Rheilffordd Corris Railway

In the Heart of the Land of the Little Trains

×

Home
About Us
Shop
More Information
News
- Photographs
- Press Releases
How To Find Us

Author: David Coleman

Photographs taken between 8th & 10th October 2019

14th October 201912th October 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Tuesday, 8.10.2019. Bob continues turning down spacers for the Heritage waggon …

… which are duly fitted – and holes drilled in the frames for the brake gear …

… which enables the frames to be turned over – carefully!

This enables the brake handle to be fitted and checked for function …

… items bolted up and holes and slots cut …

… drawbar fitted …

… and the body sides trial assembled for fit …

… but they are slightly warped, so they are left for a week under Trefor’s lunch boxes to straighten them out.

Meanwhile, Bob has been assembling a track jack to resolve the design.

Thursday, 10.10.2019. Adrian has got a grip on the Heritage waggon top bar to straighten it further …

… and after successfully doing that, and removing the old rivet remains, ‘phones a friend!

Adjacent, all the brake assemblages on the bogies for carriage No. 23 have been trial fitted although await some minor tweaks. As much as practicable has also been fitted to the bogies of carriage No. 24 but to complete the task, it will first have to be positioned over the pit.

Tony sweeps up after a great deal of mess has been created in dismantling the remains of the Heritage waggon body as Adrian puts his tools away …

… and creates a small display of recovered parts for the delectation of our visitors on Sunday!

Thursday, 10.10.2019. Waggon No. 5 restoration project. A tough proposition.

But the Carriage & Waggon team are up for the job.

There is not that much left of the waggon.

Photographs taken between 1st & 6th October 2019

8th October 20197th October 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Tuesday, 1.10.2019. Bob has been turning up spacers to reduce side-travel of the wheelsets on the new Heritage waggon …

… with another one in the lathe for turning down. Meanwhile, in the Carriage Shed, more components have been glossed black.

Friday, 4.10.2019. Dream on! If only extension southwards was that easy! (The signs are for the forthcoming Wales Rally GB).

Adrian has been dismantling the Heritage waggon body parts …

… and straightening them with the assistance of heat and a very big hammer!

Adjacent, the keep plates and axlebox covers have been fitted to the bogies for carriages 23 & 24 – except for one that escaped. After recapture, it has now been put into the paint shop, and will be added when finished.

Sunday, 6.10.2019. The train awaits the first run of the sunshine and showers day – all scheduled services were operated.

In between trains, Stevie pays a visit to the Museum to chat with Richard …

… and shortly afterwards, the late running 12.40 ex. Maespoeth, breasts the bank into Corris ...

… before exchanging passengers in the station.

No, it is not Pantomime season yet! (No persons were harmed in the taking of this photo)!

Photographs taken between 21st & 26th September 2019

30th September 201930th September 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Saturday, 21.9.2019. It is “Railways on the Air” weekend, and local amateur enthusiasts have set up an aerial at Maespoeth …

… which stretches to the tree beyond the Signal Box …

… and enables them to contact 41 different UK-based railways during the day …

Sunday, 22.9.2019. … continuing into Sunday, when a knot of enthusiasts chat with Simon, on a brief visit to the Sheds …

… and the sheep are eager for the gates to be re-opened to cross the line at the end of a damp day!

About twice as many railways were contacted today as yesterday.

Tuesday, 24.9.2019. Bill cleans up …

… Tony paints himself into a corner …

… Charles secures a part on the new Heritage waggon frames …

… while Graham cuts a block of wood to create more parts for them.

Meanwhile, in the Engine Shed Bob has finished cutting bars for carriage bogie brake pins, has faced and trimmed them …

… which are then finished off by Phil on his first “Tuesday Gang” outing.

By the end of the day, the Heritage waggon underframes have had their end buffer widenings screwed and glued in place, and the ends trimmed to take the buffer bands.

Thursday, 26.9.2019. To assist the Tuesday Gang, the brake assembly of the new Heritage waggon frames are trialled in position …

… and parts trimmed and adapted …

… with trial assembly of all parts ready for the Tuesday Gang to proceed with the next phase of construction.

