Rheilffordd Corris Railway

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Author: David Coleman

Photographs taken between 3rd & 9th June 2021

10th June 202110th June 2021 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Thursday, 3.6.2021. Pictures have been mounted for the entertainment of our passengers, in between Covid signs urging social distancing.

To avoid stooping too much while fabricating the brake gear for the chassis of waggon No. 5, Adrian has mounted the frames on sleepers (with additional strap as security).

The lids and sandboxes for No. 7 have been fitted …

… and the boxes filled with sand. They work!

Tony has been waterproofing more floor planks for carriage No. 24 …

… and a delivery of more part No. 20 for it have arrived, to be fitted in due course.

Adrian roughly orientates the brake handle to an effective position as a guide to fabricating brake gear linkages …

… and at the end of the day, records progress – we just need the material (ordered weeks ago) now!

Sunday, 6.6.2021. With a warm boiler after a “Railway for the Day” occasion yesterday, it does not take long to raise steam on No. 7!

… and sets off in good time with train, for Corris.

With every compartment sold, most passengers take the opportunity to get some exercise at Maespoeth …

… before heading down Maespoeth Bank for a re-start with individual exhaust beats hitting the air …

… and once going, soon clearing the clean smoke!

After returning to Maespoeth ecs, and cleaning the train, a further practice run is made …

… which as a train, looks (and sounds) quite impressive!

In the course of these runs, a small problem with the fireman’s side snifting valve is spotted and resolved by Jack and Mike.

At the end of the day, the carriages are cleaned once more, and the fogging machine brought out to mist each compartment for good measure.

In a quieter spell, Jack has removed the shuttering from around the other step in the pit, so all is safe (once the shuttering, etc., is cleared away).

Monday, 7.6.2021. The BBC have arranged to film us today, so the train has been comprehensively re-formed …

… and everyone is in their best attire …

… in time for the arrival of the programme presenters, Sir Gareth Edwards and his wife Maureen, here receiving information from Richard and Patrick …

… while Richard talks to some of the film crew.

Before long, filming starts in earnest, with No. 7 simmering gently …

… before Sir Gareth tries his hands on the controls, under instruction from Patrick.

He then heads off down the yard, with cameramen struggling to keep up …

… but his wife wants a go …

… so hands her handbag to Sir Gareth, who is too slow to hide it from a photographer (with suitable banter)!

Maureen certainly set off at a pace …

… so the crew arrange for Sir Gareth to travel in the carriage behind No. 7, as she drives the train towards Corris.

After a series of runs and run-pasts, there is no time left so they depart for another venue – having thoroughly enjoyed themselves – leaving us to re-form the train into “usual” formation.

Photographs taken between 22nd May & 27th May 2021

31st May 202130th May 2021 David Coleman 2 Comments Photographs

Saturday, 22.5.2021. Trefor is lost in the workings of No. 11, as he adjusts the final drive with Patrick.

Jack re-sets steps (as well as platform copings) that have come loose over the past year or more …

… with mortar mixed on the hardstanding above …

… before moving on to concrete one of two steps in the Engine Shed.

An excavation was also made for an electric vehicle charging point foundation in the car park at Maespoeth sheds.

Tuesday, 25.5.2021. Richard leads the way in cleaning our toilets ready to receive visitors again after over 18 months without them!

Meanwhile, Bob is turning down fittings for carriages 22 & 23 …

… which enables the location escutcheons for the disabled access ramp to be fitted in carriage No. 23.

He then grinds off spelter and weld bumps in the underframes of carriage No. 24 so that the floorboards sit straight …

… with Charles and Mark following close behind with the boards.

Meanwhile, Adrian has fabricated a modified lid for one of No. 7’s sandboxes, which Tony has primed …

… and replacement contour printed signs have been erected where earlier versions have faded in the sun.

New Dyfi Bridge scheme. Tuesday, 25.5.2021. Information signs have appeared in Machynlleth …

… as well as the first items of machinery – the start of work in earnest on the new bridge scheme must be imminent!

Thursday, 27.5.2021. It is an unusually sunny morning, as carriage No. 24 sees daylight, with Adrian following behind …

… to shunt the Carriage Shed west road to place carriage No. 24 closest to the wood workers.

