I had a lovely weekend visiting both the Llangollen Railway and the old Manchester Ship Canal Railway at Ellesmere Port...

Saturday I headed over to Llangollen. It's my favourite preserved railway - really beautiful scenery and in recent years it has also really tidied up the sidings and yards along the route and appers much more clean, tidy and professional. Very well presented!

Anyway it was a sunny day and my daughter wanted to travel on a diesel and a steam engine. We started at Carrog on the return DMU service before spending an hour in Llangollen and then back on the steam service. Car parking is free and a lot easier at Carrog! On the DMU we sat at the rear of the train and I took some photos through the cab - it was really great to see the line in this way and it makes you appreciate how spectacular some of the scenery is - it's a shame you can't see it normally.

Anyway - it makes more sense in reverse so we'll start at Llangollen and take a short guided tour...

Llangollen and the Class 104 from the road overbridge and the end of the line. When they've extended to Corwen I wonder if they'd ever consider trying to push south to Ruabon and the mainline?

Leaving Llangollen you cross the Dee on the old bridge.

Approaching Berwyn.

The longest tunnel on a preserved railway (I think), Berwyn tunnel approach and exit.

Glyndyfrdwy approaches.

and then the last shot I took (well first actually) between Glyndyfrdwy and Carrog.

Finally a few detail shots.

A fun day out and it brought back a lot of memories for me - it's the first preserved railway I actually remember being taken to see as a child with my Dad - and seeing Foxcote Manor which for a long time was my favourite steam engine.

It's funny what nostalgia does to you - I spent a happy hour when I got to my parents digging out all my old Mainline and early Bachmann steam engines and having a good nose at them! Maybe one day I'll clean up my old steam era layout in the garage in Chester and take some photos.