Meanwhile, nearby Tony is painting parts of the frames of carriage No. 23 missed previously …

… brake linkages on a carriage bogie have been trial assembled to identify remaining missing items for remedial action …

… and Adrian has assembled together the component parts of an end door waggon –identified as former CR waggon No. 5 – to assess the work required to produce another Heritage waggon in due course.

In Corris, Y Mochyn celebrates the holding of the “Red Bull Hardline” mountain biking downhill event nearby last weekend!

Photographs taken between 15th & 20th September 2019

23rd September 201922nd September 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Friday 20.09.2019. Carriage 23 and 24 are "lined" up in the carriage shed. (AB)

Work continues apace on Carriage 23.

All handrails have now been fitted to the vestibule of Carriage 23. (AB)

... following work on the observation window. (AB)

Sunday, 15.9.2018. No fireman today, so No. 11 operates the services.

There has been a problem with the ‘phones, which Richard sorts out!

Tuesday, 17.9.2019. Bob continues to relieve the back of the axlebox covers for carriages 23 and 24 …

Carriage 24 has had a partial repaint... (AB)

… and the “one that got away” has been found, cleaned up and the back machined – now it is ready for painting …

… so that it can join the others.

The rest of the Tuesday gang have arrived, and are setting out components on the 2-plank Heritage waggon underframes to ensure everything fits!

Meanwhile, in the Engine Shed, Chris is piloting holes in carriage brake blocks …

… until all are drilled ready for trial fitting.

By evening, the waggon underframes have been assembled, the wheelsets and axleboxes set out and the frames drilled to take them ...

… Tony has moved on to cleaning and priming the brake assembly for the waggon …

… after applying primer and undercoat to the second carriage vestibule handrail, completed last week …

… and Chris has cut bar to make up pins for the brake assemblies on the carriage bogies.

Thursday, 19.9.2019. Dave has been busy, priming inside the vestibule of carriage No. 23 …

… and the various assemblies to fit around it, including the sliding doors to the saloons.

Friday, 20.9.2019. A vestibule handrail has been fitted (after chopping into the newly primed vestibule side wall) …

… while our Fabricator in Chief goes over footprints, etc., on the frames of carriage No. 24. It now looks all white!

By the end of the (welding free!) day, both handrails (as well as the vestibule rail) have been fixed to carriage No. 23.

Thursday 20.09.2019. The chassis of Falcon Locomotive No. 10 was jacked up ready for the connecting rods to be fitted.

Machining is taking place on the connecting rod.

The connecting rod is almost ready to be fitted to the chassis...

... and fitted they are.

The chassis is on it's side as the cylinder is carefully lowered into place.

The cylinder and other ancillary parts are placed ready for bolting together.

Chassis on it's side with the cylinder in place.

Now starting to really look like a rolling chassis

Photographs taken between 8th & 17th September 2019

18th September 201917th September 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Sunday, 8.9.2019. No. 7 makes a spirited start on the first Up train from Maespoeth (ecs) …

… and heads northwards past the old watering arrangements on the side of the Engine Shed.

At the end of the day, Nos. 7 & 6 race each other for disposal in parallel moves.

Tuesday, 10.9.2019. Bob has a carriage axlebox cover set up in the lathe …

… having already trimmed down half a dozen of them.

In the Carriage Shed, Charles holds a waggon frame transom steady while Bill trims timber to make a joint …

… which is checked for fit by Charles.

Meanwhile, Tony (after fetching more timber from North Wales in the morning) has been painting more handrails – and in the background, waggon components – gloss black.

The 2 plank waggon frames are trial assembled for fit …

… followed by the waggon body, just to ensure everything is in the correct place!

Meanwhile, ballast had been displaced to the side in the yard to enable an ash-surfaced path be delineated towards the Signal Box ...

… and Tony has moved on to priming the new steelwork in carriage No. 24.

