More than 50 pupils retrace a journey last made before the Beeching cuts ended regular rail services
A LONG-LOST railway tradition was brought back to life as more than 50 children from two Dee Valley schools travelled by heritage train to the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod’s annual Children’s Day.
Pupils from Ysgol Corwen and Ysgol Carrog boarded a vintage diesel train at Corwen Station before making the scenic journey to Llangollen, recreating a tradition enjoyed by generations of local children before the Ruabon to Barmouth railway line fell victim to the Beeching cuts in the early 1960s.
The tradition was revived in 2019 through a partnership between the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and the Llangollen & Corwen Railway, allowing local schoolchildren to once again arrive at the festival by train.
The youngsters travelled through the Dee Valley on the restored heritage railway before arriving in Llangollen shortly after 9.00am, waving enthusiastically from the carriage windows as they approached the station.
They were welcomed on the platform by representatives from both the Eisteddfod and the railway, with time for photographs and even a short performance by the children before they headed to the festival site for a day of activities and entertainment.
Ian Lebbon, who organises the annual railway trip for the Eisteddfod, said the journey has become an important part of maintaining links with communities along the heritage line.
He said: “We see them as extremely important to the people in the communities at the other end of the heritage line, where the railway is part of their everyday lives.
“The railway, of course, is one of the three great highways of the valley, along with the River Dee and the A5 road. Many of these children will never have travelled by train before, especially one as magnificent as the heritage one they came on today.
“It’s also good for them to be able to see and enjoy the Eisteddfod. Many of them will be coming to the festival for the first time and we hope they will become regular visitors.”
Becky Mollison-White, assistant headteacher at Ysgol Carrog, said the experience had been memorable for pupils from both schools.
“It was an amazing experience for the children from the two schools and they were all very excited about it,” she said.
“Corwen and Carrog both have stations on the heritage line and the children were very happy about getting the opportunity to travel on it.”
Helping guide the children from the station to the Eisteddfod field were Welcome Hosts from Ysgol Dinas Brân in Llangollen and Ysgol Morgan Llwyd in Wrexham.
Mr Lebbon said the volunteer scheme gives young people valuable experience while helping to welcome thousands of visitors to one of Wales’ best-known cultural festivals.
