave the Group with a more manageable and fully operational fleet of three ex-BR mainline diesel locomotives.

25313

The extensive corrosion discovered on both cabs when they were stripped meant the original timescale for overhaul was no longer feasible. The Llangollen Railway require the provision of a Type 2 standby locomotive in a timescale far shorter than it would take the Group to complete cab replacement and the other parts of the extensive bodywork and mechanical overhaul with our current resources and facilities.

This has led to the Group stopping the overhaul and reluctantly offering the Sulzer Type 2 for sale. This was a difficult decision given 25313 was one of the first diesel locomotives at Llangollen and a most appropriate machine to be seen at work on a North Wales branchline.

We are pleased to announce we have sold the locomotive to a professional railwayman. The new owner will perform a full overhaul of the locomotive’s bodywork and complete the turbo and other mechanical repairs. The LDG is retaining the opportunity to buy the locomotive back at a later date, if the opportunity were to present itself.

We wish her new owner every success with his new purchase and the overhaul. Following completion of her overhaul, we are also hopeful that the locomotive will return to Llangollen for a future diesel event.

26010

To provide a replacement for 25313 and offer the Llangollen Railway an appropriate and reliable standby locomotive, the Group is delighted to announce the purchase BRCW Type 2 D5310 (26010) from Matt Stoddon. The locomotive received a high quality bodywork overhaul to original 1960’s condition in 2006 and is in full working order. The ability to provide a locomotive that can be put into traffic immediately is of vital importance to both the Group and Railway.

D5310 operated a farewell run at her current home of the SRPS at Bo’ness on Sunday 21^st June and should move to Llangollen some time in July.

Although the Class 26’s never worked in North Wales, D5310’s immaculate as-built appearance is highly appropriate for the image of the Llangollen Railway. With the rugged scenery of the Dee Valley closely resembling parts of Scotland, we are sure she will look most at home, be an asset to both the Group and Railway and also attract plenty of enthusiasts to sample her at work on the challenging climb of Berwyn Bank.

It is hoped to launch the locomotive into traffic at the Railway on Saturday 26^th September, although an earlier additional running day is subject to confirmation. Further details will be made available on the Group’s website in due course.

46010

As previously reported elsewhere, the Board of the Llangollen Railway PLC served the Group notice to remove the locomotive from the railway by 30^th June 2009. Following extensive discussions with the Board and within the Group, the locomotive will not be run again on the railway and will be leaving for pastures new.

Re-homing the locomotive was not something we would have chosen to do and has split the Group in half. However, putting personal feelings to one side, the Group has to move forward and offer the best future for the locomotive. To this end, we are pleased to announce that the ‘Peak’ will be leaving the Llangollen Railway sometime before the end of the summer. Her new home will be announced at the end of July.

Several long-established members of the Group will be leaving the LDG to form a dedicated new group that will provide care and support for the locomotive. Ownership will be transferred to this new group.

This decision has not been taken lightly and is not without a great deal of regret, as we see the departure of trusted friends who have invested a lot of time and effort in the fleet. The LDG hopes to retain close links with the new 46010 group and wish them every success with her new life.