Developments on the Corris Railway

Yes, I agree, it is great to read about their progress ( on several fronts ) in these problematic times!

 

I have dug out my 40 year old copy of “Narrow Gauge Railways In Mid Wales” and it is there that James Boyd reports that one of the Falcons was painted green as an experiment. I don’t know what his source was—possibly talking to the local staff when visiting. However if it did happen we don’t know when or which of the original trio it was.

 

Shouldn't the loco be painted blue......

Sent from my PRA-LX1 using Tapatalk

 

Yeah ..... straight after the red Baldwin behind the shed gets rewheeled!

 

There's now a new Corris Railway channel on YouTube. Supporters and well wishers, please consider subscribing, which doesn't cost anything gets you notifications of updates. There's already oodles of yummy footage to be found* and if Richard Shipman's welcome initiative gets the support it deserves, we can look forward to oodles more.

(If you're already familiar with YouTube subscriptions, you can skip this paragraph) The url to the announcement (just 0' 55") is below. To subscribe, once playing the clip, hit 'pause' and move highlighted spot over the channel icon (Usually to the extreme left, just above the red 'play line') and hit 'return' or 'enter'. That gives you a screen with a 'subscribe' option (usually top right of the screen) to move to, hit that button (which should then change to 'unsubscribe' - but you don't want to do that), et voilà, you're subscribed. Enjoy!

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...BMAB6BAgGEAM&usg=AOvVaw04myH3anMR_W7j93i1CEe_

*have a shuftie through the lists for the (silent) clip of No.4 from 1929

 

There are some new photos at www.corris.co.uk of the brake column casting getting underway.

The link for the new channel is
https://youtube.com/channel/UCZrNR-AIiNLeHXDM5rq5xew

And there is a video overview of the Southern Extension embankment project.

 

There is now a link between the Corris website at www.corris.co.uk and the videos. Go to the News section and drop down.

 

With the Welsh lockdown having ended there are now photos on the Corris website of work going ahead again at Maespoeth Junction.

 

More new photos on the Corris website including shunting at Maespoeth, track work in the rain, prepartion of steam engine for annual exam and work on waggons. Plus some more pics of components for "Falcon" number 10.

 

Some excellent progress this year and under such trying circumstances. I'm really loving the wagon work especially. Can't wait to blag a (no liability*) gravity ride from Corris and all the way down the 1:30 of Maespoeth bank!

* yep .... I'm that keen.

 

To enjoy a gravity run you'll need to join the Corris Railway Society -- can be done online now..........

 

Thanks to those who’ve commented for the kind words about, and interest in, the progress being made with reviving the Corris. Given that most of the work on this, plus operating trains, staffing the museum/shop and the thankless but essential admin is done by a volunteer workforce of around 40 people it is pretty impressive. And, yes, there are opportunities in most areas for people to join in the fun. It’s been good to have the “Sundae Gang” come together to add a more youthful element to the line-up.

Thanks also to those who have contributed financially so that the volunteers have the materials and funds to move things onward.

 

A couple of steam locomotive updates from the Corris:-

The saddle tank from number 7 has been removed and will have an internal repaint during the winter months. And work on constructing the Salter safety valves for new build number 10 is underway.

 

A new batch of photos from Maespoeth and Corris have appeared on the website this evening. Plus one from Birmingham.

 

What will probably be the last photos from this troubled year are now on www.corris.co.uk. Best wishes for this very unusual Yuletide.

 

It seems there were some more pictures to come from pre-lockdown activity and these are up on the website, including the new monorail at Corris station -- for one day only.

 

Some lines have spent 2020 doing 3/8 of sod all, and moaned like hell. Some have not managed to run any trains. Some just seem to have stagnated.
Throughout this year, the Corris team have managed to show steady progress on all fronts. Every week there's a new bit of locomotive, fresh paint, new trackbed on the southern extension, repairs and maintenance, rolling stock build and restoration....
I think you all deserve a round of applause, not just for what you've done on the ground, but for keeping all our spirits up with your success. Well done all, from your newest society member

 

I'm sure you'll be welcome. The Corris revival isn't perfect -- nothing is -- but does its best for a small society and workforce. Thanks for the appreciation.

 

As progress continues with the erection of the “ bottom half” of the new build Corris Railway “Falcon” 0-4-2ST No. 10 at the workshops of Alan Keef Ltd design work of another major feature is nearly complete ahead of quotations being obtained for the cutting of the metal.

This is the cab for the locomotive which will follow the general design and appearance of that carried by No. 3 in the part of its time on the Corris but will stand taller than that in order to accommodate 21st Century footplate crews. It will have the coal bunker inside the cab, unlike the arrangement which No. 3 now has at Tywyn, and to accommodate this whilst allowing for ease of coaling at Maespoeth Junction there will be a hinged upper cab side sheet on the left hand side. Work has been done at the design stage to make this as visually unobtrusive as possible.

In addition the upper part of the cab back sheet will be removable. This will make life more comfortable for the driver and fireman on hot days and will of course allow passengers in the front compartment of a Corris carriage, with their all- round visibility, a view of the working of the engine. (The Corris Railway coaches were quite effective Victorian/Edwardian observation carriages and this is a feature of the 21st Century recreations). It will also be removable for filming purposes.

Volunteer work for the new loco also continues on the newly cast brake blocks and brake column. In another volunteer’s workshop construction of the smokebox hinges and work on the baffle plate is underway.

When the locomotive is in service it is intended that it will run around its train at the new Corris station by means of a traverser as the area does not allow provision of a headshunt. This will be an unusual and interesting feature when in action.

This will cost £8,000 and a grant towards this work had been obtained. Unfortunately the funding body has had to reduce this to £2,000 as they sought to spread their resources across other railways affected by the pandemic leaving a large shortfall for the Corris to try to fill before being able to move forward with the new track layout and platform arrangements.

Donations towards both the “Falcon” and “Corris Station” funds can be made online via www.corris.co.uk. Alternatively cheques can be sent to Peter Guest, 38 Underwood Close, Callow Hill, Redditch, B97 5YS for the locomotive or to Corris Railway, Station Yard, Corris, Machynlleth, SY20 9SH for the Station Fund (cheques should be payable to Corris Raiway and please indicate for which purpose they are payable).

All support will be very much appreciated and hopefully on site activity can resume soon.

 

News on the Corris Railway website concerning new build Falcon No 10:

https://www.corris.co.uk/news/press...push&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=corris.co.uk