This enables the waggon body to be lifted off the frames of Heritage waggon No. 5 so that Adrian can fabricate brake gear to suit.

Meanwhile, Adrian has fabricated the second modified lid of the sandboxes, which Tony has primed (the first lid now being in undercoat) …

… and shortly afterwards, Phil has re-fitted the boxes on No. 7’s frames – what a difference 32mm makes!

In the afternoon, Jack re-visits to concrete the second pit step, and the ev charge point foundation …

… before re-fixing the refurbished “Corris” running-in board with Tony.

Meanwhile, “Covid-19” temporary signage has been delivered and fixed in Corris and Maespoeth.

Photographs taken between 11th May & 20th May 2021

30th May 202130th May 2021 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Wednesday, 12.5.2021. No. 7 simmers gently after having new safety valve seatings fabricated by Phil and fitted by Dave and tested.

Tuesday, 11.5.2021. Chris sets up the milling machine, while Bob sets up the lathe to produce various parts for the railway.

Over the weekend, the first part of a (manual) chain hoist was added to the gantry to replace the obsolescent (and defective) electric hoist.

An extension of a brake shaft to be fitted (in due course) to the frames of Heritage waggon No. 5, as completed by Bob and Chris today.

Tuesday 11th May 2021. Work started on the New Dyfi Bridge road scheme at the end of April, and by 11th May physical work was in progress heading past the former Corris Railway Machynlleth (Low Level) Station – just visible past the parked cars at right.

Wednesday, 12.5.2021. No. 7 simmers gently after having new safety valve seatings fabricated by Phil and fitted by Dave tested, to ensure all is in accordance with the requirements of our boiler inspector. Richard arrives back with No. 9, after taking the Heritage waggons to Corris for videoing purposes …

… before returning to Corris preparatory to operating a gravity train.

Thursday, 13.5.2021. Videoing continues today, featuring loco No. 6 …

… before No. 5 acquires more mileage as a hand propelled working!

Meanwhile, No. 7 has its cylinders warmed …

… for the videographer to drive it out of the Engine Shed (under close supervision) …

… to pose for the camera …

… before tackling a start with train on Maespoeth Bank with wet rails – it was challenging!

Friday, 14.5.2021. More videoing today, this time featuring No. 11, here heading towards Corris from Maespoeth.

Saturday, 15.5.2021. Trefor examines the starter motor of loco No. 6 in an effort to establish the cause of starting problems with it …

… while the absence of No. 9 indicates that the Sundae Gang are working up the line!

They return for lunch, and use No. 11 to fetch more waggons …

… before heading back up the line with No. 11 to drop additional ballast where they have been packing around joints.

Meanwhile, Trefor has moved on to loco No. 7 …

… where he is later joined by others …

… to remove the sandboxes from loco No. 7 for modification …

… which involved temporarily removing some of the motion, here being put back on.

Monday, 17.5.2021. Andy has arrived bearing gifts, here a new (to us) much more compact hacksaw …

… and a good supply of timber floorboards for new build carriage No. 24.

In exchange, a batch of four completed buffers is loaded in his van, destined to be fitted to loco No. 10.

Andy then starts fitting timber sections to the structure of carriage No. 24 …

… while outside, Patrick assists shunting moves …

… which make No. 7 look like it is in steam, but in reality, purely to release loco No. 6 for tomorrow.

Another gift from Ian via. Andy, are various fittings for carriage No. 23, including maker’s plates, one of which has been finish painted.

Tuesday, 18.5.2021. It is raining, and Dick helps transfer scrap using the new manual hoist …

… to a road trailer for transport away …

Photographs taken between 24th April & 8th May 2021

11th May 202111th May 2021 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Saturday, 24.4.2021. No. 7 is gently coaxed into steam during the first Training Day (mainly for “locals”) for over 18 months …

… and in due course, is backed on to its train at Maespoeth.

Later, the train is carefully re-started on Maespoeth Bank …

… with No. 6 stationed at the foot of the bank as back-up (and a buffer stop) as required.

