Rheilffordd Corris Railway

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Author: David Coleman

Photographs taken between 4th & 14th June 2019

18th June 201918th June 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Tuesday, 4.6.2019. An unusual face joins the Tuesday Gang, lapping in a leaking clack valve …

… while nearby, Bob drills carriage brake fittings to take oilite bushes …

… and Trefor sources spares for Simon, who is working on the fuel arrangements in No. 11.

Meanwhile, in the Carriage Shed, a good gang is sorting out components …

… to re-build a 2 plank Private Owner’s waggon.

The last seat in carriage No. 23 has been assembled.

Thursday, 6.6.2019. Adrian moves gingerly about the frames of carriage No. 24 …

… after the bogies had been placed under it.

He then moves on to weld up brake spreader bar brackets for the bogies of carriage Nos. 23 & 24 …

… with two completed before …

… the operation of a “Special” for an educational school visit in association with Corris Mine Tours.

Tuesday, 11.6.2019. The passenger stock is hauled out for another school visit.

Thursday, 13.6.2019. Adrian makes adjustments to floor supports in the frames of carriage No. 24 …

… and various brake components are cleaned up ready for painting.

Nearby, the “kit of parts” for the two plank Private Owner open waggon are now almost complete.

Friday, 14.6.2019. It is “Railway for the Day” today, with a group from Bridgend & District Model Engineer’s Society making an early start …

… with smiles (grins) all round as Nick tries out No. 6 in Maespoeth Yard …

… while the others travel in the passenger accommodation, and Bob brings No. 7 out of the Engine Shed.

Ian gets his hand on the regulator of No. 7!

Tony starts from Maespoeth …

… before the rain starts, just in time to run the Gravity Train!

It is back to driving experience on No. 7 for Nick …

… and Huw …

The “Railway for the Day” is capped off with the “Hill Start Challenge” as Ian successfully pulls away on the 1 in 30 gradient below Maespoeth.

We think they all enjoyed themselves!

Photographs taken between 16th May & 2nd June 2019

6th June 20196th June 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Thursday, 16th May 2019. Seat laths have been treated ready for installation in the last seat of carriage No. 23 …

… while nearby, Adrian welds up brake connecting rods …

… which, together with plates, are marked up and centre punched ready for drilling.

Also nearby, are newly fabricated brake spreader beams, awaiting completion of the plates before final welding (and painting).

Sunday, 26.5.2019 – Gala Day. A couple of hours spent observing passing trains included No. 6 on a Down train amongst the bluebells …

… No. 7 on an Up train ….

… No. 11 on a Down train …

… No. 6 on an Up train …

… and finally, No. 7 on a Down train, once more amongst the bluebells.

However, the day does not appear to have passed without incident!

Thursday, 30.5.2019. During the day, more brake connecting rods for the bogies of carriages 23 & 24 have been fabricated and are in various stages of completion …

… and items of point rodding have been modified ready for installation.

Saturday, 1.6.2019. The TR Tracksiders make their annual appearance, this year (almost) completing the re-painting of the Signal Box …

… re-staining the timber cladding on the Carriage Shed …

… hanging doors on the fuel store …

… and enlarging and improving the tools shadow board in the Engine Shed.

Sunday, 2.6.2019. A parcels delivery is made by Guard Tony, to the Museum …

… the three waggon gravity train arrives in Maespoeth yard …

... after a replacement brake hanger had been fabricated for one waggon after the original cast one broke.

… and it appears that the weedkiller has worked!

Passengers from a Holiday Fellowship group re-join the train, or check out the cab of No. 7 before departing Maespoeth.

Photographs taken between 25th April & 12th May 2019

15th May 201915th May 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Thursday, 25.4.2019. Adrian stretches to do a bit of priming to the last finished welded joints on the body frames of carriage No. 24 …

… and is amazed at how good it looks after everything has been cleaned up and wiped down, ready for painting.

Monday, 29.4.2019. The P Way van has been stabled outside to provide more room in the Carriage Shed ...

… and after a very wet weekend, rail movement in the yard is very clear!

Inside jobs done include a first coat of gloss paint on the new buffers …

… and another carriage bogie and wheelsets …

… while outside, a start has been made on painting rail joint numbers in a much more legible manner than hitherto!

