Rheilffordd Corris Railway

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Author: David Coleman

Photographs taken between 7th & 20th September 2020

22nd September 202022nd September 2020 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Southern Extension. Pont y Goedwig Deviation Project. Monday, 7.9.2020. Quarry rejects from Aberllefenni have been fetched and spread …

… to blind the coarse stone foundation drainage layer – in the rain.

Thursday, 10.9.2020. Fill from Dolgellau is spread on geotextile …

… and rolled to seal against water penetration.

Monday, 14.9.2020. It is dry at last, and more material has been delivered …

Tuesday, 15.9.2020. … and spread – but roadworks en route with convoy working, slow deliveries.

At last, lorries can back further down the site – double handling should be much reduced from now on!

After a good section has been spread, trimmed and tracked in, Jack rolls it …

Wednesday, 16.9.2020. … ready for more deliveries, but roadworks are still holding things up.

A bit of vegetation clearance reveals long forgotten pegs, indicating the approximate line and level of the proposed new track in relation to the embankment works …

… but with the ability to reverse lorries back almost all the way (of this stage), things should speed up – if the weather holds!

Tuesday, 8.9.2020. Andy pays a visit to work on carriage No. 23, here joining the others for lunch …

… before resuming work underneath to fit brake pipes – with light …

… while Richard manages without!

Nearby, Tony shows a leg while Charles cuts a waggon transom timber …

… which Bill finishes off …

… until three are completed.

It is then the turn of the longitudinals to have their mortises (roughly) cut out.

Meanwhile, in the Engine Shed Bob is preparing steel for another track jack …

… with the basics of another three prepared.

Wednesday, 9.9.2020. Ooops! This load of tar planings was supposed to have been delivered to Y Felin, Llwyngwern. A good job we have Bro Cader handy to shift them (on a wet day)!

Thursday, 10.9.2020. Tony gives the transoms for the next Heritage Waggon underframes, a coat of preservative …

… while Adrian continues work on the Drop Side Waggon body …

… in many …

… different positions, here (temporarily) on a separate waggon chassis.

Meanwhile, Richard is refining carriage No. 23’s brakes …

… which has by now had its brake pipes fitted, and the underframe painted black.

Sunday, 12.9.2020. Phil and Sam examine the ground frame from Corris, with a view to giving it a thorough overhaul …

… much to Sam’s delight!

Thursday, 17.9.2020. Adrian has continued work on the Drop Side Waggon body, here filling in holes and building up around them as appropriate …

Photographs taken between 1st & 6th September 2020

8th September 20208th September 2020 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Saturday, 5.9.2020. Southern Extension. A mixture of material from the base of the access track is carefully placed in the skip of the dumper while Dai spreads stone further away.

Tuesday, 1.9.2020. The Waggon Shelter is coming on …

… with Richard, Dick, John and Charlie all lending a hand.

By evening, the roof sheets are on.

Meanwhile, Tony has been extracting a rotten wicket gate post leading down to the Carriage Shed …

… and excavating down to secure a replacement.

Wednesday, 2.9.2020. Ben, Sam & Richard take a walk past the Waggon Shelter to view stored waggons further down the line, with a tarpaulin over the Waggon Shelter roof to give protection from showers.

Thursday, 3.9.2020. It is dry-ish today, so a chance to get the underfelt on the roof – when the wind is not blowing too hard!

Steel has arrived for No. 10’s brake gear (to be manufactured in the Engine Shed) – but raising the bar is challenging …

… but eventually, it makes it to safety in the Shed!

The stock has been swopped around in the Carriage Shed as Adrian welds more steel to the drop-side waggon body …

… which is now looking somewhat tidier – at least, underneath!

The Carriage Shed looks quite full, with carriage No. 23 on the East road …

… which allows carriage 23 to receive its last (hopefully!) coat of undercoat on the frames.

By evening, despite the wind, the Waggon Shelter roof has been under-felted …

… and the Sunday Gang have arrived (after work) to set …

… access covers over manholes in Corris.

Friday, 4.9.2020. The new wicket gate post at Maespoeth has been set in concrete …

… and the Waggon Shelter now has a full complement of dagger boards on the East side.

Saturday, 5.9.2020. The Waggon Shelter roof has had temporary battens added to prevent the wind getting under the felt, and the rest of the dagger boards secured on the side …

… which leaves it a little dark inside – anybody got a light

In the Engine Shed, Phil is giving the radial drill some tlc …

… including changing the oil, and the oil level sight glass – which previously, was unreadable.