Thursday, 12.9.2019. The final bits of steel have been delivered for the carriages …

… and Adrian has tacked up the vestibule handrail after bending the ends with the assistance of the gas torch …

… after locating all the components for a trestle waggon, and grouping them together so that they are easy to find!

The vestibule handrail is then finish welded …

… the welds trimmed off in-situ …

… and on the work bench, almost ready for painting.

Finally, a handrail has been fixed to the carriage side of No. 23. Just a few more holes to be tapped, and it can be secured permanently.

The first handrail being fitted to carriage 23. (AB) (1)

Tuesday 17.9.2019. Looks like the Autumn issue of the Corris-Pondent is being prepared for posting. (AO)

Photographs taken between 31st August & 5th September 2019

9th September 20199th September 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Saturday, 31.8.2019. Andy greets the photographer …

… as John and Ian work nearby in the Carriage Shed …

… which involves some very fine work …

… while elsewhere, Adrian is welding supports to the first of the vestibule handrails.

Adrian checks the handrail for fit as Andy drills holes in the frames of No. 24 …

… and Mike chats with Ian.

One door lock fitted – one more to go (on carriage No. 23)!

Meanwhile, there is a good crowd to watch the first home game of the re-formed Corris United Football team (as seen from the train). Pity it ended in a brawl (the Away team have been reported to the League)!

Andy has reached the other end of carriage No. 24, and is securing the bogie retaining bolts to the frames …

… while on carriage No. 23, Ian has hung the door with catch and receiver.

Sunday, 1.9.2019. It is a fine, sunny morning (unlike yesterday), so the final stages of No. 7’s preparation take place outside …

… as Bill opens up the Block Section after the Heritage waggons have been brought up to Maespoeth’s North Platform by No. 9.

In the Carriage Shed, John is sanding down “pencil” marks in the saloon of carriage No. 23 …

… after marking out timber for cutting as fence palings …

… and producing biomass for ?…

Andy leads the way by example, cleaning up the mess he created yesterday …

… as Bob brings the Heritage waggons down on to the train before heading for Corris …

… where the sun produces a dappled effect.

Back at Maespoeth, John has moved on to sanding the seats of marks …

… while Andy bolts up more components to another carriage bogie.

Tuesday, 3.9.2019. Tony has painted two carriage handrails in black gloss, and has moved on to gloss the brake hangers …

… while Charles gets the measure of the vestibule door in carriage No. 23.

… before moving on to prime the completed vestibule handrail …

Thursday, 5.9.2019. Tony finishes off gloss black on the carriage handrails …

… and various air brake fittings fabricated previously by Bob and Chris …

… before moving on to clean up and prime components for the 2-plank Private Owner waggon restoration …

… and dropping a Clanger!

Meantime, Adrian has cut out and modified the South end of carriage No. 24 for use as a First Class observation car, as agreed by our carriage sponsor over the weekend.

Carriage 24 south end being modified to become an observation saloon. Dave Coleman gets to grips fettling the welds before the painter starts. (1)

Carriage 24 south end being modified to become an observation saloon. Dave Coleman gets to grips fettling the welds before the painter starts. (2)

Photographs taken between 23rd & 29th August 2019

2nd September 201912th October 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Friday, 23.8.2019. Bill and Ian relax towards the final stages of setting up the Model Railway Exhibition, in Y Plas, Machynlleth …

… although the exhibitors in the main hall still have a way to go!

Saturday, 24.8.2019. The strong sunlight and light haze from firing No. 7 makes for an atmospheric photograph!

At the end of the day, the train buffers up to No. 11 …

… in the bright, evening sunshine.

Monday, 26.8.2019. With a bit of time to spare while No. 7 is raising steam, Sam has a go at “quartering” No. 7’s buffers.

Some shiny new padlocks have made their appearance over the weekend.

Richard checks that No. 7’s safety valves are working correctly!

John has been cutting up firewood (between trains) while Peter stains the new woodwork on the fuel store.

No. 7 basks in the evening sunshine while gates are unlocked …

… and Sam looks happy as he tops up No. 7’s tank.