Tuesday, 30.4.2019. Scottie stands guard over Sue, completing paperwork in the S and T Shed …

… while Bill and Charles have been adding length to No. 9’s buffers to overcome coupling problems to the Heritage waggons …

… and Graham holds his end up to allow Charles to fix a protective plate to the newly restored End Door Heritage waggon.

Thursday, 2.5.2019. Adrian is interrupted while preparing to weld carriage bogie brake hangers …

… while nearby, Tony starts undercoating the centre of another carriage bogie ...

… with the first coat finished by the end of the day – and missing welds and some bits of missing primer completed on the body frames of carriage No. 24 behind.

Friday, 3.5.2019. Tony helps Andy carry down sheets of ply for the body sides of carriage No. 24 …

… to clear space in Andy’s van to bring down chairs from Corris Institute.

There is then time to prime the backing plates to the new buffers …

… give a second coat of primer (and prime bits missed before) on carriage No. 24 …

… before Andy demonstrates how to light up the Engine Shed by trimming the completed brake hangers.

By evening, the brake hangers have been trimmed, drilled, cleaned and lined up on carriage No. 24’s (temporary) footboard, ready for primer …

… while the chairs have been set out and benches cleared to give comedians …

… a focal point from which to address their audience!

Saturday, 4.5.2019. No caption required!

Just after midday, all the chairs have been returned to the Institute …

… and Andy has mocked up a bogie brake linkage ready for welding (and collected together the components to fabricate the rest) …

… while outside, Chris, John and Dick have made a start on fixing a roof over the unsightly fuel store.

Meanwhile, Kathy has resumed the re-painting of the Signal Box ….

… and Dick has re-painted the fouling boards and point ends about Maespoeth Yard …

… while Jack makes a gentle start with a returning load of passengers to Corris.

Thursday, 9.5.2019. Tony shunts the Heritage waggons to collect posts from Corris …

… while the carriage bogie brake hangers have been strung out for priming …

Photographs taken between 12th & 24th April 2019

26th April 201926th April 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Corris Station Project. Friday, 12.4.2019. The contractors have returned, and taken delivery of bitumen macadam which they spread …

… and roll to produce …

… an even finish by evening.

Friday, 12.4.2019. Adrian cuts sections of steel …

… before welding them to the body frames of carriage No. 24 …

… to form part of the Guard’s compartment partition in carriage No. 24.

Meanwhile, the remaining welds in the clerestory roof frame south compartment have been completed, dressed and a first coat of primer applied.

During the week, the new sets of buffers have been cleaned up, and given a coat of primer.

Wednesday, 17.4.2019. The work bench in the Carriage Shed groans under the weight of the new buffers, all painted in grey undercoat.

Nearby, the wheelsets, axleboxes and bogie frames for the last production bogies have been similarly treated.

With all this new stock coming on line, new screw couplings are being finished off.

A hole has appeared where a steel tank used to keep timber dry for morning sticks.

Thursday, 18.4.2019. Adrian welds joints he missed previously on the roof framework of carriage No. 24, while Tony gives the primed steelwork a second coat …

… before Tony moves on to give freshly fettled steelwork a first coat of primer (new steel for the Guard’s compartment partition in the foreground) …

… and moving on to the cleaned areas of the partition (and seat support brackets) towards evening.

Southern Extension. Pont y Goedwig Deviation Project. Thursday, 18.4.2019. An early morning call reveals contractors on site, making ready to re-site an electricity pole to remove a stay from part of our proposed exc

Within a couple of hours, the new pole and stay are up and the contractors …

… are reinstating our roadside fence (destroyed during an earlier, botched attempt to change the pole) while clearing away the traffic control measures.

Good Friday, 19.4.2019. Simon is happy-ish with adjustments made to the control arrangements of No. 6 so it is moved …

… out of the Engine Shed …

… to swop places with No. 11 and remove the carriages at the end of the day to the Carriage Shed.

New posters have been put on display including for the forthcoming Gala Day on May 26th ...

... and volunteering on the Railway.

Saturday, 20.4.2019. The magnificent weather over Easter gave ample opportunity to take photos of passing trains …

Easter Day, Sunday, 21.4.2019. A number of signs have been put out at Corris, along the line and here at Maespoeth, as part of an Easter Egg Hunt for our smaller visitors over the Bank Holiday weekend.

On Easter Sunday we again had brilliant sunshine and crowded platforms …

… and special headboards for our honoured guests!

Janice and Charles were staffing the museum in appropriate fashion today!

