Rheilffordd Corris Railway

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Author: David Coleman

Photographs taken between 11th and 28th May 2025

30th May 202530th May 2025 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Saturday, 24.5.2025. Gala Day. Due to the numbers arriving in Corris, an extra train was operated and returned to Corris before returning again then heading off as all was made ready for the freight train to follow.

Sunday, 11.5.2025. No. 10 has been put on display to members of the Narrow Gauge Railway Society who held their AGM in Abergynolwyn yesterday ...

... and who had hired a Special, seen here later, departing from Maespoeth.

Tuesday, 13.5.2025. Mark holds the hose in place while No. 11 (amongst others) is fuelled from a road tanker.

In the Carriage Shed, Bill is relieving the sides of dumb buffer blocks to take the steel bands ...

... while nearby, Adrian has completed the refit of brake gear on the Drop-Side Waggon, and clears the packing away.

Outside, once it has cooled slightly (and after painting rail ends on turnouts), Steve tackles the weeds on the quieter ends of the platforms.

To finish off the day, Mark has primed the outside of the steel bands for the dumb buffers.

Wednesday, 14.5.2025. Ian demonstrates the special box he has made to house a head for the universal milling machine - to keep it clean, and more importantly upright, to prevent oil draining out.

Sunday, 18.5.2025. A gang descend on the carriages to wash them thoroughly prior to the Gala next weekend ...

... for which purpose, there has been a grand shunt of rolling stock (including bringing the Civils waggon in to have the buffers re-affixed) ...

... and the bogie brake van coupled to No. 5 to allow Brake Van rides.

Tuesday, 20.5.2025. Mark drives No. 6 up the Upper Corris Branch Siding to collect a materials delivery ...

... but the new items are slippery customers, so have to be strapped down against movement ...

... before Mark resumes painting duties.

Thursday, 22.5.2025. Vince cheerfully works on re-tubing No. 7's boiler from the firebox end ...

... while Trefor cleans up at the smokebox end.

With the firebox end secure, attention turns to expanding tubes at the other end ...

... using a (very noisy!) air drill for speedy results.

Friday, 23.5.2025. Fittings are re-secured to the boiler, allowing it to be refilled with water to start hydraulic testing.

There are a few small weeps, so Trefor works through the tubes again as necessary.

Meanwhile, there is a discussion on how to undertake other jobs on the frames to rectify faults discovered by removing the wheelsets ...

... while outside, Steve has arrived to give another dose of weedkiller to the more stubborn weeds.

Saturday, 24.5.2025 - Gala Day. No. 11 departs with train early for Corris, but the fine weather of late has deserted us ...

... so that a gazebo has been erected over the Brio train set to afford some protection.

Ben is completing procedures to ready No. 10 for service ...

... with Karl (Elwyn Slate's son) in silhouette on the footplate to help celebrate his significant birthday!

No. 10 is ready to drop back on to the (very full) service train as No. 11 brings it into the South Platform.

Sara gives Shed Talks to interested travellers ...

... and Trefor starts No. 5 in the Carriage Shed ...

... to add the bogie brake van to a demonstration goods train.

Photographs taken between 26th April & 6th May 2025

8th May 20258th May 2025 David Coleman 1 Comment Photographs

Saturday, 3.5.2025. First train of the day and No. 10 with empty carriages set off from Maespoeth Junction to collect passengers for the Mach Comedy Festival Event to be held in the Carriage Shed.

Tuesday, 29.4.2025. Having pondered brake geometry while sitting under the Heritage waggon he is working on Adrian soon resolves it by cutting!

Meanwhile in Corris, John and Mike are taking a break while installing audio visual displays ...

... and CCTV in the Museum.

Wednesday, 30.4.2025. Diverted from their work in the Museum, John and Mike have cleared the floor in the Carriage Shed for the audience of our contribution to Machynlleth Comedy Festival ...

... as vans are abstracted with which to carry chairs borrowed from Corris Institute for the audience.

In Corris, John is fitting exterior cameras while Mike monitors from inside the Museum ...

... before they both carry chairs from the Institute and stack them neatly in one of the vans!

The process is reversed upon arrival at Maespoeth and are soon set out ready for Saturday.

Later, in the Museum, Edward Thomas' pocket watch is demonstrated in its new case, complete with security measures and lighting.

Friday, 2.5.2025. Coal is delivered to keep the steam locos running.

Saturday, 3.5.2025. It is an early start for the footplate crew, as Ben drives No. 10 out of the Engine Shed to pick up his train ...

... which soon sets off ...

