If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Developments on the Corris Railway

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by Corris Steam, May 22, 2016.

  1. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2020
    Messages:
    217
    Likes Received:
    589
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Taunton
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    There is a new video on the website this evening, courtesy of Richard Shipman.

    And elsewhere volunteer input for number 10 continues. Buffers have been made at Maespoeth Jnc and the two East Midlands volunteers have finished fitting the smokebox door with hinges and opening mechanism. They are now working on the brake gearcomponents.
     
  2. Vulcan Works

    Vulcan Works Member

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2018
    Messages:
    261
    Likes Received:
    711
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    England
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Nice update video, thanks. You can really see the scale of the civil works and the change in elevation required for the trackbed. That’s a major undertaking for any organisation, especially with the culvert, embankment stability and environmental factors to consider, so full credit to the Corris for what has been achieved so far.
     
    30854 and Heregoes789 like this.
  3. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Seriously impressive, isn't it? I do hope that, once the original trackbed (seen in the video, beyond a clump of trees, just beyond the southern extremity of the current works) is regained, the going gets a bit less challenging.

    My only gripe about Richard's update is, that at just 4'33", I'd have loved more! :)
     
  4. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2020
    Messages:
    217
    Likes Received:
    589
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Taunton
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The ‘Great Little Trains of Wales’ is delighted to announce the Corris Railway will be joining as its latest new member, joining the existing eleven Welsh scenic railways in the consortium.

    The railways which make up the Great Little Trains of Wales (GLTW) have in common that they travel through some of the very best scenery the British Isles has to offer and a very special way of seeing it aboard a historic narrow-gauge steam train. Each railway shares the same passion for its history and surroundings and takes pride in the charm of its old-time steam trains, polished paintwork and brass, but each railway also offers something a little quirky and different to its passengers.

    The inclusion of the ‘Corris Railway’ brings the consortium to twelve (see below for full list of members) and adds further prestige to this already world-renowned brand. Amongst its members, GLTW boasts the oldest independent railway company in the world, one of Europe’s most exciting railway projects, and some of the most recognisable engines on the planet – including enthusiasts’ favourite, ‘Russell’.

    GLTW Secretary, Ray Reid said:

    “‘The Great Little Trains of Wales’ was started in 1970 to encourage visitors to come to Wales in general and to ride the narrow-gauge railways in particular. The addition of the Corris Railway to the existing eleven railways makes the GLTW’s Discount and Gold cards even better value and a must have for anyone intending to visit several of the railways during the year.”

    The ‘Corris Railway’ is a 2’3” gauge railway, whose origins date back to the 1850’s. It was initially built to carry slate from the quarries at Corris Uchaf and Aberllefenni in the Dulas Valley. The railway ran until 1948, but preservation began in the 1960’s. Today it operates regularly with a mix of steam and diesel traction between Maespoeth and Corris Station, and has exciting plans to extend its operations.

    Richard Hamilton-Foyn, Chairman of the Corris Railway added:

    “When the preservation of the Corris Railway started in 1966, the pioneer volunteers had nothing but one decrepit building to work on. Since then, we have purchased land, restored the infrastructure, laid track and built a completely new train with modern recreations of the original Corris Victorian carriages and a Corris steam locomotive. As we move into the next phase of the development of the railway with a second steam locomotive, a new station in Corris and a southern extension we are delighted to have been invited to join the GLTW organisation. We are ready to contribute to the future prosperity of all of the Great Little Trains here in Wales.”

    See the best for less: For just £15 buy the ‘Great Little Trains of Wales Discount Card’ which gives you a 20% discount on the price of a return journey on all 12 members’ railways (including the Corris Railway!) – which is valid for one year from the first date of use (Terms & Conditions apply). There are also discounts for ‘Great Little Trains of Wales’ Card holders with selected accommodation providers close to many member railways. Cards are available at Booking Offices and online at GLTW website: www.greatlittletrainsofwales.co.uk

    Visit Great Little Trains of Wales at: www.greatlittletrainsofwales.co.uk
     
    Hando, Styx of Rock, Nomad and 7 others like this.
  5. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2009
    Messages:
    8,068
    Likes Received:
    5,165
  6. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Currently (11:45, Thu), ditto their public Facebook website (the masthead photo interestingly shows VoR No.9 sporting it's former red livery):
    https://m.facebook.com/GLToW/
    With new updates noted within the last hour, that will likely change soon.

    Membership of GLTW is a big step forward for the Corris and very welcome news. :)
     
    Hando and Heregoes789 like this.
  7. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2020
    Messages:
    217
    Likes Received:
    589
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Taunton
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The Great Little Trains site was updated with the news on the 17th it seems. Hopefully a train image will appear there soon.

