LLANGOLLEN and Corwen Railway is set to kickstart the school Summer holidays in spectacular style with a special “Steam into Summer” event featuring two home fleet steam locomotives in action across the Dee Valley. Taking place on Saturday, July 18, 2026, the event has been specially organised to celebrate the start of the Summer holidays and will see five return services operating between Llangollen and Corwen, calling at all stations along the railway’s picturesque 10-mile route through the Dee Valley.
Visitors will be able to enjoy unlimited travel throughout the day with a special Day Ranger Ticket priced online at £30, allowing passengers to hop on and off trains and experience steam travel at its very best. Passengers visiting what many regard as one of the UK’s best heritage railways can also purchase an Open Return ticket for just £25 online, whilst accompanied children can travel for only £6.
Leading the line-up will be two very different but equally impressive members of the railway’s home fleet. The first is GWR Pannier Tank No. 7754, an enduring workhorse from the Welsh coalfields, now beautifully restored to full working order and gleaming in traditional Great Western livery. Joining it will be the mighty GWR Heavy Freight No. 3802, a striking 2-8-0 locomotive originally built for hauling serious tonnage and now bringing its unmistakable power and presence to the Dee Valley.
The event also forms part of a huge Summer programme at the railway, which includes the highly anticipated 1960s Weekend between August 1–2. The nostalgic event will recreate the golden age of British Railways with heritage traction, vintage atmosphere, music and period displays across the line.
Visitors will also be able to enjoy breakfasts and refreshments at the café at Llangollen Railway Station, where the railway’s brand-new Summer Menu will be launched as part of the event.
Matthew Carty, Head of the Railway’s Footplate Team, said, “Steam into Summer has been designed to give people a real celebration of traditional steam railway operation at the very start of the school holidays. We wanted to create an event where families, enthusiasts and visitors to the Dee Valley can enjoy two very different home fleet locomotives working hard across the line all day long.
“7754 and 3802 are both hugely popular engines with our passengers and seeing them operating together will create a fantastic atmosphere throughout the railway.
“One is a classic pannier tank engine with deep connections to the industrial history of Wales, whilst the other is a powerful heavy freight locomotive built to haul enormous loads across Britain’s rail network.
“The £30 Online Ranger Ticket offers exceptional value because passengers can travel as much as they want throughout the day, hop on and off at our stations, enjoy the scenery, visit our café and simply spend a Summer day surrounded by steam engines in one of the most beautiful parts of Wales.
“We are expecting this to be one of the standout events of our Summer season and a brilliant way for families to begin the holidays together.”
The event forms part of a busy summer programme at the railway, which has recently seen record passenger numbers travelling between Llangollen and Corwen.
A timetable for the event is attached.
Tickets are now available online from the Heritage Train Travel page.
Highlights of the event include:
- Two home fleet steam locomotives in action on the same day
- Five services through the stunning Dee Valley
- Travel between Llangollen and Corwen with all stations open
- Family-friendly cafés, gift shops and refreshments
- The famous Dee Valley “Wave Train” atmosphere
- Fantastic photography opportunities throughout the line
- Heritage stations full of character and history
- The perfect family day out to launch the summer holidays
- Breakfasts and the launch of the railway’s brand-new Summer Menu at Llangollen Station café
