11/08/2010 |
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From the Press Officer : John Simms, |
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Is this the biggest collecting box in Wales? |
The Corris Railway may presently be one of the smallest railways in Wales but it is claiming to have one of the largest, if not THE largest, collecting boxes in the country.
The “box” in question is in fact the saddle tank from original Corris Railway steam locomotive number 3. That engine itself is very much still in service on the neighbouring Talyllyn line but some years ago the tank was returned to the Corris as time- expired, since when it has been in storage.
However it has now found a new lease of life at Maespoeth Junction raising funds for a new steam locomotive for the Corris revival. The refurbished tank sits below platform level there and visitors are invited to roll donations down a chute into a bucket inside the former dome cover hole. The bucket contains a bell to produce a satisfactory “ring” to acknowledge the donation.
And to complete a nice virtuous circle the money raised in this way is paid in at the end of the day to the “Falcon Fund” which is raising money towards the construction of steam locomotive number 10 which will recreate the original numbers 1 to 3 on the Corris line and bring back a sound to the Dulas Valley last heard when number 3 paid a one-off visit to its former line in 2003.
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The sad looking saddle tank being collected from our "P.Way Dump" on March 13th 2010 - to be restored into good order and take on a new lease of life as a donations box to raise funds for the Falcon locomotive Fund. Photograph courtesy of Dick Kidner. |
Part way through restoration -
28th May 2010. Photograph courtesy of David Coleman. |
In place and already receiving
donations - 1st August 2010. Photograph courtesy of Sara Eade. |
FOR COMMENT ON THIS RELEASE CONTACT: John Simms on 01823 323106
or via publicity@corris.co.uk.