Rheilffordd Corris Railway

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Author: Jack Evans

Photographs taken on 14th March 2021

18th March 202117th March 2021 Jack Evans 0 Comment Photographs

Sunday 14th March. The Sundae gang start the day with a shunt to assemble a suitable works train for the day.

Sunday 14th March. The "Sundae Gang" start the day with a shunt to assemble a suitable works train for the day. Steve is at the controls of loco No. 9 under social distanced supervision of Jack, with Luke acting as shunter

Once assembled, the train is lubricated in all the relevant places – such as the coupling loop seen here

The first job of the day ‘up the line’ … servicing the point at Corris.

Followed by… lineside management starting at Maes Y Llan gate, working back towards Maespoeth.

At ‘Black Stump’ curve there were several dangerous low hanging branches, a lot of dead wood.

The fence along this section of the line has degraded severely in the last 12 months, as a short term measure we discarded previously used sleepers along the bottom to deter livestock for a little longer.

Luke loading the ‘Queen Mary’ with fresh logs from the cut branches above.

On to the triangle where Steve had logged up some more branches, for loading.

Sadly the aesthetically pleasing tree at the triangle accommodation crossing had died, resulting in its removal – it was hollow inside.

A much tidier railway has appeared after an hour or so on this section.

Logs…

…and even more logs! The gang finish off the day's work in the fading light.

A much brighter location for photography in the ‘Spinney’ has emerged, showing the immaculate condition of the works train.

A fully loaded rake of heritage wagons, earning their keep. They are a real credit to those who restored them to this condition.

With an inspection from the boiler inspector due in the coming weeks, No. 7 rests at Maespoeth out of the wind and rain, much credit goes to the small group of volunteers involved in the winter maintenance of the loco.

Photographs taken on 7th March 2021

12th March 202112th March 2021 Jack Evans 1 Comment Photographs

Sunday 7th March. The "Sundae Gang" head up the line just after 9am to perform a line inspection to make sure everything is as it should be after a few months without any trains.

With Van 204 in the consist, the train pauses at the triangle to check it over after a long period in the shed.

The train negotiates the bend at the bottom of Maes Y Llan bank on the approach to Corris – the train was welcomed by much excitement from residents of the village.

The gang close the gates at Braich Goch Farm accommodation crossing to remind regular users of the railways’ presence.

On inspection, it was decided that the current running in board for Corris Station is a little worse for wear, Sam ‘the vandal’ poses with the sign after its removal for patching up and repainting.

With the line inspection complete it was back to Maespoeth to collect some tools, and a future exhibit for the museum. This was the headboard used back in 1996 when loco 4 returned to Corris for a brief period from the Talyllyn Railway.

The headboard made the journey in the only acceptable way.

Back at Corris, Sam attends to an issue with the museum door. Materials delivered to Corris were then loaded on to the works train for the return journey to Maespoeth where…

…. Josh and Sam began stripping the accommodation crossing north of Maespoeth north platform of rotten timbers.

Once the crossing timbers were removed, it was discovered that the sleepers below were in a bad condition and simply “will not do”…

…and the gang soon rolled up their sleeves (or not!) and set out to remove the three life expired sleepers.

Two track jacks are put in place to aid the removal of the sleepers, which proved rather challenging after being in situ for over 20 years!

The sleepers removed, the remaining track bed was then dug out to enable the new sleepers to be put in place…

…and then drilled to allow the spikes to unite the rails and sleepers.

With the track jacked to the correct level/alignment, Jack and Josh tamp the track firmly in place.

Daylight now running in short supply, the works train is then loaded with the life expired sleepers/crossing timbers. The line then returned to serviceable condition, however awaiting more work to be done to enable the accommodation crossing to be fit for use again.

Photographs taken on 19th & 25th December 2020

28th December 202028th December 2020 Jack Evans 0 Comment Photographs

Saturday, 19.12.2020. Time for a grand shunt of the head-shunt at Maespoeth. With the ultimate aim of extracting the “CAT Carriage” for restoration to begin in 2021.

The first few wagons have reached the North platform, to be propelled back into the South platform to enable space to extract the other few rakes.

The wagon which until recently was used to store loco 10’s new boiler is next to be dragged out the undergrowth, along with four ex RNAD Trecwn wagons.

The view up the siding from the cab of loco 6, the railhead by this point had become extremely greasy and sand needed to be found to gain adhesion.

The rail bolster wagon sat in the South Platform road, with a bit of work this will be a good addition to the fleet.

With the light failing, loco 6 sits at the head of the ‘serviceable’ works wagons ready to return them to their resting place in the siding.

Chris couples up the CAT wagon (which we had left outside the new wagon shelter mid shunt) in order to propel it towards the new shelter in the hope it would fit.

“Doh!” – not quite.

The fairly poor condition of the CAT carriage here is very noticeable – the chassis seems to look OK.

To enable the carriage to thoroughly dry out prior to sorting its contents and begin stripping work, it was dragged into the loco shed behind No.6 and fitted in with a couple of inches to spare.

A view of the North platform in the evening light, Christmas now less than a handful of days away, with a new Welsh lockdown due at Midnight tonight this would be the last working day on the railway for a while.

Friday 25th December… NadoligLlawen-Happy Christmas, at Corris Station.

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