The locos have been swopped around …

… so that No. 7 is ready for its winter maintenance.

Sunday, 6.9.2020. Phil shows the new lid he made at home for the radial drill …

… and a cardboard gasket he made before opting for one from thicker card.

Up the line, the Sunday Gang are changing a sleeper, Sam drilling …

… Ben spiking …

… and Sam packing.

It is then back to Maespoeth …

Photographs taken between 25th & 31st August 2020

7th September 20207th September 2020 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Tuesday, 25.8.2020. Our fire extinguisher inspector demonstrates how to drop an extinguisher …

… which has his audience enthralled!

Meanwhile at Maespoeth, Tony has painted one of the tip-up seats for the Guard’s compartment of carriage No. 24 in black …

… while Bob works on some more track jacks under the watchful eye of Hugh.

Dick lends his weight to waggon frame manufacture in the Carriage Shed …

… while Pete sands the floor in carriage No. 23 …

… preparatory to varnishing.

Thursday, 27.8.2020. Adrian cleans up more parts on the drop-side Heritage waggon body …

… before welding more bits back on!

Saturday, 29.8.2020. Richard and John take a break from working on the Waggon Shelter …

… ready for more spectacular progress!

Sunday, 30.8.2020. Trusses are starting to be formed …

… while Jack experiments with adapting a quad bike sprayer to railway use …

… and Tony starts to dispose of our accumulated cut vegetation.

Storm Francis has brought a large branch down across the line – until cleared by Jack.

No. 6 sets off to retrieve waggons being used by the rest of the Sunday Gang as they pack sleepers …

… before returning to Maespoeth, re-arranging the train and viewing Waggon Shelter progress from the Signal Box.

Trefor arrives with weedkiller to load the waggon experiment …

… so that the ensemble can reach Corris and start spraying …

… leaving behind a wet track!

Monday, 31.8.2020. John appears to have difficulty hearing – or was he giving the photographer instructions?

The Sunday Gang (on a Monday) arrive in Corris …

… to recover S&T equipment for re-use …

… leaving the site clear of such items.

Southern Extension. Pont y Goedwig Deviation Project. Tuesday, 25.8.2020. Father & Son Machines have been moved in anticipation of Storm Francis …

… but more stone has been delivered!

Saturday, 29.8.2020. Material is tipped in a temporary store (for later use) …

… while the next stone layer has been placed at the southern end of the job …

… but Dai has to clear over-spill by hand …

… to ensure there is an overlap with the next layer of geotextile.

Photographs taken between 15th & 23rd August 2020

29th August 202029th August 2020 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

16.08.2020. Ground frame ex-Corris

Saturday, 15.8.2020. John is pausing for effect ...

… before securing timbers for the Heritage waggon shelter …

… while up the line, some intrepid explorers have unearthed parts of the original cab of loco No. 6 …

… after having extracted a waggon chassis with a view to renovation. Richard awaits a lift back up to Corris!

Returning to Maespoeth, John is clearly making progress.

Sunday, 16.8.2020. The Sunday Gang have removed the ground frame from Corris and covered over the hole previously occupied by it.

Thursday, 20.8.2020. The drop-side waggon body has been turned over to access the underside for restoration work, while in the background, paintwork of the frames of carriage No. 23 continues.

Sunday, 23.8.2020. Sam gives the point at the north end of Maespoeth Yard, some tlc …

… while further up the line …

… and at the north end …

We seem to have acquired a new buffer block at the south end of our headshunt in Maespoeth Yard!

Works on Ralltgoed Tramway embankment, Aberllefenni by Natural Resources Wales. Thursday, 20.8.2020. The embankment wall is being re-built in the middle …

… while another breach has been excavated ready to replace more broken soffit slabs in due course.

Sunday, 23.8.2020. The embankment over the first opening is effectively rebuilt, but high water levels from Storm Ellen have swept away some of the contractor’s safety measures …

… and put pressure on the remaining intact waterways under the embankment.

… a gang is clearing up the debris following a tree coming adrift from the ground during Storm Ellen.

Dai is riddling stone in Dolgellau to separate out the coarser, drainage / foundation layer material (his third wet day on that job this week).

Thursday, 20.8.2020. … so that he can fill up the recently excavated embankment base with stone in three separate layers, and thoroughly roll each one.

