Rheilffordd Corris Railway

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Author: David Coleman

Photographs taken between 9th & 21st January 2020

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

Thursday, 9.1.2020. A few sleepers have been borrowed to make up a work-bench for Adrian to carry on work on waggon No. 5’s body …

… the Tuesday gang having been in, adding to the work in the vestibule of carriage No. 23 …

… while outside, Tony is cleaning up the frames of waggon No. 218 (ex-Lydd Ranges).

However, to accelerate progress, Tony hand shunts the waggon nearer to the S&T Shed …

… to de-rust it more efficiently with power tools and then apply a suitable primer …

… until the whole waggon top is done.

Meanwhile, the inside of the north compartment of carriage No. 23 (including seats) has received a second coat of varnish …

… and Adrian has made good progress with adding previously fabricated sides to the floor of waggon No. 5 …

… so that the end can be placed in position (for demonstration purposes).

Monday, 13.1.2020. Trefor has been in over the weekend, and amongst other things, painted the trailing truck and yoke from No. 7, black …

… while Tony has done the same to waggon No. 218.

Wednesday, 15.1.2020. Tony has made a start on fixing new deck planks on waggon No. 218 …

… and when it is raining, is touching up the paintwork on the handrails of carriage No. 23.

Thursday, 16.1.2020. Sparks fly …

… in a flash …

… until Tony calls to advise that the kettle is on!

Lunch over, Adrian leisurely continues his work on waggon No. 5 …

… while nearby, Tony finishes treating the cut ends of new planks for waggon No. 218 …

… so that by the end of the day, the end of waggon No. 5 is fixed in position …

… the inside of the south saloon of carriage No. 23 has received its second coat of varnish …

… and the last of the planks for waggon No. 18 have been cut and drilled but some still need more work indoors.

Saturday, 18.1.2020. In bright sunshine, Ben, Sam, Owen and Tony work up the line, slewing and packing the track …

… while Mike cuts down the vegetation on the bank out of the Carriage Shed ...

… before they all head off to lunch in Idris Stores, Corris!

Whose mug could this be

After lunch, it is more packing …

… while Mike has transferred his attention to Maes y Llan bank, Corris.

The debris thereby created is loaded up for transport to Maespoeth …

… and after emptying all the waggons, they are put away …

… beneath a magnificent sun-set.

Photographs taken between 19th December 2019 & 8th January 2020

10th January 202010th January 2020 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Thursday, 19.12.2019. Adrian continues the weekly grind …

… and for good measure, adds in a bit of welding …

… and drilling …

… to further progress the body of waggon No. 5.

Monday, 23.12.2019. Further dismantling of the contents of No. 7’s smokebox have taken place, and the boiler washed out …

… with the spark arrestor nearby for cleaning and repairs.

Tuesday, 24.12.2019. Over the run-up to Christmas, and for the 12 nights afterwards, Corris residents and businesses have been encouraged to display Christmas advent light scenes in their windows, one for each night star

… past No. 3 …

… and 4 …

… past 7 …

… and 8 …

… to more humorous ones (No. 9) …

… while others were more general (No. 10) …

… and some had to be sought out up side streets (No. 15) …

… keeping an eye out on both sides of the road (No. 16)!

Other windows appeared to be inward-looking (No. 19) …

… while Idris Stores was well lit up …

… and other windows appeared to have no numbers displayed …

… but nevertheless added to the general atmosphere.

Corris put on a splendid Christmas tree, decorated by the school children …

… while a natural tree in the middle of Ceinws was illuminated such that it was very noticeable from the nearby Trunk Road.

Monday, 30.12.2019. The body of Ifor lies partly under No. 7 inside the Engine Shed …

… while under the loco, Trefor is removing various items …

… such as the trailing truck, here being guarded by Mollie!

Over the holiday period, Tony has painted the floor of the S&T Shed, which should ease the task of cleaning it. Mollie checks that the paint is dry.

Friday, 3.1.2020. It looks like Stevie has opened a new garage in the village, but for the moment, it is difficult to spot “the pump” referred to!

Saturday, 4.1.2020. Tony has collected some treated timber to re-deck waggon No. 218 (ex.-Lydd bogie) and placed it in the Carriage Shed to dry out …

… and emptied the waggon of stored items so that the existing deck can be removed.

Wednesday, 8.1.2020. Yesterday, the deck of waggon No. 218 was removed …

… and the timber cut to length ready for treating cut ends and fixing them to the waggon frames.

