The Present

During the year, generally between Good Friday and the end of October, the Corris Railway runs scheduled passenger services on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays through the summer and including a selection of weekday running too (Please view the timetable in the left-hand column). All services are being operated by volunteer members of the Society, who have undergone in-house training and have passed a test on the railway's rulebook. More volunteers to join our operating staff and train for roles as driver, guard, blockperson, controller, ticket-seller etc are always welcome, and we hope to be able to operate more midweek services in future once sufficient trained staff are available.

Initial passenger services in 2002 were run by a train consisting of diesel Loco No.6, carriage 20 "Tiger" (constructed on a former Coal Board four-wheel manrider chassis, and funded by a member in memory of his late wife) and van 204 (adapted from a former Royal Navy vehicle). In June 2003 bogie carriage 21 (based on the vehicles that served the line from 1888 to 1930 but built to 21st century safety standards) was brought into service. Constructed by Society members in the East Midlands, it includes provision for carrying wheelchairs.

As well as a range of goods vehicles sourced from all over the country and re-gauged to suit, Society members have restored four original waggons from the railway or quarries, and these will in due course form the basis of demonstration mixed trains reminiscent of those that ran on the line in the 1920s.

Construction of the new steam loco, "Tattoo" class No.7, was completed and the locomotive delivered on May 17th 2005. After running trials and tests the locomotive came into service to pull it's first passenger train on 20th August 2005 - 57 years to the day since the last steam hauled (goods) service.

Permission has been received from the landowners to clear undergrowth on the trackbed south of the existing railhead to the planned new southern terminus at Tan-y-Coed, although it will not be possible to commence track-laying on this section until a Transport & Works Order has been obtained. Work on the Order is continuing steadily.

With trains currently operating push-pull between Corris and Maespoeth, due to a lack of run-round loops, work on the provision of a loop at Maespoeth, making use of land acquired from the adjacent field, has commenced. This will eventually lead into the main line south towards Tan-y-Coed.

The Society is wholly reliant on volunteers for most aspects of its work, although it employs local people on a seasonal basis to operate the Museum.

This is an exciting time for the members of the Corris Railway Society.

Why don't YOU join the Society, and volunteer your services - no reasonable offer refused!