Having spent the morning re-measuring and establishing fresh marks for critical locations with a longer train (for Covid-19 reasons), a series of runs to Corris and back …

… allowed engine crews and Guards to re-acquaint themselves with operations after a long break.

Another run heads towards Corris …

… and it seems unusual to see the Engine Shed devoid of locomotives …

… as well as an empty east road of the Carriage Shed.

At the end of the day, there is paperwork to complete …

… and Trefor is quite happy – even with a clean(-ish) face!

Sunday, 25.4.2021. No. 7 with a warm boiler, is out early and ready for its train, here being fetched from the Carriage Shed by No. 6.

Trefor greases the water crane pivot after 18 months of non-use while No. 7 simmers gently …

… until No. 7 and train heads off to Corris once more.

Dick flags off a later train …

… to head down the bank …

… while drivers re-acquaint themselves with the controls of Battery Electric loco No. 9.

No. 7 soon re-appears with its train on a lovely, sunny morning!

More runs, more crews are tested …

… for different functions …

… until by evening, it is time to put stock away and blow down No. 7’s boiler.

Tuesday, 27.4.2021. The frames for Heritage waggon No. 5 have been drilled and some parts bolted on …

… allowing them to be flipped over and transferred to another bench …

… so that the wheels and axleboxes can be added (carefully!) …

… and then flipped over again to put the frames on their wheels. In the foreground, Tony has finished painting the new Track Jacks.

Just as everybody finishes for the day, the USAAF stages a fly-past of these ungainly looking aircraft.

Tuesday, Star Wars Day (4.5.2021). Bob looks on as Chris turns up spacers for the Heritage waggon …

… while outside, John cuts up firewood for No. 7.

Over the weekend, he has added timber (more to come) to the south end of the waggon shelter …

… and secured broken posts to fencing at the rear of the North Platform.

Photographs taken between 1st & 22nd April 2021

24th April 202123rd April 2021 David Coleman 2 Comments Photographs

Thursday, 1.4.2021. Dave calls by to give carriage No. 23’s ventilator covers another coat of gloss paint.

Adrian has been working on the Drop Side Heritage waggon body …

… but you need a good set of muscles to lift the drop side!

Tony has been making a good impression, clearing the hedge cuttings from last year!

Thursday, 8.4.2021. Andy makes his first trip to the railway for over 6 months, here fitting the brake pipes and adjusting linkages to help bring carriage No. 23 into service ...

… the carriage is then coupled up and run outside to check no brake pipes are binding on our sharpest curves …

… following which, the set is re-formed to put the two lined carriages together …

… and the two (temporarily) unlined carriages similarly.

Meanwhile, Adrian has been fabricating a hook to hold off the brake handle on the Drop Side Heritage waggon …

… and the remaining buffer bands for the frames of Heritage waggon No. 5.

Andy has brought with him a donated whistle, intended for loco No. 10 …

… and to finish off his day, cuts some bar …

… and some flat steel to take home with him, where he and Ian will produce various complex parts of No. 10’s brake gear.

Sunday, 11.4.2021. On a bitterly cold and wet day, Josh and Jack cut and clear growth from the wall and fence above the station site at Corris …

… where ivy is threatening to take over.

Tuesday, 13.4.2021. The first Tuesday Gang of 2021, and the buffer bands fabricated by Adrian previously, are fitted to the frames for Heritage waggon No. 5 …

… the ventilator covers have been fitted to the ends of carriage No. 23 …

… thereby enabling the last items of panelling inside the saloons to be finally fixed.

… which has cleared a large space in the Engine Shed.

A spare wheel has been found and fitted to a trolley, now ready to use once more.

Thursday, 15.4.2021. Tony continues painting the track jacks …

Tony has been able to recommence painting the track jacks in safety yellow …

… while nearby, the drawbar has been added to the frames of Heritage waggon No. 5 – after they have been turned over. Recesses are being cut to take the axlebox securing bolts.

Wednesday, 14.4.2021. Dismantled components from a large radial drill are loaded on to waggon No. 218 after numerous defects were found in the drill, rendering it beyond economic repair …

Meanwhile, Tony has been cleaning inside No. 7’s sandboxes, and is here priming them ready for painting in due course.

