Station Name: LLYNCLYS SOUTH (Station still open)

[Source: Paul Wright]


Date opened: 7.2005
Location: South side of the B4396 road
Company on opening: Cambrian Railways Trust
Current Owner@: Cambrian Heritage Railways
County: Shropshire
OS Grid Ref: SJ283238
Date of visit: 28.6.2013 and 25.6.2016

Notes: Llynclys South station is situated on a restored section of the former Cambrian Railway (CR) main line that had opened on 1 May 1860 and which closed on 18 January 1965. The line was lifted late in 1965 and the trackbed was sold off to private individuals. Llynclys South is located on the site of the Llynclys station goods yard which was to the south of the passenger station. In 2001 the Cambrian Railways Trust (CRT) purchased the trackbed of the former CR line between Llynclys South and Pen-y-Garreg Lane in Pant.

During 2003 and 2004 the CRT built a new railway from scratch of just under a mile on the trackbed that they had bought. In July 2005 passenger services were introduced using class 101 diesel multiple units dating from the 1960s. A station was built at the Llynclys end of the line and because it was to the south of the original it was given the name Llynclys South. The station included a single platform on the east side of the line (the former down side) and a single-storey brick building under a pitched roof, featuring segmental-arch openings and an attractive flat awning with a deep, serrated valance.

The CRT built up an operation at Llynclys South as a visitor attraction. They hired steam locos, ran very successful Santa Specials and held other special events including footplate experience courses for would-be engine drivers. However, the ability to develop further was constrained by the limited funding from operational income and private donations, and it became increasingly apparent that the small-scale stand-alone operation would not be viable in the long term.

Only 20 chains to the north of Llynclys South at the site of Llynclys Junction track remained in situ on the CR main line all the way up to Oswestry and from there the former GWR branch to Gobowen was also intact. From Llynclys Junction rails also extended west to Blodwell Junction and Nantmawr. The reason why these sections of line had survived after January 1965 was because there were quarries in the Nantmawr area that were rail-served and trains continued to run until 1989. After the trains ceased to run preservationists saw the opportunity of creating a heritage railway.

As well as the CRT there was also another heritage railway concern active in the area: the Cambrian Railways Society (CRS). In January 2009 the two bodies signed a formal agreement to co-operate, after which momentum built rapidly and in November 2009 they both held Extraordinary General Meetings which voted to effectively merge as the Cambrian Heritage Railways Ltd (CHR) and Llynclys South became part of that operation. The ultimate aim of the CHR is to reopen the line between Llynclys South and Gobowen via Oswestry.

In June 2016 the CHR was operating train services from Llynclys South at weekends. The hourly services ran between Llynclys South and a halt at Pen-Y-Garreg.

Tickets from Paul Wright

See also: Llynclys station and Llynclys Junction

See also: Cambrian Heritage Railways

To see the closed stations on the Whitchurch - Newtown line click on the station name: Whitchurch STILL OPEN, Fenn's Bank, Bettisfield, Welshampton,
Ellesmere, Frankton, Whittington High Level, Tinkers Green Halt,
Oswestry (Cambrian), Pant (Salop), Llanymynech, Four Crosses, Arddleen Halt,
Pool Quay, Buttington, Welshpool 1st, Forden, Montgomery and Abermule


Llynclys South station looking south on 28 June 2013.
Photo by Paul Wright




A section of quarry tramway style line seen at Llynclys South station on 28 June 2013.
Photo by Paul Wright

Looking south towards Llynclys South station on 28 June 2013. The sloping driveway had once provided access to the Llynclys station goods yard and sidings.
Photo by Paul Wright

Llynclys South station looking south during an operating day on 25 June 2016.
Photo by Paul Wright

The south end of the Llynclys South platform looking south on 25 June 2016.
Photo by Paul Wright

Waiting to depart on the 12:00 service from Llynclys South to Pennygarreg Halt on 25 June 2016 is a class 101 Metro-Cammel DMU.
Photo by Paul Wright

 

 

 

[Source: Paul Wright]




Last updated: Sunday, 21-May-2017 14:33:39 CEST
© 2004-2016 Disused Stations