... for Corris in the brilliant sunshine!

The train soon returns and passengers alight ...

... as operating staff gather near No. 10.

The Comedy Festival audience then receive a safety briefing from Richard ...

... before introducing the first of several comedians.

Meanwhile, No. 10 has run around and the headboard added ...

... and some hand shunting is performed, all ready for later in the day.

Upon completion of the event, many of the audience record their impressions of the day.

The train then headed back to Corris.

A later visitor brought along his live steam loco to photograph against the Engine Shed ...

... and "normal" train service continued.

Opportunity was taken to record various trains ...

... at different locations along the line ...

... or with different viewpoints.

For the last Up working, waggons were added ...

... which enabled a trial gravity train to be operated and different scenarios tested.

All too soon, the last Down train arrived to be met by No. 6 heading the van train destined for Corris, to return the chairs to the Institute.

Sunday, 4.5.2025 - Star Wars Day. No. 11 fetches the carriages for the first train of the day ...

Photographs taken between 15th March and 22nd April 2025

25th April 202524th April 2025 David Coleman 1 Comment Photographs

Sunday, 20.4.2025 - Easter Day. A group of passengers arrange themselves for a photo with the locomotive.

Tuesday, 1.4.2025. Peter re-paints the platform edge lines in Corris ...

... while nearby, the barriers outside the Museum have appeared all white.

Inside the Museum, there is a relaxed mood ...

... as Sue ...

... and Janice prepare the Museum ready for the new season.

Having completed his work in Corris, Peter resumes the same task on Maespoeth North platform.

Tuesday, 8.4.2025. No. 6 propels a waggon up the Upper Corris branch siding ...

... loaded with components from No. 7, to be collected for transport to Keef's for attention. Unfortunately, the arranged transport failed to appear.

Meanwhile, it is lunch time!

Phil has made a new brake shaft to go under a Heritage waggon - in consistent materials.

Wednesday, 9.4.2025. Vince (from Keef's), checks his digits to make a start on re-tubing No. 7's boiler, but due to unforeseen circumstances, his assistant was unable to attend, so Vince had to postpone the work ...

... departing just before the transport promised yesterday turned up - which was quickly loaded and sent on its way.

Saturday, 12.4.2025. The second train of the day departs from Maespoeth, a week before the normal start of services at Easter.

Upon its return, No. 10 runs around ...

... and by late afternoon, a happy footplate crew clean up before departing site.

Wednesday, 16.4.2025. In Hastings, a Tattoo look-a-like is trial steamed.

Saturday, 19.4.2025. No. 10 coasts down-grade on a run towards Maespoeth ...

... and again - on a later train.

Upon arrival at Maespoeth, No. 10 runs around ...

... before heading back up to Corris.

Meanwhile in the Carriage Shed, Zach re-fixes recently varnished components inside carriage No. 24 ...

... after a session where Andy and Zach fitted windows to the carriage ...

... with a new bedding arrangement (which will need trimming back once dry).

Nearby, Ade has been working on the revised brake arrangement on this Heritage Waggon.

Sunday, 20.4.2025. Easter Day Trefor wheels the bowser back to the Engine Shed after fuelling No. 6, as No. 10 gets up steam.

Later, No. 10 emerges cautiously from the Engine Shed ...

... before departing on the first Up train with appropriate headboard.

Later on, a group of passengers arrange themselves for a photo with the engine.

The day ends with No. 10's ashpan being emptied prior to loco disposal, as No. 6 takes the empty stock down to the Carriage Shed.

Bank Holiday Monday, 21.4.2025. No. 10 on a down train, eases through The Spinney ...

Photographs taken between 2nd and 31st March 2025

1st April 20251st April 2025 David Coleman 2 Comments Photographs

Saturday, 15.3.2025. No. 10 and train are put through their paces after the winter lay-off ...

Sunday, 2.3.2025. During the week, No. 7's boiler (amongst other things) has been subjected to non-destructive testing to ensure it is sound for another 10 years. It passed!

Tuesday, 4.3.2025. Floor squares are off-loaded by hand for the workshop - but they were (apparently) the wrong ones, and had to be swapped for the correct ones on another day.

Adrian calls by to remove a wheelset from the Heritage waggon.

Waggons are shunted to place them in usable locations ...

... while delivery is taken of components of a Signal Cabin destined for installation at Goedwig South (in due course).

Some tasks performed, the waggons are returned to the headshunt ...

After working in the Museum, Steve replaced defective timber in a picnic bench ...

