Memories of the 1980s will come to the Llangollen and Corwen Railway at the end of this month with a ‘Diesel Power and the Ultimate 80’s Weekend’.

On Saturday, 30th and Sunday, 31st May, the railway will resound to the sight and sound of classic trains, live music, food, drink, and cars from the decade that brought us Live Aid and Home Computing.

For several years, two of the railway’s volunteers, Pete Edwards and George Walker, have been talking about the railway holding an 80’s weekend. The railway’s diesel fleet mostly dates from the late 1950s and the 1960s, but could still be seen in everyday use during the 1980s.

Locomotives such as the railway’s Class 47 regularly worked trains from Crewe to Llandudno in the 1980s. Seeing the big and powerful Class 47 No. 47449 at work, sporting its famous double arrow logo and corporate blue livery, will be like travelling back in a time machine.

As well as 47449, four of the railway’s other diesel locomotives will be running, including former Scottish-based Class 26 No. Class 26 No. 26010, Class 31 No. 31271, and two legendary Class 08 diesel shunters, Nos. 08195 and 08202.

On Saturday evening, Rhythm Train, a high-energy five-piece party band based in Wrexham and hugely popular across North Wales, will be performing at Llangollen Station, playing iconic anthems by Queen, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Bon Jovi, and more. Visitors will enjoy the evening even better if they dress up in their favourite 80’s clothes.

Other events on the railway include the chance to ride on the footplate of a steam or diesel locomotive, and a series of Real Ale trains.

“Although I was born in the 1990’s, I’ve been fascinated with the 80’s since I was a kid – the trains, cars, buses and music. We’re really looking forward to seeing the 08s pushed forward into the limelight and working a public train – they really don’t do this very often and it’s a great opportunity to turn the clock back 40 years, put on some 80’s clothes and revel in the nostalgia.”

Volunteer George Walker

“Our aim is not just to run trains, it’s to take the Dee Valley back to the 80’s. There will be cars, signs, adverts and lots of other things to look out for over the weekend. The 80’s changed the railways too as British Rail geared up for privatisation. Sectorised business units like Network South East, InterCity and Railfreight became household names through high-profile advertising campaigns, aimed at getting people away from their cars and increasingly busy roads. We really hope everyone will join in and raid the backs of their wardrobes, local charity shops and fancy-dress boxes and don their finest 80’s outfits.”

Volunteer Pete Edwards