The Corris Railway Society has launched an appeal to build a new steam locomotive. After a vote amongst the CRS membership the design will closely follow that of the original Corris Railway numbers 1 to 3 in their 0-4-2 tank engine form. The new engine will take the number 10.

BACKGROUND.

The Corris Railway was originally opened in 1859 as a horse and gravity worked line taking slate and other products between the Dulas Valley and the navigable waters of the River Dovey. However in 1878 the residents of the Valley began to get used to the sound of steam whistles as three small saddle tank locomotives, built by Hughes Locomotive and Tramway Engine Works Ltd of the Falcon Works in Loughborough, took over freight train workings with steam passenger trains following on in 1883.

The “Falcons” were delivered with a 0-4-0 wheel arrangement but this proved to make for a bouncy ride on the sharp curves of the Corris and they were fairly soon converted to 0-4-2’s by the addition of a small set of trailing wheels under the cabs. Unusually for narrow gauge engines that hauled passenger services they never carried names but for the next forty years Corris numbers 1, 2 and 3 gave excellent service as the CR became one of the most enterprising and successful small railways in Britain.

However by the First World War age was beginning to tell. Number 1 was set aside before World War 1 and Number 2 operating irregularly in the 1920’s but being finally set aside with parts from the pair going to keep number 3 in action.

It was a tribute to the original design that when thoughts turned to a new engine it was hoped to order “another one” but Hughes had become part of Brush Engineering who no longer made steam engines and so Number 4 was another 0-4-2 saddle tank but of a different design and from Kerr Stuart of Stoke on Trent.

In 1930 the Corris was purchased by the Great Western Railway and a gentle decline in traffic continued. Passenger services ended almost immediately and eventually the line was served by a thrice-weekly goods train. This ran on into British Railways’ first year of 1948 but in August flooding eroded the banks of the Dyfi to the point where the line was in danger of being washed away and the services ended abruptly. The last services were worked by number 3 as 4’s firebox was worn out.

Numbers 3 and 4 were sheeted over to protect them and spent two years in the yard at Machynlleth from which all logic suggested they should go to the scrapyard. However, they were purchased by and delivered to the Talyllyn Railway in 1951 (for the combined sum of £50) and began a new life which has seen them working on the TR for over half-a-century. By one of those quirks of locomotive history Corris Railway 3 and 4 became Great Western 3 and 4 and are now Talyllyn 3 and 4 although now number 3 is named “Sir Haydn” and 4 “Edward Thomas”. Falcon number 3 is still working for a living at the age of 130 in a tribute to the quality of the original design.

THE “FALCON” APPEAL.

One of the difficulties which the current Corris Railway has faced since it began to bring the line back to life is its track gauge. 2 feet and 3 inches is unusual and now only shared with our Talyllyn neighbours. So when it comes to locomotives and rolling stock we are limited in what we can use or hire in. We have important historical vehicles and have built a new carriage shed at a cost of over £150,000 to keep them under cover. We have also spent £100,000 on steam locomotive number 7 which joined the ongoing story of the Corris in 2005.

Number 7 is an updated replica of the original number 4 and has proved an excellent machine. However as the line expands in length and number of visitors more steam power will be needed, especially as number 7 will fall due for the statutory “ten year” overhaul in 2014/5.

And so the Corris Railway is going to build another “Falcon” after a modest gap of a century and a quarter. The engine will carry the number 10, simply because it will be the tenth locomotive to work on the Corris since 1878. The timescale for construction will depend very much for on funding and for a small Society such as ourselves this will be another major effort and all help will be much appreciated. One off donations, small or large, will be most gratefully received, as will be the steady cash flow represented by standing order payments. Both can be helped further by the Gift Aid provisions if you are a UK tax payer.

FALCON FOR A FIVER, NUMBER 10 FOR A TENNER

Whilst one-off donations (both large and small) are very welcome the CRS would also be pleased to receive regular payments by standing order. So if anyone fancies a “Falcon for a Fiver” or “Number 10 for a tenner” - less than a monthly round of drinks down the pub - it will be possible to sign up for a regular standing order payment.

THANKS.

For anyone subscribing £500 to the Appeal the following benefits are on offer:-

A ticket for a journey on the first day of operation of the new locomotive; 3 years membership of the Corris Railway Society; a framed picture of the locomotive; your name on a commemorative Donors’ Board.

For anyone subscribing £1000 to the Appeal the following will be offered:-

A ticket for a journey on the first day of operation of the new locomotive; 5 years membership of the Corris Railway Society; a framed picture of the locomotive; your name on a commemorative Donors Board;

For anyone subscribing £2500 to the Appeal the following will be offered:-

A ticket for a journey on the first day of operation of the new locomotive; Life Membership of the Corris Railway Society; a “Falcon” polo or sweat shirt; a framed picture of the locomotive; your name on the commemorative Donors Board.

Information leaflets for the “Falcon” appeal can be obtained by sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to John Simms, CRS, 42 Bluebell Close, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 3XQ

FOR COMMENT ON THIS RELEASE CONTACT: John Simms on 01823 323106. 
May 2008