Photographs taken between 10th & 17th December 2019

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

Tuesday, 10.12.2012. It has not taken long to remove decorations, dismantle the gazeebo’s …

… and start to remove items to storage, thus allowing carpet to be rolled up for re-use …

… and re-locate machinery …

… so that the Carriage Shed can be used as a workshop once more!

Sunday, 17.12.2019. Trefor has started to dismantle No. 7 for its annual boiler exam, by removing the safety valve whistle assembly …

… the boiler feed …

… and the contents of the smokebox.

Monday, 16.12.2019. After a number of delays, a waggon body recovered from Aberllefenni Quarry in the early 1970’s was offered for our use restoration from its present site in Llanuwchllyn.

It had been mounted on a 2’ gauge Hudson chassis, and the securing bolts first had to be cut to separate the two …

… before the body could be loaded for road movement to Maespoeth.

There it was unloaded …

Tuesday, 17.12.2019. …before being re-loaded on to a trolley …

… to be off-loaded for (temporary) display purposes on the North Platform, well away from being a tempting roadside target for metal thieves!

There was then the small matter of tidying up, and emptying the loco watering system at Maespoeth for the winter.

Photographs taken between 3rd & 8th December 2019

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

Tuesday, 3.12.2019. Welcome arrangements for our seasonal visitor are being set up outside …

… and inside the Carriage Shed …

… as well as in the carriages to convey visitors to site ...

… which can look chaotic at times, but all is well under control!

Meanwhile, in the Engine Shed, Phil is cleaning out the suds reservoir of the lathe, so the lathe is again fully functional and serviced …

… with the next moves agreed with Bob and Chris.

Phil has just delivered a waggon wheelset recovered from ‘Ralltgoed some time ago (and removed some good pallets he had a use for).

Meanwhile in Corris, Stevie has erected the top to his lamp …

… there are suitable posters for the weekend on display …

… and the Museum has been decorated …

… ready for the weekend.

In Machynlleth, a banner advert for the weekend has been erected …

… strategically sited opposite the entrance to the Co-op.

Saturday, 7.12.2019. Trefor is happy to be steaming No. 7 in the Engine Shed ready for today's activities and visitors.

While in contrast outside, Helen is spinning with delight!

Last minute preparations to greet visitors are being made as No. 7 draws forward before dropping back on to its train …

… but before departing, Santa makes a last minute inspection of the loco cab …

… before the train leaves in a cloud of steam!

The badge machine is giving problems, so Stevie has a go at fixing it – just another of those little jobs!

The well loaded first train arrives for children to visit Santa in his grotto …

… no matter what their age!

Watering the loco is a popular subject for photographs – especially if there is a prospect of the loco crew getting a soaking …

… but they do have some mince pies to fortify them …

… and more passengers to entertain, the footplate being fascinating to many …

… but it soon gets dark and the platform lighting is very useful …

… and the loco’s lamp is lit as an elf waves off the passengers of the last train of the day.

In the evening, it is the Society’s Christmas Dinner, attended by a Special Guest!

Sunday, 8.12.2019. Sam opens up the smokebox of No. 7 to insert vegetables …

… to accompany the pot placed there earlier containing a gammon joint for slow cooking ...

… all of which are retrieved several trains later …

Photographs taken between 24th & 27th November 2019

29th November 20195th December 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Sunday, 24.11.2019. Tony re-stains part of the fence behind Maespoeth North Platform …

… and takes a break inside the Carriage Shed as paint dries on signs and Richard prepares for the visit of our seasonal friend.

A while later, Tony has moved further north.

Tuesday, 26.11.2019. Items are passed down from storage in the Carriage Shed …

… and with enough hands available …

… the marquee’s are assembled …

… but carriage No. 23 has had to be moved up sufficiently that Adrian’s work space is now rather confined!

It is then a case of positioning power supplies …

… arranging curtains …

… laying carpets …

… and looking for missing clips to complete basic arrangements.

No. 10 Falcon Project - Wednesday, 27.11.2019. A good gathering of workshop volunteers met at Alan Keef’s, Ross on Wye …

… to inspect the work undertaken to date on the frames and other components of the loco …

… which has required work where clearances are not generous!

There was much discussion on the design and construction of the cab and bunkers …

… and less so, the manufacturing techniques for the brake gear.

The group was joined by Peter and Rosemary (left) and Patrick Keef (right) to round off things …

… with a quick break outside for Ian and Andy to pose with the trailing truck they had fabricated and delivered …

… before returning inside to agree the finer points of smokebox, cab and bunker fabrication to suit Keef’s.

Andy notes down all the actions necessary to follow up a very productive day!