Tuesday, 27.8.2019. John and Dick look on as John drives No. 11 to collect carriages …

… which creates space for the Heritage waggons to be placed over the pit for inspection and a little tlc.

With all the firewood cut up, John sets to, finishing the re-staining of the west side of the Carriage Shed …

… where he is soon joined by Richard.

Peter has finished the staining of the fuel store.

27.8.2019 Meanwhile, in the Carriage Shed, Peter and Charles (with assistance from Dick) have added more glass to carriage No. 23 and hung the vestibule doors.

Thursday, 29.8.2019. All the longitudinal handrails for carriages 23 & 24 are now in primer, while Tony gives the brake hangers for the carriage bogies, undercoat.

Adrian has made up a jig to guide him while bending bar for the vestibule handrails …

… the first of which is refined with the aid of a pipe bender and a little grinding …

… as Tony and John relax while sheltering from a shower!

There’s many a fine tune to be played on an old fiddle!

… and all four longitudinal handrails had been painted in dark grey undercoat.

Photographs taken between 11th & 22nd August 2019

27th August 201926th August 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Sunday, 11.8.2019. Just north of Maespoeth, Tom has just set up one of several signs for the Corris & District Show – will you be there?

Monday, 12.8.2019. Unfortunately, no steam today, so No. 6 works the trains ...

… but develops an electrical fault …

… so runs round the other locos so that it does not block them in if it can’t be started tomorrow.

Tuesday, 13.8.2019. It is steam today …

… with an early “Special” for a regular group, who are taken down “the bank” before de-training. The echo of the exhaust as the loco started the climb back to Maespoeth was fantastic!

No. 6 snoozes in the back of the Engine Shed awaiting testing to determine the electrical fault.

Pete and Charles are fitting glass in carriage No. 23 …

… until most of the pre-prepared glass is fitted …

… so after completing that, they prepare more glass for next week.

Meanwhile, the gantry has had an advertising sign added to it ...

… which is soon inspected by the USAF!

Thursday, 15.8.2019. Simon and Stevie appear to be adding to the street lighting in Corris!

In the Carriage Shed, after cleaning, Tony advances with paint on the south end of carriage No. 24 …

… after re-painting the lettering on the Donation Box.

Saturday, 17.8.2019. Adrian is making up another carriage handrail …

… while Ben and Sam clean No. 7 as it gently comes to steam.

By evening, No. 6 has had a new alternator fitted, so it is all swop around again.

Sunday, 18.8.2019. After all the swopping of locos, No. 11 brings up the carriages while the last 60 lb per sq.inch or so of steam pressure on No. 7 is raised on the loop road.

Monday, 19.8.2019. No. 11 is working the trains today.

Tuesday, 20.8.2019 - 71 years ago today, the last train ran on the original railway. Dick oils the turnouts throughout Maespoeth Yard.

What is it?

Dick then helps Charles, fitting more glass in carriage No. 23 …

… while Bob turns more metal on the lathe.

Seeking overtime, Charles is still fixing glass as the carriages are put away!

Thursday, 22.8.2019. Tony is keen – he has already primed the handrails made on Saturday …

… as Adrian lights up the Engine Shed …

… to heat up the last handrail end, and bend it for the end fixing …

… before cooling it down …

… and welding it to a bracket, temporarily attached to carriage No. 24’s body frames.

Photographs taken between 3rd & 10th August 2019

12th August 201912th August 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Saturday, 3.8.2019. No. 7 emerges from the Engine Shed into bright sunshine …

… where the Gard for the day (it’s Wizards and Dragons weekend) awaits his train. Gard He casts spells, not does spelling (he said)!

The driver and Controller are suitably attired for the Wizards and Dragons weekend …

… as is Derek, the storyteller …

… and assistant (complete with very shy, working dragon peeking over his shoulder)!

Monday, 5.8.2019. We have no complete and qualified steam crew today, so No. 11 shunts No. 7 out of the shed before No. 11 takes on the service train for the day.