... while at Esgairgeiliog, the refurbished running-in board has been reinstated.

Tuesday, 11.3.2025. With a rise in temperature, Peter varnishes components for carriage No. 24.

Meanwhile in Corris, the rail barrier outside the Museum has (mostly) been cleaned down and primed ready for repainting.

Saturday, 15.3.2025. No. 10 and train are put through their paces after the winter lay-off ...

... to check all is well before the Training Weekend ...

... supervised from above (the second pass was much lower)!

Meanwhile, Andy works on components for carriage No. 24 ...

... and the wheelsets and axleboxes for Loco No. 7 have moved back into the Engine Shed prior to despatch for checking over by third parties.

Sunday, 16.3.2025. Andy experiments with trimming window seals on carriage No. 24.

Tuesday, 18.3.2025. The Gardening Club take on the patch south of Maespoeth's Signal Box ...

... before securing the sagging gate post at the south end of the Carriage Shed.

Minor items for carriage No. 24 have received their second coat of varnish.

Friday, 21.3.2025. Training weekend - No. 10 is driven back into the Engine Shed at the end of the day.

Saturday, 22.3.2025. Training weekend - the classroom session takes place at the beginning of the day at Maespoeth Junction.

No. 10 departs Maespoeth for a light engine working up the line ...

... before returning to take a passenger train.

The labels on the levers within the Signal Box have been changed ...

No. 10 runs around while others enjoy their lunch.

The train heads north again ...

...and Ben undertakes shunting with a trolley.

No. 10 is fussed over between trains ...

... until the carriages are put away.

Sunday, 23.3.2025. Training Weekend. It is a diesel (only) day today for operations to be practiced ...

Photographs taken between 2nd and 25th February 2025

27th February 202527th February 2025 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Sunday, 2.2.2025. Sarah has been preparing and painting further coats on carriage No. 24 ...

... before joining Sam, Ifor and Ben in the Signal Box ...

... for a Take-away!

Over the past week, contractors have installed a new 'bus shelter at Pont Evans. The railway ran on a shelf behind the barrier.

Tuesday, 4.2.2025. A waggon has been separated out for return to the Carriage Shed ...

... ready to receive some tlc ...

... but all the stock has to be removed (and put back) first!

Sunday, 9.2.2025. Yesterday, No. 7's boiler was finally completely de-tubed and then placed on the TR's boiler carrier waggons after removal from the frames ...

... which are still at the far end of the Engine Shed.

Tuesday, 11.2.2025. Yesterday, the boiler of No. 7 was subjected to Non-Destructive Testing - and passed!

Peter keeps warm by rubbing down components for carriage No. 24's body work ...

... while nearby, replacement planks for platform benches have been shaped, primed and have now started to receive undercoat.

Meanwhile in Corris, a cupboard has been created to take single line instruments.

Tuesday, 18.2.2025. Over the weekend, No. 7's frames have been lifted and the wheelsets run out so that the bearings can be examined ...

... leaving No. 7's frames (sans smokebox) on a waggon chassis for mobility.

With dry weather, opportunity is taken to top up behind the copings on the South Platform to remove trips ...

... before re-arranging waggons to get them in the right order to suit priorities ...

... but then a delivery of boiler tubes arrives for No. 7 ...

... which have travelled far!

Tuesday, 25.2.2025. All the stock had been removed from the headshunt to allow the hedge cutters to work without impediment (including the railway side), and are put back in a different order to suit the work programme.

The flagpole removed from Corris receives its gloss coat ...

... with the Drop-Side waggon mounted on packing, ready to receive attention ...

... and Ade interrupted by welding work on No. 7's valve quadrant delaying waggon work.

In Corris, the single line instruments have been mounted on the cupboard, wired in and the cupboard stained to match its surroundings.

Photographs taken between 7th January and 2nd February 2025

3rd February 20253rd February 2025 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Tuesday, 7.1.2025 Platform benches are moved into winter storage.

Saturday, 11.1.2025 No. 6 receives copious attention outside the Engine Shed.

Tuesday, 14.1.2025 The battery charger in the Carriage Shed has been repaired, and No. 9 is connected up once more.

Saturday, 18.1.2025 About half of the tubes are now out of No. 7's boiler ...

... with Nos. 10 & 11 loitering outside the Engine Shed ...

... framing No. 10 through the Mess Room doorway nicely!

Monday, 20.1.2025 Further tubes were extracted from No. 7's boiler yesterday - not many left to go!

Tuesday, 21.1.2025 The platform benches have largely dried out in the Carriage Shed, so work on refurbishing them can commence ...

