Developments on the Corris Railway

The Photographs section of the Corris Railway website is reguarly (in normal circumstances) updated.Each photo carries a caption, hope this helps.

https://www.corris.co.uk/news/photographs/

 

It's one of my favourites. Where else can you regularly keep up to date with the latest in porcine fashion?

...... though the Corris too has now succumbed to the inevitable, with all public onsite activities suspended 'for the duration'. The online shop remains open for business and donations for virtual journeys via the imaginative 'concept coach' scheme meet all government social distancing safety guidelines.

 

Update time. Taking us right up to the full lockdown, there's been a major 'access shunt' at Maespoeth:
https://www.corris.co.uk/news/photographs/

 

A surprise update has appeared, demonstrating no evidence of flouting the social distancing rules. Enjoy :
https://www.corris.co.uk/news/

 

How will the engine run round at eisgiog as it looks like the station is right by the road?

 

Esgairgeiliog? Marvellous name, incidentally! I used to use it as a password...
I don't think there ever was a loop there: https://www.flickr.com/photos/trainsandstuff/16753937555
And I think the eventual proposal is to continue to a loop at Tan y coed.
But there's a lot to do first.

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Latest news from the Corris Railway:

https://www.corris.co.uk/news/press-releases/covid-19-and-progress-on-the-corris-railway/

 

The only intermediate passing place - following the upgrade to steam operation - was at Corris itself .... and not used as a 'passing place' as such (certainly not for passenger services), the layout merely incorporating a sinuous run-round loop. AFAIK, no regular two train operation was ever employed, with double headed operation preferred at need. An old photo I've seen shows two 'Falcons' on a market day train, featuring six bogie carriages on the old (timber trestle) Dovey Bridge.

The extent of current southwards ambitions is a location known as Tan-y-Coed, roughly midway between the former stations at Esgairgeliog and Llywyngwern. Available space at Corris Station is at a premium, which is why plans feature a sector plate (in lieu of the usual points and a headshunt) at the north end of the runround loop.

 

Latest news from the Corris Railway about the Southern Extension:

https://www.corris.co.uk/news/press...to-extend-southwards-from-maespoeth-junction/

 

Will the centre for alternating technology have space for a bigger station and running around?

 

That's a long way away at the moment. I believe the plan is to extend eventually to a loop at Tan y coed (north of CAT), with CAT itself being even further down the line in both senses.

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By then everyone will have electric cars so alternatTing technology will be coal so it will be a steam centre haha

 

Here are some photos of work on the extension from the Corris website:

https://www.corris.co.uk/news/photographs/photographs-taken-between-1st-march-9th-april-2020/

 

To help out during these uncertain times I've rejoined after a gap of ten years, I'm amazed at the progress. If it were closer I'd go as a volunteer, but alas Cumbria is a bit too far away!

 

..... and some forward planning for gauge conversion within CAT wouldn't go amiss.

 

Good news re your membership. There are working weeks held during the year, which those of us who live a distance away can then warrant the journey. There are a few of us who live around a five hours drive away plus. The first working week was due to be this coming week, but for obvious reasons has been cancelled. The next is planned for the week after the August bank holiday. A great chance to get involved and meet a lot of other volunteers.

 

Has the CAT centre had much done recently?- I visited about 10 years ago and it was looking very tired and dated- my Brother visited about 18 months-2 years ago and said it was much the same?

Regards

Chris

 

Have to admit, that's been my impression too. Not knowing too much about how the place is managed, it's hard to define how they see their purpose. Certainly, there are shedloads of specialised courses on offer, but what importance they attach to 'turnstile' visits isn't at all clear to me. Their guiding ethos seems clear enough, but when it comes to translating that into anything beyond 'preaching to tbe chior', I do question the efficacy of their historic approach.

Maybe, by the time that joyous day arrives, when Corris trains reach the end of the branch into CAT, any increase in passing trade might inject some drive into the facility. There seems so much potential, most of which has appeared rather too niche to attract the very audience they need to be informing.

Checking just now, it seems their website's been improved (out of all recognition!) and I've yet to go through it in detail, but a shuftie at the link below will allow folks to decide for themselves:


https://www.cat.org.uk

 

I took part in an oganised visit last year and met several members of staff over the two days. I got the impression that the staff were largely politically left wing and preached their politics. One person in particular used every opportunity in showing us around to tell us that things would be so much better when Jeremy came to power.

 

Not been to C.A.T for many years (probably decades!) but I suspect that 'alternative technology' is now the norm! It may be that it has lost its novelty value somewhat? If the Corris Railway got within range, then some kind of 'shared attractions' initiative may be of benefit to all of the attractions in the immediate vicinity?

Will