Wednesday, 24.4.2019. Bob finished fabrication of 4 new screw couplings yesterday (one is at the other end of carriage No. 23) …

… and components to fabricate carriage brake hangers and rods have been delivered.

Photographs taken between 19th March & 9th April 2019

25th April 201924th April 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Tuesday, 19.3.2019. A good gang has assembled the body of the Heritage waggon to the newly constructed frames …

… with only the buffer bands requiring fitting to finish it off.

Thursday, 21.3.2019. Tony paints various shiny parts to tone them down a bit …

… before moving on to clean and prime parts of another carriage bogie and wheelsets.

Adrian welds the last “coat hanger” for carriage No. 24’s roof …

… as Dave arrives to start painting a first coat of gloss to carriage No. 23’s body work …

… starting at the north end …

… to keep well away from Adrian, cleaning up welds on carriage No. 24’s roof …

… before welding in remaining components. The shed looks busy!

Soon it is time to start packing up …

… and cleaning around, with carriage No. 24’s roof basically complete.

Tuesday, 26.3.2019. Over the weekend, Tony (with assistance from Richard) has cleared the scrub from our newly acquired land in Corris, north of the Museum.

In the Carriage Shed at Maespoeth, Tony has completed painting the frames and wheelsets for the next carriage bogie in primer …

… while in the Engine Shed, Chris has assembled more screw couplings, which now only need a few welds to finish them off …

… and Bob has assembled six new buffers and moved them to the Carriage shed for cleaning down and painting.

John calls by on his way to East Anglia(!), to drill trial holes preparatory to enclosing the fuel area at Maespoeth to tidy its appearance.

Southern Extension Project. Pont y Goedwig Deviation. To ease access to enable details of the existing bridge structure to be studied more closely, a path has been cut through the brambles. There is plenty more clearing to do!

Saturday 6.4.2019. An eerily quiet Maespoeth Junction with everyone available attending the training session at the Corris Institute.

The 2019 Corris poster on Wharf Station.

Sunday 7.4.2019. All of the carriage stock is brought out from the Carriage Shed by No. 6.

No. 9 pulls two heritage waggons out of the Carriage Shed.

All locos are moved out to release No. 7.

With Dave working at the bench...

... Trefor disappears into a cloud of steam.

Alongside carriage building a heritage waggon has been restored to good order.

As part of the hands-on training our Officer-in-Charge takes on the role of a casualty at the side of the track.

There is time for a bite to eat mid-day.

Carriage 23 not quite finished but WOW!

Wednesday, 27.3.2019. Dave has been by, and painted the east and north sides of carriage No. 23’s South saloon.

Thursday, 28.3.2019. Ade completes welds on the roof structure of carriage No. 24 …

Photographs taken between 12th & 17th March 2019

19th March 201919th March 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Tuesday, 12.3.2019. The new Heritage waggon frames are all on edge …

… as Bill prepares buffer packers …

… while Peter and Charles use the frames as a table in their discussions.

By the end of the day, the frames lie on their backs, with wheels, axleboxes and brake gear fitted (but not fixed) …

… and nearby, slats are receiving attention for the seats in carriage No. 23.

Meanwhile, in between showers (including one of hail), Tony and others pack around the newly replaced sleepers up the line. The mountain tops in the distance are white – it was cold!

Returning to Maespoeth, recovered sleepers are stacked at the Triangle, pending disposal.

The wet weather of late has a normally docile ditch in The Spinney running at full bore!

Wednesday, 13.3.2019. Under the station sign in Corris …

… has been added a wreath from a well-wisher in memory of the late Elwyn Slate…

… the dedication approximately reading in English – “In memory of the tenderness and love Elwyn gave towards the Corris area.”

Thursday, 14.3.2019. Ted has returned to fit remaining items to No. 7’s valve gear, measuring movements carefully …

… while winching the loco back and forth …

… and trimming split pins to finish the work.

Meanwhile, Tony and Steve set off up the line with No. 9 and Heritage waggons …

… returning later with the clippings from the churchyard hedge …

… which are unloaded to dry out for later disposal, at Maespoeth.

In the Carriage Shed, Adrian is welding up carriage roof ribs for No. 24 …

… and extra welds elsewhere on the carriage body frames …

… so that by the end of the day, two more roof ribs are in position (only one more to go) …

… and all that remains is to clear up!