Photographs taken between 6th & 13th August 2020

17th August 202017th August 2020 David Coleman 2 Comments Photographs

Southern Extension. Pont y Goedwig Deviation Project. Saturday, 8.8.2020. After some precipitation – however light - every day for over a week, Richard tries a different tack using only imported material.

Southern Extension. Pont y Goedwig Deviation Project. Saturday, 8.8.2020. After some precipitation – however light - every day for over a week, Richard tries a different tack using only imported material …

… and rolling it but stopping before it gets too spongy ...

… before fetching more.

Tuesday, 11.8.2020. One tree removed and the next few “steps” have been cut ready to step up the embankment …

… once more material has arrived.

After a day sorting material, Dai has moved spoil behind the gabions almost their full length. The finished level (here) is the green line in the foreground.

Thursday, 6.8.2020. One of the seat frames for carriage No. 24’s Guards compartment has been painted in undercoat …

… as Adrian continues to work on the refurbishment of the body of the drop-side waggon nearby.

Saturday, 8.8.2020. Yesterday, the public phone box AKA Wil. John Lloyd office building outside The Institute was finally removed

Sunday, 9.8.2020. Tony points out that Andy has made a quick visit …

… bearing gifts of brake pipe connectors for carriage No. 23 …

… but can’t leave without drilling holes in the carriage body to receive some of them!

Tony, Ben and Sam discuss track issues at a social distance.

… before Tony resumes painting one of the manrider chassis, ready for another task.

Ralltgoed Tramway Causeway, Aberllefenni. Monday, 10.8.2020. Contractors working for Natural Resources Wales, position concrete soffit sections to repair the causeway …

… with the site being accessed by partially filling in the lake with stone.

Tuesday, 11.8.2020. Road and rail meet …

… to transfer timber for the next Heritage waggon chassis (waggon No. 5) for transfer to the Carriage Shed.

Before long, it is lunch time on a sweltering day …

… so it is difficult to get moving …

… although the waggon with No. 10’s boiler displayed upon it has been moved to the other end of the shed. Moves afoot?

Wednesday, 12.8.2020. Fresh notices have appeared on the Museum door explaining the current situation.

Thursday, 13.8.2020. Richard feeds No. 10’s firebox on a sweltering day …

… before the waggon bearing it is drawn out into the sunshine …

… to position it on the Upper Corris branch siding.

Meanwhile, Lez, Adrian and Richard discuss aspects of the restoration of the drop-side waggon body …

… before Steve arrives at lunch time!

No. 5 has been fired up to move some pieces of engineering equipment elsewhere and returns just as …

… a lorry arrives alongside No. 10’s boiler …

… and not hanging around, soon transfers the boiler …

Photographs taken between 29th July & 3rd August 2020

7th August 20207th August 2020 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Thursday, 30.7.2020. Tony primes the new steel work fabricated by Adrian last week in the Guards compartment of carriage No. 24 …

… until distracted by the need for a bit of shunting …

… to recover the drop side waggon body from the North Platform for work to commence on the waggons restoration. Adrian (or should that be Brian Rix) pushes the assemblage until stopped by his trousers falling down

Decorum restored, No. 9 is coupled up …

… and the waggon body arrives in the Carriage Shed.

Meanwhile, Tony is giving the block work to support the grillage around the water crane, another coat of paint.

Adrian then finishes off the fabrication and fitting of the second seat in the Guard’s compartment of carriage No. 24.

By evening, Adrian has removed the drop side (which had been fixed in position and the end removed for the waggon to be used as a rubbish waggon in Aberllefenni Quarry), and is about tuckered …

… with one original fitting safely recovered. The other one will have to be made from scratch …

… while outside, the underframes of carriage No. 23 have been rubbed down, and re-primed.

Sunday, 2.8.2020. Ben arrives after a healthy 25 mile bike ride …

… to hold a socially distant meeting at Maespoeth …

… where a number of jobs were completed, such as replacement of the grill around the water crane at Maespoeth …

… the replacement of the gate post at Maes y Llan …

… and the cleaning of leaf litter at Black Stump.

Just a few things to arrange before packing up for the day!

Southern Extension - Pont y Goedwig Deviation Project. Wednesday, 29.7.2020. With a brief spell of dry weather forecast, Dai and Richard arrive around midday to "sample the waters" …

… as there are still puddles on site!

Thursday, 30.7.2020. Socially distant lunch break for Richard and Dai!

