The sun shined on the Dulas Valley on Saturday June 7th as the railway and the community celebrated the Grand Re-Opening of the Corris Railway's passenger services. The ceremonies commenced at 11:00 a.m. when Keith Davis, Chairman of the Corris Railway Company, welcomed everyone to the occasion, with a particular mention to the special guest, 125-year-old steam engine Corris No.3, built for the railway in 1878 and returning for the first time since leaving for the Talyllyn Railway in 1951. Keith also surprised Aberllefenni resident David Coleman by presenting him with an engraved glass bowl to mark the many years of hard work he had put in helping the railway to achieve this landmark in its history.

Corris Railway Society President Christopher Awdry then spoke about how he and his late father, "Thomas the Tank Engine" author Wilbert, had visited the abandoned Corris route in the 1950s, and had never imagined he would be involved in its re-opening. He unveiled a specially-carved slate plaque, attached to the wall of the Corris Railway Museum, recording the occasion.

Councillor Gretta Jones, representing both Corris Community Council and Cyngor Gwynedd, also made everyone welcome, and hoped that they would return to see the railway develop further in the future. Councillor Ann Holloway, representing Powys County Council, expressed the good wishes of everyone on the east bank of the Afon Dulas. David Mitchell, Managing Director of the Talyllyn Railway Company, who had kindly loaned the steam locomotive complete with its Corris Heritage Train, looked forward to the two railways continuing to co-operate in the future.

The guests then took their places on the first steam-hauled passenger train to leave Corris Station since 1930, and travelled to the railway's engineering headquarters at Maespoeth, where they were given a short talk on the history of the railway and its future plans. For the rest of the day, the steam-hauled Heritage Train ran alternatively with the railway's regular diesel-hauled services, including the first runs in revenue-earning service of the railway's new bogie carriage, No.21, constructed by Society members and passed for use by H.M. Railway Inspectorate that same morning !

Apart from the trains on the railway, visitors to Corris could also see the Model Railway Exhibition in the school hall of Ysgol Gynradd Corris, ride on the miniature railway in the school grounds, and view the display of classic cars and traction engines in the car park.

The railway is running steam services every weekend for the rest of the month of June; full details can be found at : www.corris.co.uk.

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

RSG June 2003