... while in Corris, Stevie has been trimming the Churchyard hedge.

Saturday, 25.1.2025 A floral tribute is left in the railway's close neighbour Dai Allen's 'gator.

Work continues in extracting boiler tubes from No. 7 ...

... leaving a good stack of extracted tubes nearby.

In the Machine Shop, modifications have been made to No. 7's Valve Gear handle to reduce slack...

... while outside, Tony cleans the car park steel safety fence above the Engine Shed.

Sunday, 2.2.2025. Ben and Sam are surveying our curves to update our internal records ...

... and to aid in planning future works on the railway's infrastructure.

By taking a chord of the curve, Ben can measure the offset and generate the radius of the curve using formulas and a bit of help from Excel!

Photographs taken between 10th December 2024 and 4th January 2025

13th January 202513th January 2025 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Tuesday, 10.12.2024. Work proceeds to dismantle the (unused) Santa arrangements following the effects of Storm Darragh ...

... and place items in store for next year as the new gazebo is slowly dismantled.

After lunch, a grand shunt takes place ...

... to place carriage No. 24 back in position, ready for the painters.

Saturday, 14.12.2024. The fallen trees up the line have been cut down ...

... with some timber awaiting collection.

Andy works in deep shadow, fitting First Class seat forms in one end of carriage No. 24.

Sunday, 15.12.2024. Ifor clears coal out of No. 10's bunker ...

Andy continues his work ...

... fitting components for First Class seat bases in carriage No. 24 - work to be continued from home.

... while the yard locomotive watering system is drained for the winter.

Tuesday, 17.12.2024. No. 6 and train heads up the line, but has to stop to enable the flangeways in Braichgoch Farm's Accommodation Crossing to be cleared of debris washed down by Storm Darragh.

Tuesday, 31.12.2024. No. 7 sits in the Engine Shed, partially stripped down for its second 10-year boiler overhaul ...

... with the sheet metal work stored on waggon No. 218 in the Carriage Shed.

A flagpole from outside the Museum in Corris that was collected last week, has been cleaned down and painted in primer.

Wednesday, 1.1.2025. In the Engine Shed, new tappets are rivetted to locking bars for the Signal Box ...

... while in the Carriage Shed, Sarah starts painting undercoat on carriage No. 24 .

Thursday, 2.1.2025. Good progress is being made on carriage painting ...

... with company, sorting out Christmas decorations - keep, repair - or dispose of

Sam basks in warmer climes ...

... fitting the new interlocking bars (with a few tweaks here and there) ...

... while reinforcements help on carriage painting.

Friday, 3.1.2025. Smaller components have advanced to an initial gloss coat ...

... as has much of the carriage body - with heaters to take the chill off.

Sarah has now progressed to the vestibule ...

... while the lever frame in the Signal Box is slowly re-assembled and tested - complete with frame lock.

Saturday, 4.1.2025. The paint (in the Carriage Shed) is still tacky, and the temperature has dropped significantly, so work is abandoned for another day.

Photographs taken between 3rd and 8th December 2024

8th December 20248th December 2024 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Tuesday, 3.12.2024. Over the weekend, the engineer's bench at the back of the Engine Shed, has been cleared ready for the dismantling of No. 7 for its second 10-year boiler exam.

Outside, the air is still and mist hangs ...

... but later, the sun starts burning the mist away, revealing the delightful Dulas valley.

Friday, 6.12.2024. No. 10 starts away from the Triangle ...

... and approaches Corris with Trefor beaming - it has just passed its hot boiler test!

The Traverser is worked across to ensure no sticky snags tomorrow ...

... and we hope the Christmas Elf in the cab is not a hostage to fortune ...

... as we await the arrival of an important guest!

Everything tested, and No. 10 returns towards Maespoeth ...

... where Andrew is glum - news of Storm Darragh with "Red" warning has just arrived. No trains tomorrow!

Saturday, 7.12.2024. Rain water comes across the car park at Maespoeth and down the steps into the engine shed and ... (JD)

... across the floor and into the pit. (JD)

The rain water also comes down the access steps to the yard alongside the S & T. (JD)

Sunday, 8.12.2024. An inspection this morning reveals two trees down here ...

... with a third one just beyond. Measures are in hand to clear them. No trains today, either!

Photographs taken between 4th and 30th November 2024

5th December 20245th December 2024 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Monday, 4.11.2024. No. 10's boiler components are stripped down and laid out in anticipation of its cold boiler examination ...

... but all the recent works in the Engine Shed have left both locomotives rather dusty!