They have blinded the stepped stone layers with “rejects” from Aberllefenni Quarry, which are just about to be rolled …

… and by evening, the filling beyond has been extended.

Friday, 31.7.2020. The geotextile is rolled out, with Dai anxious to be first on the newest attraction in Corris – but has forgotten his skis!

Granular material can then be gently positioned to stop the wind blowing the geotextile around …

… and filled over with more material to near width.

Having already done a day’s work elsewhere, Jack rolls the sub-soil behind the gabions but eventually has to stop as the moisture rises, causing the soil to stick to the drums.

But, by the end of the day, the site is looking somewhat different!

Saturday, 1.8.2020. A fresh shelf has been cut, enabling a steeped foundation stone layer to be placed …

… wide enough for the roller to operate.

More material arrives!

Monday, 3.8.2020. Dai puts the finishing touches to the stone layer after blinding …

Photographs taken between 16th & 28th July 2020

30th July 202030th July 2020 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Thursday, 16.7.2020. Andy has arrived bearing gifts for loco No. 10, like cylinder patterns and smokebox wrapper …

… which is soon placed in front of the boiler (after it has been levelled up) …

… and carefully positioned on packing in front. It fits!

Andy tries the front plate for size while Tony ensures the chimney doesn’t fall over!

Having concluded that the real chimney is too heavy until the smokebox is welded up, the pattern is offered up – for photographic purposes!

After lunch, all has been strapped down (or together) …

… to give the desired appearance.

While all this has been going on, a socially distant meeting has taken place to decide on various fittings required for the loco …

… John has started setting up support posts for the Heritage Waggon shelter …

… and Tony has been giving the footboards for carriage No. 23 another coat of gloss.

Stock is then shunted …

… and after finalising some fitting work to the brake gear of carriage No. 23, it is moved to the South Platform, much to Andy’s delight!

Advantage is then taken to try a 4 carriage formation up to Corris to check for any problems, here with the “A – Team” prominent!

By the time we get back to Maespoeth, John has gone, leaving the two outermost posts for the new shelter in position.

Andy unpacks his offerings for carriage No. 23 …

… and Adrian has fabricated more parts for the tip-up Guards seats for carriage No. 24.

Saturday, 17.7.2020. John has assembled more posts for the new shelter …

… but he has worked so hard, there is a fire “down the hole”, so he resorts to nearby buckets to overcome the problem!

By evening, all posts are concreted in place.

Sunday, 19.7.2020. The Sunday Gang has cut back our roadside bank (and hedge) – you can now see our road signs!

The gang were to be found up the line, just having finished clearing undergrowth and entrances to culverts.

Tuesday, 21.7.2020. A hopeful sign The bigger machine on the Pont y Goedwig Deviation works has been moved – hopefully, to make way for the delivery of stone to site. However, there is still standing water around.

Growing our own oak sleepers

Thursday, 23.7.2020. More shunting moves …

… to enable (hopefully) the last items to be added below carriage No. 23.

Adrian has finished fabricating one Guard’s tip-up seat …

… in carriage No. 24, and just has to try it for size!

Tuesday, 28.7.2020. The new garage in Corris, looks as though it is just about ready to go into business!

Dave is paying a flying visit …

… with Bill and Charles discussing the finer points of outstanding work on the outside of carriage No. 23 …

Photographs taken between 9th & 14th July 2020

20th July 202020th July 2020 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Thursday, 9.7.2020. Adrian has cut and welded into place, extra support for the tip-up seats in the Guard’s compartment of carriage No. 24 – the other side was done later.

One of the waggon chassis has been placed under the body of waggon No. 5 to release a trolley for other use.

Replacement, more comprehensive notices have been placed on all main entrance doors at Maespoeth.

Sunday, 12.7.2020. Shunting moves are going on …

… to temporarily place No. 5 in the Carriage Shed …

… and make up a train …

… to clear a fallen branch and other vegetation from up the line.

Tuesday, 14.7.2020. The lineside in Corris looks tidier than for a very long time – as Glyn goes for his daily walk!

The temporary home of some Heritage waggons to minimise access to the Carriage Shed by different groups of workers.

A good gang of volunteers has assembled to prepare the footboards for carriage No. 23 …

… and re-fit the centre vestibule seat after varnishing.

By the end of the day, various waggon items have received paint …

… as has carriage 23’s footboards.

Southern Extension. The highway authority have been very good, clearing vegetation from the trackbed between Pont Evans and …

… Esgairgeiliog Station …

… as well as between Esgairgeiliog and …

… Tanycoed to make it easier for the roadside wall to be inspected.

