Saturday 18
The Gala officially opens at 8am with the departure of the 1st train comprising ex GWR Dukedog 9017 in BR black. The first time a Dukedog has steamed down the Dee Valley in over 49 years.
Pete Waterman will officially open the event with this departure
Then follows a half hourly service throughout the day
Motive power for the day will include Mayflower, Morayshire, City of Truro, 9017, 5199, 44806, 6430, 5526 and maybe 6100
At Llangollen station the organisers of the “Betton Grange Society” will be running their stand.
There will also be various other trade stands and the Patriot project will be promoting the building of the “Unknown Warrior”
On Platform one at Llangollen station there will be a chance for your first cup of tea and a bite to eat. Upstairs in the Henry Robertson suite the Beer festival will be open. The entry price is £5,complete with Steel Steam & Stars II glass
On Platform two, accessible by the footbridge, you can view the staff of the magazine ‘Steam Railway’ putting the next issue together.
There will be access to the shed at the end of Platform two where you can view the latest progress on the building of 6880 with a chance to talk to the team. Also on show, 80072 will be in the final stages of restoration and 5532 5539 7754 and Austin 1 are in the process of restoration. The boilers from 2807 5773 and 7298 will also be available for inspection. Waiting in the wings for her turn in the queue is 7822 Foxcote Manor.
Llangollen is also the departure point for the demonstration freight train which you can ride on for a small fee .
Please remember there are no one trip only tickets. Steel Steam & Stars II is an event with fixed price ticketing that gives you access to all trains throughout the day
At Berwyn you will find the station open serving tea and refreshments
At Deeside you can pause awhile to let trains pass (note - only ‘down’ trains call at the platform)
At Glyndrwrdwy we recommend you break your journey at least once throughout the day to take a look at the smaller scales starting at 3 1/2 inch and going right through to 10 ¼ inch. There will be over fifty live steam locomotives for you to view. Rides will be available for a small fee. There will also be a collection of Traction engines going through their paces
For those interested in two wheel petrol power there will be a collection of Vintage motorbikes.
A Snack bar selling various types of food will be on site along with teas and coffees.
At Carrog the train will terminate and do not be surprised if the Locomotive that brought you is not the one taking you back
In the station building the cafe serves teas coffees and refreshments. On the Car park at Carrog you will find numerous trade stands and exhibitions from Hornby, Ian Allan Publishing etc
On Platform 2 there will be an Exhibition of Paintings by Eric Bottomley GRA
Trains run until 9.50pm last round trip Llangollen return
There are no lineside photographic passes
The beavertail and Thompson Buffet are running all day and there may also be an inspection saloon
Sunday 19th
The service starts at 9am and finishes at 6.30 the Locomotives for the day will include Mayflower, Morayshire, City of Truro, 9017, 5643, 44806, 5526 and maybe 6100.
Everything that is available to see on Saturday applies on Sunday
Monday 20th
Monday will feature Locomotives number 9017, 5526, and 5199. The Beavertail will be running and there may well be a freight cruise in the evening. More details on this later.
First trip from Llangollen is 11am the last trip is 16.50
Tuesday 21st
Tuesday is Scottish day featuring Morayshire, Mayflower and a renumbered Black five complete with a Blue Smokebox Number being 44801. If 6100 is available she may well be running.
The first trip from Llangollen is 11am the last trip is 16.50
A special showing tonight at the Bridge End Hotel of PSOVs latest offering which starts at 7.30pm A separate entry fee applies.
Morayshire will be running an evening special departing Llangollen at 21.45. Either a day rover ticket is required or a one off price of £8 available on the train
Wednesday 22nd
Wednesday is Ian Allan Special recreation day featuring 3440 City of Truro, 9017 and 5526 both in BR Black. Expect headboards galore, all creating the feel of those famous Ian Allan Specials
First trip from Llangollen is 11am the last trip is 16.50
There will be a Film show in the Bridge End Hotel featuring archive footage from B& R video. Again this starts at 7.30pm and a separate entry fee applies
City of Truro will be running an evening special departing Llangollen at 21.45. Either a day rover ticket is required or a one off price of £8 available on the train
Thursday 23rd
A day for the 4-4-0 type of wheel arrangement featuring 3440 City of Truro, 9017, and 246 Morayshire.
First train departs Llangollen at 10.30 and departures will be at 45minute intervals until 16.30
In the evening there will be a photoshoot on shed starting 18.00 until Midnight. It will feature all locomotives and 7822 next to 9017. A small fee applies and Loco crews are rostered to move locos around
Friday 24th
Back to business with an intensive Timetable starting at 9 am and finishing at 21.45 which is the last round trip.
Locomotives of the day will include Mayflower, Morayshire, City of Truro, 9017, 5199, 44806/1 5526 and maybe 6100
Expect all exhibits at Glyndrfrdwy and Carrog to be back up and running
Saturday 25th
Like last Saturday this is going to be a busy day with a intensive service. Departures will be every half hour from Llangollen. First departure is at 8am, last train at 21.45 Mayflower, Morayshire, City of Truro, 9017, 5199, 6430, 5526 and maybe 6100
The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway special will depart Carrog at 19.35 hauled by 9017 and 5199 on eight coaches. This is also the second day Morayshire and Mayflower will double head. You will have to buy the Brochure to find the other one
Sunday
Starting at 8.30am the last round trip to Carrog is 15.00.
There is a Glyn Valley Tramway Group AGM train departing at 11am hauled by 6430 and 5526. The 16.15 departure, hauled by 9017 will not leave Carrog until 18.30
The last day draws to a close with the cavalcade of ALL locomotives arriving at Carrog at 18.05
The last train leaves at 18.30 with a choice of 6100 or the LNER pairing bringing Steel Steam & Stars II to a close
Then it’s off to the Beer festival for us to drink the left overs and more than likely get very drunk
The Gala officially opens at 8am with the departure of the 1st train comprising ex GWR Dukedog 9017 in BR black. The first time a Dukedog has steamed down the Dee Valley in over 49 years.