It is then back to the office, where a very fine proposed numberplate design in traditional style is produced for comment, and target dates agreed.

Photographs taken between 16th & 21st November 2019

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

Saturday, 16.11.2019. The gantry sign for our Christmas friend has been erected! (Photo courtesy of Richard Shipman).

Tuesday, 19.11.2019. The seats and panelling above in carriage No. 23, have received their priming coat of varnish ...

… while adjacent, the last buffer band has been fitted to the 2-plank Heritage waggon – which has also been filled with sacks of items for distribution next month!

The drop end waggon, dismantled for adjustment last week, has been re-assembled.

Meanwhile, in the Engine Shed, Phil has been fitting replacement parts to the lathe and refurbishing the lamp …

… while Chris (& Bob) finish off replacing worn pins and bearings under the Signal Box ...

… with a quick conversation following as a number of individuals have to go home early!

Mike Green then calls by with goodies, and chats with Phil.

Y Mochyn is all wrapped up for the winter!

Thursday, 21.11.2019. Adrian resumes work on fabricating the body for the next Heritage waggon restoration (No. 5) …

… and has largely finished work on the second side.

Our advertising Santa is being prepared for display down the line, and carriage No. 23 has been moved up to make room for his reception area.

Southern Extension. Pont y Goedwig Deviation Project. Sunday, 17.11.2019. The timber specialists have been back to slice the oak tree felled earlier in the year, into useful sections.

Photographs taken between 7th & 14th November 2019

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

Thursday, 7.11.2019. The 2-plank Heritage waggon has received more paint and another buffer band – just one more to go!

Adrian spends a couple of hours sanding seats in carriage No. 23 until his finger pads have worn away …

… when he resumes work on the body sections of waggon No. 5.

By the end of the day, that is two sides of the waggon body largely complete …

… and the seats in the south saloon of carriage No. 23 are ready to receive varnish.

Saturday, 9.11.2019. Despite snow on the ground first thing, there is a noisy Permanent Way gang working up the line for most of the day …

… closely supervised by Molly …

… but work completed, they head back to Maespoeth …

… to observe the BBC “Children in Need” Rickshaw Challenge pass by, but after going up the steepest street in the world, they are running very late, so several hours later they pass the road junction to Aberllefenni …

… and stop outside the Braichgoch Hotel for pizza, adjust the rickshaw for another rider …

… before setting off again for Machynlleth. It was cold and wet!

Tuesday, 12.11.2019. Chris and Bob take turns to adjust fittings to remove slack in the rodding underneath the Signal Box …

… before cutting bar to make fatter pins for the same purpose …

… while Simon is caught measuring the cylinder bore of No. 7 for an adaptation.

Meanwhile, in the Carriage Shed one Heritage waggon has had its body removed, and the frames turned over …

… for fine adjustments to be made …

… and all carefully measured to ensure the waggon rolls square – and easily!

… and by the end of the day, the frames are turned back over.

Some nuts on the 2-plank waggon have been replaced with more authentic square ones (but there are more to do).

Thursday, 14.11.2019. Adrian resumes welding …

… and grinding to refine the construction of the Heritage waggon body …

… while the seats in the north saloon of carriage No. 23 are now also ready to receive varnish.

Recently, displays have been re-arranged in the Coach House of the Museum in Corris.

Photographs taken between 31st October & 5th November 2019

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

Thursday, 31.10.2019. Tony has got a fire going to dispose of long-accumulated rubbish and debris, and then drives No. 9 …

… to collect the platform benches and picnic tables with the Lydd bogie waggon …

… for storage and repair over the winter, under cover.

Meanwhile, Adrian has been drilling holes to form one side of the new replica Heritage open waggon body …

… proudly put on display by the end of the day!

Tony reverts to priming new steel on the 2-plank Heritage waggon …

… followed by grey undercoat.

Y Mochyn is dressed up for tonight’s shenanigans!

Friday, 1.11.2019. Dave has arrived and spaces out items of panelling, doors and window frames from carriage No. 23 for preparation …

… while Richard entertains Gwynedd Cllr. John Pughe Roberts and local Welsh Government Assembly Member (and Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism), Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas.

After lunch, Dave sets up his musical entertainment …

… while he gives the carriage components their first coat of undercoat.

Monday, 4.11.2019. Over the weekend, Tony has painted the body and steelwork of the Heritage waggon in its final colours.

Tuesday, 5.11.2019. Bob welds up modifications to the buffer bands for the Heritage waggon …

… while Chris drills out another track jack in the Engine Shed …

… to which Bob welds nuts, so that is three jacks modified and ready for use.