Y Mochyn gets ready to do a bit of shopping!

Photographs taken between 1st & 5th July 2020

8th July 20208th July 2020 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Wednesday, 1.7.2020. That’s more like it! No. 7 is steamed for its annual Hot Boiler Test – successfully passed …

… so it just had to be taken up the line to check that the work done on the motion over the winter was not in vain!

On return, Trefor has to pat his charge – well done!

And so to bed …

… after a quick rub down (it had been raining).

Thursday, 2.7.2020. The second bogie has been positioned under carriage No. 23 …

… but before it can be moved over the pit for bolts to be inserted, the Heritage waggons have to be removed – as seen from the brake van …

… and the carriage carefully moved as part of a four carriage train …

… over the pit, where 23 is separated off.

That is two fitted bolts in the north end bogie mount, as Adrian struggles with the other two bolts. Then it is the south end bogie – not easy, with limited room!

An hour and a half later, and we have a four carriage train …

… in the sunshine, in the South Platform.

Although stock has been swapped around from the usual, they all look “just right” in the late afternoon sunshine.

Sunday, 5.7.2020. No. 6 has been fired up to finish off last Sunday’s business …

… before heading up to Corris to work on the lineside vegetation …

… including some small trees …

… to leave our site looking tidier than for quite some time.

Almost done!

The smokebox door for loco No. 10 has been formed by Purdie Dished Ends of Bradford

Nothing to do with Corris but while collecting the smokebox door I was given a look inside their works and was interested to see just how big some of the dished ends they produce are.

The bare pressing now needs hinges, handles and a dart bar making.

5.7.2020. The sidebars for No. 10 are being assembled ...

... at Alan Keef's. (Final two photographs courtesy of Patrick Keef).

Photographs taken between 19th June & 1st July 2020

3rd July 20202nd July 2020 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Tuesday, 23.6.2020. Lez has been back, and finished the block wall supports for the grating around the water column – it was very warm!

While Lez was working, Tony replaced a rotten plank in the drop-side door of the infrastructure waggon.

Wednesday, 24.6.2020. With blue skies and high temperatures, Richard has returned to try and undertake more work on the Pont y Goedwig Deviation …

… but finds the soil too wet, so starts to negotiate his way out …

… with a push!

Despite the heat, puddles are not evaporating …

… so instead, he places stone in the bottom layer of the new embankment …

… until the stock-pile on site is largely exhausted.

Thursday, 25.6.2020. Adrian switches on the magnet of the (heavy!) magdrill, to complete the drilling and fixing of items under the frames of carriage No. 23 …

… until, with a re-arrangement of packing, one bogie can be run underneath to its approximate final position.

In the meantime, Tony has cleaned up and re-primed the grating to fit around the water column …

… followed by painting the new block work with black bitumen.

After lunch, it is a spot of weedkilling for Tony …

… followed by painting the edge of the grating white.

Meanwhile, Adrian has been really struggling in the heat and humidity, to drill for and fix remaining items under carriage No. 23’s frames …

… but by evening, the second bogie has been run under, and the body lowered – but not yet on to the bogies.

Throughout the day, 2m Social Distance markers have been measured out and painted on the floors of the Carriage and Engine Sheds, in accordance with the Risk Assessment prepared for re-opening the sheds to volunteers from further afield – in due course!

Sunday, 28.6.2020. Patrick and Trefor have arrived to fill No. 7’s boiler and tanks in anticipation of its steam test next week.

A walk up the line reveals piles of cut vegetation …

… but in Corris, the scene is more reminiscent of 1949 (after the railway had closed)!

At the station site, Jack and Tony are cutting back more aggressive growth …

… before returning to Maespoeth to empty the waggons …

… and swopping locos …

… plus adding ballast and other waggons …

… while locos 9 & 5 (plus waggons) wait patiently at Maespoeth for their return.

Work included ballasting around the accommodation crossing treated last weekend …

… removing cut vegetation from earlier works in Corris, and extra ballasting after the earlier P. Way works pre-Lock Down.

The tip up seat for the north compartment of carriage 24 has been fabricated.

Hinges being fitted to join the seat and leg. The same design was used as for carriage 23 but this time one three quarter length seat to accommodate the guards compartment instead of two half seats.

The finished seat frame ready to go to Richard Saffery's shed for painting and the wooden parts to be made.

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