In between trains, Tony runs No. 9 up the Upper Corris branch siding with old stored material recovered from the stable in Corris (being cleared to enable Corris United Football Club to re-enter the local league and use the stable area as changing rooms), for disposal.

A pair of splendid cast name plates have been delivered for No. 11.

Tuesday, 6.8.2019. Dyfed Steels deliver steel for handrails on carriage Nos. 23 & 24 …

… as Chris drills fixing holes in brake blocks for the carriages …

… and Bob turns down a bar to modify the track jacks.

The RAF then stage a fly-past, checking which loco is on the train today (it is No. 11 again).

The forecast for yesterday & today had been sunshine & showers. There was no rain on Monday, a couple of showers today – and by evening, bright (& hot!) sunshine.

Saturday, 10.8.2019. No. 7 is steaming slowly …

… so the first train went Up the line in the rain …

… hauled by No. 11, here stopped to enable the crew to lock gates …

… but returning to Maespoeth, No. 7 made a welcome sight, ready to swap with No. 11 …

… which went into the Engine Shed for some work to be performed – including the fitting of the new name plates.

Photographs taken between 27th July & 1st August 2019

7th August 20196th August 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Saturday, 27.7.2019. Things are looking optimistic, with Ben producing a gleaming finish on loco No. 7 as it gently raises steam …

… while Trefor is coming up the hill with No. 6 and the passenger stock.

$Just a fraction late, the first (ecs) Up working departs Maespoeth. Taking no chances, No. 11 is stabled on the loop line to take over if No. 7 proves problematic.$

However, there are no problems, so No. 5 gets its steam bath at the end of the day.

Sunday, 28.7.2019. Andy makes an unscheduled appearance, complete with door for carriage No. 23 …

… and is soon joined by Ian ...

… and later, Charles and Scottie.

The forecast for today is not good – more passengers, perhaps

In between trains, Richard in Low-Viz trims back errant growth within station limits …

… passing the doorway to the rear access of the Shed, which is usually closed off by a sliding door (now deceased).

Nevertheless, Trefor looks happy …

… until a very happy Medical Alert dog in Corris, wipes his face!

Meanwhile, Andy has finished assembling another carriage bogie (well, as far as he can go for the moment) …

… and makes a start on the last one – for now.

The last Up train of the day departs Maespoeth past the Ash tree suffering from die-back (to be felled shortly) …

… with a (deliberately) rather empty bunker!

Tuesday, 30.7.2019. Our fire extinguishers at Maespoeth, are all lined up for their annual inspection …

… as Tony touches up the paintwork on recent welds on carriage No. 24 …

… Dick attends to paint on a fouling board missed earlier in the season ...

… and Bob marks out carriage brake hangers for drilling (all done by day’s end) …

… while later in the day, glass is fitted to one side of one saloon in carriage No. 23.

Thursday, 1.8.2019. Adrian cuts more steel off-cuts …

… and welds them into the frames of carriage No. 24 to stabilise the Guard’s compartment partition …

… before heating up bar …

… and bending it to form one end of a carriage handrail.

The rather hot bar is then cooled (and trimmed) …

… and brackets welded on to form a complete carriage handrail for one saloon – after painting. Three more to go!

← Previous

Shopping Cart

What’s New

Photographs taken between 8th & 10th October 2019
Photographs taken between 1st & 6th October 2019
Corris Railway Station – The Next Steps
Photographs taken between 21st & 26th September 2019

Latest Photographs

Latest Products

Kerr Stuart Locomotive Catalogue Reprint, 2009 £6.95
Postcard - Gala Day Line Up £0.50
2020 Calendar £5.50
Approaching Corris (Pack of 4) £4.00

Rheilffordd Corris Railway

Station Yard Corris, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 9SH

01654 761701 - Corris Museum & Station
01654 761303 - Maespoeth Engine Shed
General Email - enquiries@corris.co.uk

Useful Links

Corris Discuss Forum
Committee Members
Data Protection Policy
Operational Information
Safety Management System

Let’s Get Social

Copyright © 2018 Corris Railway Society All Rights Reserved. Solution by totalwebsystems

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
TripAdvisor