    Meanwhile the Corris facebook site, which I can access without being an FB member, has news that the bottom half of number 10 is closing in on the stage when the wheels and motion will move, courtesy of compressed air, at Alan Keef's. Quite a lot still to do despite having a boiler already and other components, and money to be found to pay for it, but the September 2022 completion date looks quite feasible.
     
    Heregoes789 and 30854 like this.
  8. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2020
    Messages:
    217
    Likes Received:
    589
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Taunton
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    New
    New photos have appeared on the main website this evening, Tues 22nd
     
    30854 and Heregoes789 like this.
  9. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Those teaser shots on FB, showing the Falcon's Stephenson motion show precisely why Tom Rolt held the design in such esteem. Definitely a 'make the most of it while you can' view is that, coz after the air testing, we're unlikely to ever again see it all so clearly.

    Enquiry: Rolt noted his surprise at a lack of 'proper' sanding gear on Nos.3, as bought by the TR back in 1951. Can it be assumed No.10's design features full sanding equipment?

    The latest raft of photos, on the main website, are a delight. Rebuilding waggon No.5 looks not too far from completion and with that lovey looking waggon built by a private member (slate slab?) unexpectedly (to me, at least) appearing in the mix, the line is well on the way to a very impressive selection of historic designs.

    So, just how much will the Falcon or Tattoo (or double headed Tattoos - see Corris events for later this year) be able to start on that vicious bank? I'd bet I'm not the only one who's itching to find out! :)
     
    Heregoes789 likes this.
  10. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2020
    Messages:
    217
    Likes Received:
    589
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Taunton
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Yes it is the plan to fit number 10 with sanding gear. Having a volunteer perch on the buffer beam pouring sand on the rail from a watering can as the train makes its way along, as per a picture of Robert Pryce Owen doing that, is not going to happen. And 10 would have a buffer in the way, unlike 1, 2 and 3 as they worked on the Corris.
     
    30854 and Heregoes789 like this.
  11. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    And there's me thinking the buffers were there to line up the sand stream, but now you mention it, that explains the near omnipresent bucket in photos of the Falcons of yore! ;)

    When the Pont y Goedwig diversion opens, perhaps some consideration should be given to laying a wreath at the grave of Colonel Sir Francis Marindin, inscribed with something along the lines of "Cymerodd ychydig flynyddoedd, ond fe wnaethon ni wrando yn y pen draw". Maybe it's just me, but the tone of his written communications with the Corris board of the 1870s seem to suggest such a gesture, however belated, mightn't go amiss! :)
     
  12. tor-cyan

    tor-cyan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2008
    Messages:
    1,196
    Likes Received:
    1,480
    Gender:
    Male
    I think you will find that Waggon is a slightly narrower gauge than the rest of the fleet, judging where the wheels sit in relation to the rails. :DStill a very nice piece of kit.

    Cheers
    Colin
     
  13. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Just looked again and compared with an earlier image of a wheeled timber chassis from the 22nd-27th May collection. Honestly can't see what you're basing that on. Still, there'll doubtless be a definitive answer out there somewhere!
     
  14. tor-cyan

    tor-cyan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2008
    Messages:
    1,196
    Likes Received:
    1,480
    Gender:
    Male
    If we are talking about the same image A-new-volunteer-has-brought-along-his-homework-project.jpg note were the rails are situated, either side of the 7 wood infills

    cheers
    Colin
     
  15. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Yikes, you're right of course. Pretty damned obvious in a large enough image. I didn't even notice the rails (!) and honestly thought I was looking at some sort of unloading arrangement*. That's a positively stunning quality of model making. What do you reckon .... 71/4" gauge? Those wheels especially are beautifully reproduced. Oh, for a garden big enough for an NG train set that size!

    *note to self ..... ring opticians.
     
    Heregoes789 and tor-cyan like this.
  16. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2020
    Messages:
    217
    Likes Received:
    589
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Taunton
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Anyway there is some very significant news on the Corris Facebook page now. The wheels and motion of number 10 has moved for the first time, courtesy of compressed air, at Alan Keef's. Fine tuning has to be done of course but it's a milepost reached on the road to steaming the new Falcon. Donations to keep things going along will of course be most helpful via the routes outlined further back in the thread.
     
  17. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2020
    Messages:
    217
    Likes Received:
    589
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Taunton
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Video of the wheels and motion on the move is now at www.corris.uk along with a new set of pictures relating to the loco construction.
     
    Heregoes789 and 30854 like this.
  18. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Make that 100 "likes". This is a truly significant step in completion of this magnificent loco. To quote Winston, "This is not the end, indeed it os not even the beginning of the end, but it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning". To any reading this who don't already know, the boiler, by Israel Newton, is ready on standby. Let's dig in and get the job done.
     
    Heregoes789 likes this.
  19. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2009
    Messages:
    8,068
    Likes Received:
    5,165
    Heregoes789 and marshall5 like this.
  20. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2020
    Messages:
    217
    Likes Received:
    589
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Taunton
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer

Share This Page