Saturday 28 May - Welshpool and Llanfair Railway Fish and Chip Train

Saturday morning in Shrewsbury was quiet although the town gradually filled towards noon.  The weather was fine.  We were surprised at how quiet things were last night given that we have a pub as immediate neighbour on both sides.

The apartment is on the ground floor immediately through the arch of the old Police Station

The Admiral Benbow is adjacent down Swan Hill

The Coach and Horses is next door towards the city walls

There was a wedding party in the street outside the Three Fishes but it was business as usual inside where I enjoyed my first pint of Timothy Taylor's Landlord.

Charles Spencer organized a Fish and Chip Train on the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway. He planned for 50 people, 100 would be good and 150 was the absolute maximum.  It turned out to be a sell out at 150 and the locomotive "The Countes" was loaded to the maximum, seven cars with a full train of people.

The laast regular train if the day arrives at Llanfair while the diesel waits to add additional coaches to the special

Charles and Lizzy Ann with Roan who has grown enormously since we saw him a year ago.

The train is strengthened while The Countess is taking coal and water,

The weather co-operated and everybody had a great time.  We left Llanfair Caereinion at 1800 and ran through beautiful countryside to Welshpool. The sheep and lambs were happily grazing with the lambs jumping around.  The fields were full of rabbits and pheasants.  The rabbits would stay still then suddenly break cover and dash madly for the nearest hedge. The pheasants were very smart in their colorful plumage yet were well camouflaged in the tufts of grass.

At Welshpool the local fish and chip shop provided fish (or sausage) and chips for the passengers and crew and there was a pause to allow everybody the opportunity to eat while sitting on one of the platform benches or in a stationary train.  

At Welshpool we picked up our food, ordered in advance, and chose a place to eat

The climb out of Welshpool was achieved without any slipping on a dry rail but it was evident that the engine was working at the limit.  There was a pause at the top while we admired a billy goat and a longer stop at Castell Caereinion to allow us to get out and admire the view.

Castell Caereinion

Everybody was well satisfied.  Megan, a volunteer from Llanfair went through with a survey asking people to rate the experience on a scale of 1 to 5 - several gave it a 6!