After lunch, two completed buffer bands have been fitted to the Heritage waggon …

… as Bob pays a visit to the Carriage Shed, where Charles, Bill and Graham are getting the last bits fitted fabricated and fitted to the waggon.

Photographs taken between 22nd & 29th October 2019

1st November 201931st October 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Tuesday, 22.10.2019. Chris cleans up after a quiet day of machining with Bob.

Thursday, 24.10.2019. Yesterday, Dave undercoated inside the vestibule of carriage No. 23.

Tony shunts carriage No. 24 ready for Halloween …

… by first shunting the Heritage stock out of the way.

Adrian starts on fabricating the body for another Heritage waggon …

… using his full range of skills …

… after carrying out some modifications to the frames of carriage No. 24.

The first part of the waggon body is displayed for our visitors, complete with explanatory text.

Friday, 25.10.2019. Carriage No. 24 has been prepared to operate the railway over the weekend …

… with a skeleton staff!

Saturday, 26.10.2019. Trains this weekend have an extra carriage, and suitable decoration for the occasion … (AR)

… so opportunity is taken to take photos of it … (AR)

… at various points up the line. (AR)

The autumn colours as viewed from near Corris, are quite striking. (AR)

After passenger services are finished, the train awaits at Maespoeth … (AR)

… where the staff for the day pose in Halloween style …

… before heading down towards Goedwig, where Andrew lights the lamps …

… and when ready, gingerly opening the regulator of No. 7 …

… to make a fault-free start up the 1 in 30 with 4 carriages …

… to breast the bank and run into Maespoeth yard. (AR)

Opportunity is then taken to capture images further up the line …

… including of the train in motion …

… to another location.

The view from the cab entering Corris is quite something … (AR)

… and we get the opportunity for more photos, including the staff outside …

… and in the warm of No. 7’s cab! (AR)

It is then back to Maespoeth, where rising steam meets the cold night air …

… and No. 7 is prepared to be put to bed …

… with the assistance of a seasonally attired signalman!

Sunday, 27.10.2019. More photos up the line in the morning … (AR)

Photographs taken between 12th & 20th October 2019

23rd October 201923rd October 2019 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Saturday, 12.10.2019. Tony has been busy the past couple of days, painting carriage & waggon parts up to black gloss.

Sunday, 13.10.2019. Phil is giving our lathe a thorough clean and service …

… to leave it (almost) fully functioning and sparkling by the end of the day.

Simon performs some minor work on loco No. 11 (in consultation with Trefor), while Steve completes his checks on the passenger train …

… before the first Up train departs in very atmospheric conditions.

This gives a short break where the stock in the Carriage Shed can be swapped around …

… to enable work on some of them to be carried out over the pit …

… which requires the passenger set to be stabled on the west road, but clearances are tight! (No trains were moving when this photo was taken!).

Tuesday, 15.10.2019. Bill trims back a buffer head to take the steel band on the 2 plank Heritage waggon …

… before being joined by others to assemble the body.

This requires holes to be drilled through the underframe, with Bill and Charles checking verticality in two planes …

… and additional parts made up by Bob, who has come down from the Engine Shed to check on progress.

Bill uses his skills to ensure everything fits snuggly …

… until we have everything ready for Fred and Barney (Flintstone)!

However, it is not long before the floor planks are loosely fitted pending securing in place with appropriate spacers to facilitate drainage.

Meanwhile, with the frames of carriage No. 24 over the pit …

… Tony can access the underside to complete painting tasks …

… but due to a shortage of brushes, uses his hair for some parts!

It is also possible to access the underside of bogies for carriage No. 23 to fit parts inaccessible from above – now complete.

… Adrian continues to create a mess to salvage essential Heritage waggon parts …

… Tony cleans up waggon wheelsets …

… Ian fits a lock to another vestibule door …

… Peter countersinks rubbing strips for the vestibule doors …

… and John fits wiring in the vestibule of carriage No. 23.

Richard joins in, installing the cable inter-connectors on the carriage …

… to be joined by Andy in competitive mode …

… going head-to-head with John to secure the wiring to the carriage underframes.

Meanwhile, in a study of concentration, Richard re-secures internal panelling removed to secure passage of the cables to the carriage inter-connectors.

Friday, 18.10.2019. Steel has been delivered for the Heritage waggon body Adrian is working on …

… which, after cutting to size, is loaded on to a trolley for removal to the Carriage Shed.

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Photographs taken between 9th & 21st January 2020
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