Sunday, 17.4.2021. Richard and Hannah have been fitting public address speakers around the yard at Maespoeth, ready for Covid-19 secure operations to commence at the end of May.

Tuesday, 20.4.2021. Some of the track jacks are all white …

… while Adrian has got a handle on it – for the Drop Side Heritage waggon.

It is a lovely day, so the passenger stock is taken to the South Platform …

… to be washed down after 18 months of storage!

Photographs taken between 7th & 29th March 2021

30th March 20211st April 2021 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Sunday, 7.3.2021. No. 6 and works train pose at Corris while the Sundae Gang undertake P Way inspections and minor works …

… including the removal of the station sign board for refurbishment.

Monday, 8.3.2021. Despite the cold and wet weather, Maespoeth North Accommodation crossing has had sleepers replaced …

… and crossing timbers renewed.

Inside the Engine Shed at Maespoeth, No. 7 has been completely reassembled after its winter strip-down, and repositioned ready for its steam test.

Thursday, 11.3.2021. While re-arranging all the rolling stock after a year’s shut-down, advantage was taken to put in blue marker posts to help safely positioning trains for the new season’s operations. More needs to be done – in due course!

Monday, 15.3.2021. Despite awful weather conditions yesterday, the Sundae Gang have been trimming back overhanging and dead tree branches sufficient to fill three waggons, here stabled in the Waggon Shelter …

… which has really opened up aspects along parts of the line …

…while the trees have also been cut down around the Corris sewage works – more open views!

Another (drier!) job tackled by the Sundae Gang was the re-painting of the train staff sections in appropriate colours.

Wednesday, 17.3.2021 The Talyllyn Railway invited local Corris members to witness a re-enactment of the arrival of the Corris engines there in 1951, starting with the engines being brought down to Wharf Station by TR No. 2, “Dolgoch” …

… before running round to leave the two Corris engines together. No. 3 was in light steam, while No. 4 was partially dismantled …

… before Jack on No. 3 leads the re-arranged formation back into the station.

A live web feed resulted in our Treasurer being interviewed on Corris aspects …

… followed by former TR Chief Engineer John Bate.

A trial run then took place …

… and returned prior to the formal re-enactment.

At Pendre, Jack shunts No. 3 before disposal on shed …

… and then showing us the recently restored and returned, ex-Corris carriage (T. R. No. 17) in their paint shop.

Saturday, 20.3.2021. Trefor is very happy, cleaning No. 7 preparatory to its boiler steam test …

… while Phil and Charles converse with Ifor, oiling and greasing the point rodding runs and turnouts.

Later, after passing the boiler steam test, No. 7 gently simmers outside the Engine Shed …

… adjacent to a seasonal display.

Meanwhile, all the crew take their (socially distant) lunch break …

… before Trefor and Patrick take No. 7 on a very quiet trial run to Corris …

… following up with a 3-carriage train to check brakes and other functions ...

… before arriving in Corris.

Sunday, 21.3.2021. Richard stacks logs from the heritage waggons ready for collection by road vehicle …

… while Richard films Tony and Jack ballasting around Maespoeth North Accommodation crossing ...

… which looks far better than hitherto. Some ballast has also been dropped to support the shoulder, further to the north.

Photographs taken between 31st December & 27th January 2021

30th January 202130th January 2021 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Thursday, 31.12.2020. It has snowed overnight, and while on a security check, the sun starts to peer through the trees at Maespoeth …

… which certainly improves appearances …

… from whatever angle!

The way is clear to the end of the headshunt below Maespoeth Sheds …

… and down towards the work site at Pont y Goedwig …

… which looks completely different in the snow!

The site takes on an eerie atmosphere.

Sunday, 3.1.2021. Much of the snow may have gone, but the atmosphere remains (the main road almost opposite Maespoeth Yard).

Friday, 22.1.2021. The CAT carriage has been moved into the Engine Shed to dry out, and allow it to be refurbished (in due course) ...

… with two Heritage Waggons moving out into their shelter to make room.