Pete Waterman will officially open the event with this departure
Then follows a half hourly service throughout the day
Motive power for the day will include Mayflower, Morayshire, City of Truro, 9017, 5199, 44806, 6430, 5526 and maybe 6100
At Llangollen station the organisers of the “Betton Grange Society” will be running their stand.
There will also be various other trade stands and the Patriot project will be promoting the building of the “Unknown Warrior”
On Platform one at Llangollen station there will be a chance for your first cup of tea and a bite to eat. Upstairs in the Henry Robertson suite the Beer festival will be open. The entry price is £5,complete with Steel Steam & Stars II glass
On Platform two, accessible by the footbridge, you can view the staff of the magazine ‘Steam Railway’ putting the next issue together.
There will be access to the shed at the end of Platform two where you can view the latest progress on the building of 6880 with a chance to talk to the team. Also on show, 80072 will be in the final stages of restoration and 5532 5539 7754 and Austin 1 are in the process of restoration. The boilers from 2807 5773 and 7298 will also be available for inspection. Waiting in the wings for her turn in the queue is 7822 Foxcote Manor.
Llangollen is also the departure point for the demonstration freight train which you can ride on for a small fee .
Please remember there are no one trip only tickets. Steel Steam & Stars II is an event with fixed price ticketing that gives you access to all trains throughout the day
At Berwyn you will find the station open serving tea and refreshments
At Deeside you can pause awhile to let trains pass (note -
At Glyndrwrdwy we recommend you break your journey at least once throughout the day to take a look at the smaller scales starting at 3 1/2 inch and going right through to 10 ¼ inch. There will be over fifty live steam locomotives for you to view. Rides will be available for a small fee. There will also be a collection of Traction engines going through their paces
For those interested in two wheel petrol power there will be a collection of Vintage motorbikes.
A Snack bar selling various types of food will be on site along with teas and coffees.
At Carrog the train will terminate and do not be surprised if the Locomotive that brought you is not the one taking you back
In the station building the cafe serves teas coffees and refreshments. On the Car park at Carrog you will find numerous trade stands and exhibitions from Hornby, Ian Allan Publishing etc
On Platform 2 there will be an Exhibition of Paintings by Eric Bottomley GRA
Trains run until 9.50pm last round trip Llangollen return
There are no lineside photographic passes
The beavertail and Thompson Buffet are running all day and there may also be an inspection saloon
Sunday 19th
The service starts at 9am and finishes at 6.30 the Locomotives for the day will include Mayflower, Morayshire, City of Truro, 9017, 5643, 44806, 5526 and maybe 6100.
Everything that is available to see on Saturday applies on Sunday
Monday 20th
Monday will feature Locomotives number 9017, 5526, and 5199. The Beavertail will be running and there may well be a freight cruise in the evening. More details on this later.
First trip from Llangollen is 11am the last trip is 16.50
Tuesday 21st
Tuesday is Scottish day featuring Morayshire, Mayflower and a renumbered Black five complete with a Blue Smokebox Number being 44801. If 6100 is available she may well be running.
The first trip from Llangollen is 11am the last trip is 16.50
A special showing tonight at the Bridge End Hotel of PSOVs latest offering which starts at 7.30pm A separate entry fee applies.
Morayshire will be running an evening special departing Llangollen at 21.45. Either a day rover ticket is required or a one off price of £8 available on the train
Wednesday 22nd
Wednesday is Ian Allan Special recreation day featuring 3440 City of Truro, 9017 and 5526 both in BR Black. Expect headboards galore, all creating the feel of those famous Ian Allan Specials
First trip from Llangollen is 11am the last trip is 16.50
There will be a Film show in the Bridge End Hotel featuring archive footage from B& R video. Again this starts at 7.30pm and a separate entry fee applies
City of Truro will be running an evening special departing Llangollen at 21.45. Either a day rover ticket is required or a one off price of £8 available on the train
Thursday 23rd
A day for the 4-
In the evening there will be a photoshoot on shed starting 18.00 until Midnight. It will feature all locomotives and 7822 next to 9017. A small fee applies and Loco crews are rostered to move locos around
Friday 24th
Back to business with an intensive Timetable starting at 9 am and finishing at 21.45 which is the last round trip.
Locomotives of the day will include Mayflower, Morayshire, City of Truro, 9017, 5199, 44806/1 5526 and maybe 6100
Expect all exhibits at Glyndrfrdwy and Carrog to be back up and running
Saturday 25th
Like last Saturday this is going to be a busy day with a intensive service. Departures will be every half hour from Llangollen. First departure is at 8am, last train at 21.45 Mayflower, Morayshire, City of Truro, 9017, 5199, 6430, 5526 and maybe 6100
The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway special will depart Carrog at 19.35 hauled by 9017 and 5199 on eight coaches. This is also the second day Morayshire and Mayflower will double head. You will have to buy the Brochure to find the other one
Sunday
Starting at 8.30am the last round trip to Carrog is 15.00.
There is a Glyn Valley Tramway Group AGM train departing at 11am hauled by 6430 and 5526. The 16.15 departure, hauled by 9017 will not leave Carrog until 18.30
The last day draws to a close with the cavalcade of ALL locomotives arriving at Carrog at 18.05
The last train leaves at 18.30 with a choice of 6100 or the LNER pairing bringing Steel Steam & Stars II to a close
Then it’s off to the Beer festival for us to drink the left overs and more than likely get very drunk
Will Naylor
As compiled by Will Naylor on 2nd April 2009