Saturday, 16.3.2019. Dave and Trefor steam No. 7 …

… with Dave fitting re-lined slippers to the slide bars while the boiler slowly warms up …

… all in anticipation of the boiler hot (steam) test which occurs later in the day. Yes, the safety valves do work!

It rains constantly, so that on the start of two (successful) test runs up to Corris, both Dave and Trefor “enjoy” a good soaking!

Meanwhile, Tony paints bogie underframes in the Carriage Shed …

… while Gwion washes down the bodywork of the carriage stock …

… before moving on to clean all the glass (inside and out)!

The carriage underframes also received attention.

By the end of the day, parts of the bogie have been painted white …

Photographs taken between 6th & 10th March 2019

14th March 201914th March 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Wednesday, 6.3.2019. Yesterday, the drawbar for the new Heritage Waggon chassis was fitted and many holes drilled in the underframe for attaching parts …

… and in the Engine Shed screw couplings were assembled.

Over the weekend, Trefor completed re-fitting everything on the boiler of No. 7 ready for its steam test …

… including re-fitting the coupling and connecting rods …

… while nearby, much brighter lamps have been fitted in the workshop area.

Friday, 8.3.2019. Ted from the Vale of Rheidol is back …

… with assistant to fit new valve gear parts and set them …

… after much measurement …

… to get the loco to steam at its optimum, while Ian calls to see what is going on.

Setting the valve gear requires an accurate idea of where each “quarter” is …

… and moving the loco with a bar while others push …

… and recording each movement accurately!

Richard arrives with an ear problem …

Saturday, 9.3.2019. … while Ian keeps his head down, measuring up for seats in carriage No. 23.

Together, they make up and trial assemble the seat frame …

… before gluing and screwing it all together.

The frame is then manoeuvred into position under the direction of Charles.

Meanwhile, Andy has been getting on with fitting brake components to one of the carriage bogies …

… after which the centre pivot assembly can be bolted into place.

In the Engine Shed, Trefor has fired No. 7 and watches out for any steam leaks that need sorting before its hot boiler test …

… and before long, the safety valves lift at just the right pressure!

While there is much activity in the sheds at Maespoeth, Gwion and Sam are preparing to drill replacement sleepers up the line …

… in the company of others …

… and a Works train. Half the gang follow behind to drive spikes and tighten fishbolts.

After lunch, it is a case of working back up the line, packing ballast under the new sleepers …

… until fading light and muscles brings the day to a halt!

Good weather was enjoyed – it is Spring! These are for the buffer assemblies.

Sunday, 10.3.2019. John chisels out slots in window cills for carriage No. 23 …

… while Ian taps holes to take panelling …

… and Charles and Tony re-arrange the shed to allow the next carriage bogie to receive attention …

Photographs taken between 26th February & 2nd March 2019

7th March 20197th March 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Tuesday, 26.2.2019. The underframes for a Heritage Waggon have been drilled for axleboxes and assembled …

… with appropriate ironmongery …

… while in the Engine Shed, more screw couplings are being assembled …

… and parts are turned also for them.

Tony has cut down the vegetation on the recently acquired land between the Museum and river.

Thursday, 28.2.2019. The Vale of Rheidol have arrived bearing gifts …

… which they proceed to fit on loco No. 7 …

… the re-machined slide bars having already been re-fitted.

Friday, 1.3.2019 – Gwyl Dewi Sant (St. David’s Day). Dave completes rubbing down mouldings on carriage No. 23 …

… and by the end of the day, has also completed the main panels.

Yesterday, alterations were made to the electricity switchgear in the Engine Shed …

… so that it is easier to find some of the light switches!

Tony has dug around sleepers to be replaced tomorrow and extracted spikes to speed the job ....

… while in Corris, Stevie is cutting the Churchyard hedge (before train crews get wet!).

Saturday, 2.3.2019. A works train is in Corris …

… with a good gang of volunteers replacing sleepers …

… drilling holes …

… and hammering in spikes.

The wood in some of the sleepers was very hard, generating much heat as they were drilled!

Exactly as forecast, the mists descended and rain arrived …

… but Molly was very sensible …

… by taking shelter under the van!

Corris Station Project. Tuesday, 26.2.2019. All the railway wall has gone …

… and the access track to the farm is being tidied up.

Things look so much better, in the unseasonably warm weather!