Tuesday, 5.11.2024. The board advertising Santa Trains to passing motorists, has been installed ...

... and a start has been made on clearing part of the Carriage Shed in anticipation of Santa's visit.

Meanwhile, the station nameboard at Esgairgeiliog has been removed for refurbishment over the winter.

The repaired platform bench from Corris has been re-assembled and placed outside at Maespoeth, in anticipation of it being returned in due course.

Monday, 11.11.2024. Over the weekend, a grand shunt has taken place in the Carriage Shed in order to accommodate Santa.

Friday, 15.11.2024. Unfortunately, there has been some vandalism to our lineside wall in Corris.

Monday, 18.11.2024. Scrap metal has been collected over the weekend, and awaits collection at the end of the headshunt at Maespoeth.

Meanwhile, No. 10 passed its cold boiler examination, and cab components have been reinstated ...

... but the safety valves still need re-assembly.

Tuesday, 20.11.2024. One (new) gazebo has been erected as we prepare for Santa ...

... with the second one following, and all before lunch.

Tuesday, 26.11.2024. Over the weekend, all the remaining boiler fittings were reinstated on No. 10.

In the Carriage Shed, we can now see what we are doing!

Saturday, 30.11.2024 . No. 10 blows off steam outside the Engine Shed as part of the process of re-setting the safety valves following the recent cold boiler examination.

Southern Extension. Pont y Goedwig Deviation Project Tuesday, 5.11.2024. The side slope to the embankment supporting the access track leading to Braichgoch Farm's fields at the north end of the Deviation, is trimmed after soiling.

Monday, 18.11.2024. Welsh Water have dug up part of the trackbed just south of our Deviation project, in order to find and cure one of two leaks. The material piled on the new trackbed alignment in the background, is there in anticipation of utilisation as part of Phase 3 of the Project.

Photographs taken between 1st October & 1st November 2024

12th November 202412th November 2024 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Tuesday, 1.10.2024. Timber is delivered for forthcoming works at Maespoeth ...

... while steel components for the new stairs to the Signal Box are primed.

Saturday, 5.10.2024. No. 11 is operating trains today, but before commencing in the early morning sun, No. 10 has been shunted out for a bit of tlc.

Ifor and Trefor adjust No. 10's lubricator settings ...

... and sweep the tubes - which allows a photo to be taken looking through them; the blast pipe blocks access to the centre row from the smokebox end, hence resort to sweeping those from the cab end.

No. 10 viewed end-on.

Tuesday, 8.10.2024. The components for the new Signal Box steps received attention.

Wednesday, 11.10.2024. The Drop-Side Heritage waggon was returned today after riveting work undertaken by the Vale of Rheidol Railway.

Saturday, 12.10.2024. Ben blows No. 10 down before starting the day's services ...

... and at the end of the day, No. 11 draws No. 7 out so that No. 10 can go to the far end of the Engine Shed ready for its annual boiler examination.

Tuesday, 15.10.2024. The Talyllyn Railway deliver ballast waggons surplus to their requirements - but they are vastly better than anything we have used in the past!

The area around the Signal Box is cleared of accumulated debris to enable the steps to be replaced without hindrance in due course ...

... while in the Carriage Shed, the steel components for the steps have received an initial coat of gloss paint.

Saturday, 19.10.2024. No. 7 is steamed for services today - another bright sunny one!

Unfortunately, the same steam joint in the smokebox failed again, so No. 11 handled the last train of the day. Andrew does not look happy!

As a result, there is a change of plans, with No. 10 being brought out of the Engine Shed ...

... ready to operate trains on the following weekend.

Monday, 21.10.2024. The steel components have been loaded on to waggon No. 218 for transport to site, the timber components being added the next day.

Tuesday, 22.10.2024. New components have been prepared to replace rotten ones on the platform bench from Corris Station ...

... while Peter has been varnishing components for carriage No. 24.

Saturday, 26.10.2024. (AGM weekend). No. 10 is steamed in unseasonably bright sunshine ...

... with Andy filling the outside of carriage No. 24 ...

... as veteran volunteers Angela and Richard call by.

No. 10 sweeps leaves aside as the first train departs from Maespoeth ...

... as it heads towards Corris.

There is much activity in and around the Signal Box ...

... with single line block instruments being fitted and wired up.

Sunday, 27.10.2024. The old (rotten) Signal Box steps have been removed ...

... patch treatment of No. 24's body has continued ...

... while wiring and testing of communications between Maespoeth and Corris is carried out.

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