Storm Christoph has visited the area and thoroughly cleaned the floor of the Engine Shed (without causing apparent damage) …

… where the inside of No. 7’s saddle tank has now been cleaned and painted.

Wednesday, 27.1.2021. Yesterday, the hedge cutting contractors called, vastly improving the vision from the access to the Pont y Goedwig Deviation work site …

… in both directions!

Inside the Engine Shed, No. 7 has now regained its trailing truck as progress is made towards a steam test.

Photographs taken between 12th & 18th December 2020

24th December 202024th December 2020 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Saturday, 12.12.2020. Two of the three Officers in Charge (the third one was taking the photo) sheltering from the rain while discussing options and actions for possible re-opening of services next year.

Sunday, 13.12.2020. Jack …

… and Ioan …

… head up the line …

… to clear leaves …

… to enable the track to be closely inspected. What a difference!

Lunch time, so to at least be in the dry, they head up to the Museum …

… to enjoy their sandwiches!

Monday, 14.12.2020. After a day of track work from the Sundae Gang yesterday, the waggon shelter receives its first permanent residents.

Friday, 18.12.2020. The straightened drop-side door was delivered from Brunswick’s yesterday, and was collected and trollied down to the Carriage Shed for re-uniting with the waggon body.

Nearby, Tony is painting …

… while Adrian cuts bar to form “L’s”, which when welded together and dressed off…

… means he has no “L’s” (boom, boom) but some hoops for buffer shanks for the Heritage Waggon underframe – which need persuasion to fit in place.

A new step is then fabricated …

… and welded to the P Way van frames …

… which soon receives a coat of primer.

Meanwhile, after giving the track jack components white undercoat …

… Tony moves on to paint the underside of the Drop Side waggon body with black bitumen ...

… while thick old paint is being removed from the Drop Side waggon door.

Photographs taken between 25th November & 14th December 2020

14th December 202014th December 2020 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

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Photographs taken between 19th & 24th November 2020

25th November 202025th November 2020 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Thursday, 19.11.2020. Dave has painted the final gloss on one side of carriage No. 23, so there is a grand shunt which sees the two latest products of Adrian’s work seeing the sunshine for the first time.

Thursday, 19.11.2020. Dave has painted the final gloss on one side of carriage No. 23, so there is a grand shunt which sees the two latest products of Adrian’s work seeing the sunshine for the first time …

… followed by carriage No. 24 …

… so that carriage No. 20 can be positioned ready for attention to paint work.

In between moves, advantage was taken to smooth lumpy welds in the track …

… which tend to get hearts stopping when stock is moved!

The two carriages (No’s 22 & 21) not in need of attention, are hooked up to return to the Carriage Shed …

… which is now arranged so that No’s 20 and 23 are convenient for attention to their paint work.

The two waggons to receive attention next (the Drop Side waggon and the two plank Private Owner waggon) are arranged next, followed by No. 24.

Adrian can then get on with drilling more holes in the Drop Side waggon end …

… before flipping the body over to drill holes in the floor.

Completing paperwork, all the files have been changed to give uniformity – one benefit of Lock-Down!

Saturday, 21.11.2020. Trefor is outside in the rain …

… giving No. 7’s boiler a wash out …

… before propelling it into the Engine Shed with No. 11.

Finishing off a job started on Thursday (abandoned due to failing light), the chocks have been fitted to the end of the track under the Waggon Shelter.

The Sundae Gang arrive with No. 6 …

… to have their lunch in the dry!

They have been working up the line, easing curves …

… and return towards evening, soaked through …

… to put everything away for the night.

By this time, the trailing truck from No. 7 had been removed …

… and the ashpan removed.

Sunday, 22.11.2020. Sam uses No. 9 …

… to collect the waggons to work up the line in rather drier conditions …

… greasing fishplates …

… in between easing the kinks in the curves …

… which became more apparent as everything was tightened up again by mid-afternoon.

With everything (and everyone) on board, it is back to Maespoeth …

… where a “Stop” board has been secured across the line until all the track work is complete.

Tuesday, 24.11.2020. Adrian entertains Bob and Chris in the Engine Shed …

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