Friday, 1.3.2019 – Gwyl Dewi Sant (St. David’s Day). An auger has drilled holes for fence posts …

… which are soon concreted in position.

Southern Extension. Pont y Goedwig Deviation Project. Tuesday, 26.2.2019. The material dumped from the BETWS (Bont Evans Tree Works and Soil Stabilisation) Project approach Pont y Goedwig …

… perhaps seen better from the side!

Wednesday, 27.2.2019. Dumping of material from the temporary road is now complete, leaving us tantalisingly close to the work undertaken to create an access track down to the Nant Goedwig from the north last week.

Photographs taken between 15th & 25th February 2019

27th February 201927th February 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Friday, 15.2.2019. Dave rubs down parts of the body of carriage No. 23 …

… concentrating on the window areas.

Tuesday, 19.2.2019. Bill cuts out a mortise on the next waggon solebar, assisted by Graham …

… and with Dick, Charles and Steve in close attendance – the kettle has just been boiled!

Charles clears up with the dalek before heading for lunch.

Thursday, 21.2.2019. By the time Tuesday is over, the waggon frames have been loosely assembled.

Adrian welds more steel into the roof of carriage No. 24 …

… and by the end of the day, the roof of one saloon and the vestibule has been tacked together.

Friday, 22.2.2019. No. 5 suns himself outside the shed to make engine starting easier …

… so that waggons can be shunted to load with ballast …

… but to load the further waggon, it is easier to put the bucket in face shovel mode!

In between loading ballast into waggons, Richard clears the old railway trackbed for storage of materials.

By the end of the day, all ballast waggons are loaded, ready for a later working party.

Monday, 25.2.2019. On Saturday, sleepers for spot re-sleepering have been loaded on to the Lydd bogie waggon …

… the inside of the smokebox of No. 7 has been re-assembled complete …

… and the firebox has been re-painted, all ready for another season!

Southern Extension. Pont y Goedwig Deviation Project. Thursday, 21.2.2019. It is “Green for Go” on more preparatory work for this project, as Dai arrives …

… and clears a way down the ramp …

… but work soon comes to a stop – lunch break!

By evening, he is almost out of sight, cutting an access track to the toe of the proposed new embankment …

… but still has a way to go!

Friday, 22.2.2019. The early morning sun warms the frosty ground as Dai nears his destination …

… but he cannot escape the camera as final arrangements (for now) are discussed.

By the end of the day, the access track has reached its destination with turning area for plant, and the first of the tubs have been brought down to take “goalposts” and bunting to warn of the proximity of an 11kV overhead electricity cable.

Monday, 25.2.2019. Mark silently (having lost his voice on Saturday) guides his dumper driver to tip the first stone being dug from a temporary road almost opposite the Deviation scheme site, on to our embankment.

He was particularly anxious that we got the Company name illustrated – part of works being undertaken for the BETWS (Bont Evans Tree Works and Soil Stabilisation) Project.

By evening, the penultimate load for the day is tipped – at least another day to go!

Some of the trees coming out from the BETWS Project are rather large!

Corris Station Project. Monday, 25.2.2019. The wall between railway and the access track to Braichgoch Farm is being demolished during half-term …

… and the material arising tipped at the top of the Pont y Goedwig Deviation area for later re-use.

Photographs taken between 7th & 14th February 2019

16th February 201916th February 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Thursday, 7.2.2019. Earlier in the week, the first seat frame in the south saloon of carriage No. 23 had been erected …

… and seat laths treated prior to installation, while today Dave has given the body of carriage No. 23 another coat of brown undercoat.

Wednesday, 13.2.2019. Timber has been delivered for the frames of a Heritage waggon underframe, the cross piece tenon’s being cut on Tuesday …

… with a start being made on cutting the mortises on one of the solebars.

Over the weekend, the blower, etc., has been refitted in the smokebox of No. 7 …

…together with the safety valve assembly and shroud …

… and it is no longer an 0-4-0 locomotive!

Thursday, 14.2.2019. After a long pause following an operation, Adrian resumes work on carriage No. 24, producing a long-absent fug in the roof of the Carriage Shed …

… as he welds in steel on the clerestory roof.

In the past few days, electric hand dryers have been installed in the Gents’ and Ladies’ loos …

… and the water heater in the Engine Shed connected up – bliss for loco crews!

Southern Extension Project. Pont y Goedwig Deviation Scheme. Wednesday, 13.2.2019.

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