The Corris Railway continues it's steady progress towards recommencing passenger services. With the first section of track from Corris to Maespoeth now completed to passenger standards, and the initial passenger train ready, fitted with continuous braking and audible communications between driver and guard, only the need to complete the complex paperwork leading to a Transport & Works Order (T&WO) is delaying matters.

A major breakthrough has been the purchase of two fields to the south of Maespoeth, lying between the A487 trunk road and the Afon Dulas, which are needed to construct a deviation route at Pont-y-Goedwig, where the original railway formation has been breached by highway works. Without agreement to construct a new formation across this land the railway would not have been able to extend any distance south of its present railhead, harming the long-term viability of the project. Lengthy negotiations with the landowners having reached a successful conclusion, the Railway is now able to proceed with its plans to obtain a T&WO for the two-and-a-half mile section of the line from Corris to Tan-y-Coed. Work on the deviation will not commence until the T&WO has been obtained.

At the beginning of February the Railway was visited by Major John Poyntz of H.M. Railway Inspectorate for an informal inspection, and after a very positive session, an agreed list of work that needs to be completed, both on the Railway's infrastructure and on the accompanying paperwork, has been drawn up to meet Major Poyntz's recommendations. The Railway is now working to fine-tune the infrastructure accordingly, and planning to run trial operations during the summer as a preparation for the recommencement of passenger services. Although there will be no public passenger service during the summer of 2001, the Corris Railway Museum will be open to visitors, with the opportunity to see progress on the Railway at the adjacent Corris Station. 

The Society is keen to maintain the feel of the original Corris Railway wherever possible, an important element being to operate rolling stock that matches the items used in former times. With the "Tattoo" steam locomotive project well under way, and work having commenced on the first of a set of new bogie carriages, Society members have provided a Heritage fleet of four restored waggons, each the representative of a type that ran on the railway before closure. Members in the East Midlands have undertaken the restoration work, with the waggons returning to Corris looking as good as new. At Easter the latest arrival, a two-plank tie-rod waggon originating from Aberllefenni Quarry, joined the unique trestle slab waggon, an end-door metal-bodied waggon, and a side-door metal-bodied waggon. 

Armley Mills Industrial Museum in Leeds has donated three manrider vehicles to the Railway, which are being assessed for their suitability to form the basis of future passenger carriages. Of uncertain origin, they are currently 2'3 ½" gauge, compared to the Corris' 2'3", so should not prove difficult to re-gauge. 

The highlight of the Society's annual Model Railway Exhibition in Machynlleth over the August Bank Holiday weekend last year was the display of Andrew Sewell & Barry Jeffrey's much-acclaimed "Dulas" model, showing the Corris Railway as it was in the late 1920s. After the exhibition, Andrew & Barry very generously donated the model to the Society, and it was decided to give the Corris Railway Museum a major facelift over the winter, in order to incorporate the model as the centrepiece of a revised layout featuring many new displays. Visitors were able to get a first look at the new Museum at Easter, although the work will not be completed until the start of the main summer opening season. 

We are delighted to announce that the noted railway historian, Gwyn Briwnant Jones, has agreed to become a Vice-President of the Society. Gwyn's grandfather was a locomotive driver on the Corris in the early years of the twentieth century, and his father and uncle were both closely connected with the line, so his involvement strengthens the Society's link with the original Railway. He joins a distinguished group of Vice-Presidents, which also includes Sir George White, Bt, and Lady Elizabeth White, both of whose grandfathers were directors of the original Corris Railway Company in the 1920s. 

For more information visit our web-site at :
"www.corris.co.uk"

RSG May 2001