Author: John Simms

There will be two more dates of operation on the Corris Railway this year when our annual Santa Trains will run on December 10th and 11th. Trains will leave Corris station at 11.00, 12.30. 2.00 and 3.30 for a train ride along part of the Dulas Valley to Maespoeth Junction where Santa will be waiting with a present for every child. There will also be seasonal refreshments served to adults and children. With limited capacity on the trains advanced booking is essential.

The Railway’s Museum and Shop at Corris will be open on both days. Amongst the items on sale will be the Corris Christmas Cards with five designs available, each in packs of five with envelopes. Also available is the 2023 Calendar which for this edition features 12 pictures by artist Michael Huber. These can also be purchased now from our Online Shop.

The ongoing project to construct a new Falcon 0-4-2ST for the Corris Railway reached a major milestone with its first public steaming which took place on September 24th as part of the annual open day at the workshops of Alan Keef Ltd in Lea near Ross-on-Wye. The engine had been first steamed earlier in the week inside the workshops and passed its official steam test and received its boiler certificate on September 20th.

Work had progressed rapidly in the weeks leading up to the steaming with the completion of the work on and inside the smokebox and the fitting of the ashpan after the boiler had been temporarily removed from the frames for its hydraulic test. The cab, whose profile is based on that once carried by the original Falcons on the Corris, was completed after the boiler was tested and received its certification.

Although the locomotive has steamed there is more work still to be done before this 21st century evocation of a design dating from 1878 can enter service on the revived section of the Railway which currently runs between Corris and Maespoeth Junction in the Dulas Valley north of Machynlleth. Jobs still to be done include fitting of buffers and couplings, fitting of an air brake pump, riveting the cab and making the internal coal bunker, cladding the boiler, wheel splashers, making and mounting the sanding gear and finally taking the machine apart, painting it and then carrying out reassembly. This will require further fund raising and the Corris will be grateful for any donations which can made online via www.corris.co.uk or by cheques payable to Corris Railway which should be sent to Peter Guest, 38 Underwood Close, Callow Hill, Redditch, B97 5YS.

Three narrow gauge locos, Woto, Taffy, and Peter Pan were in steam at the Open Day and visitors were able to enjoy a short train ride in the newly restored carriages which once ran on the now defunct Dalmunzie Estate Railway in Scotland. Also present was a steam roller Trotter of Coleford. An exhibition traced Keef’s history over the last half century and there were refreshments available plus trade stands. Visitors could also see ongoing projects include work for the Isle of Man and Talyllyn Railways.

There is more visible progress on the new build Falcon locomotive as the planned date for its first public steaming grows closer. The reverser lever is in place whilst the cab roof was delivered by two East Midlands based Corris volunteers.

The cab will externally resemble that carried by the original trio of Corris Falcons but will be taller to accommodate the greater heights of today’s footplate crews. It will also feature a hinged upper panel on its left side for coaling purposes and a removable upper section in the back for crew comfort on hotter days.

A set of photographs of the locomotive taken on the day that parts for the cab were delivered can be seen here.

The first public steaming is planned to take place at Keef’s 50th Anniversary Open Day on September 24th. The firm is located at Lea near Ross-on-Wye. Three other narrow gauge locomotives and a road roller will also be in steam.

With the planned first public steaming date for the new build Falcon 0-4-2ST on September 24th getting closer a key component to make this possible is the injectors. The Talyllyn Railway has recently produced ten of these and, in another example of the co-operation between the neighbouring Mid-Wales narrow gauge lines, a pair were earmarked for No. 10 and have been delivered to Alan Keef’s Works at Lea near Ross-on-Wye. Keef’s will be the site of the first public steaming when they hold their Annual Open Day on Saturday September 24th.

After a Covid enforced two year break the Corris Railway Society’s Model Railway Exhibition was held on August 27th and 28th 2022 and attracted 459 visitors to Y Plas in Machynlleth. This was the 25th Exhibition organised by the CRS and generated a useful profit towards the revival of the Corris Railway. Separate funds were raised by sales stands in the hall towards the construction of the new Falcon steam locomotive which it is hoped will enter service on the Corris in 2023.

Visitors were able to see a variety of layouts and exhibits ranging in scales from the small N gauge through to the much larger 16 mm. Some were highly detailed with others a little more light hearted in tone whilst two layouts featured ranges now vanished from model and toy shops, Big-Big Train and Trix Twin. Sales stands included railway relics and ephemera, books and items crafted from recycled glass.

Bill Newton would like to thank everyone who helped to promote the Exhibition, set-up and take it down and staff it over the two days. Plus of course all those who visited.

Trains will operate on the Corris Railway on Saturdays only in September, leaving Corris Station at 11.00, 12.00, 1.30, 2.30 and 3.30.

With three weeks to go before the planned first public steaming of the new Falcon 0-4-2ST No. 10 at the Alan Keef Ltd Open Day on September 24th construction is pressing ahead with the cab and saddle tank in place. And to get the water from the tank to the boiler the injectors have been delivered to Keef’s Works at Lea near Ross-on-Wye.

The steaming will not mean that the engine is ready to enter service on the Corris. It will still require completion of the braking system, the coal bunker making, and sanding gear fitting amongst other jobs before it is taken apart, painted and re-assembled. All of this costs money, of course, and online donations can be made via the Falcon section of this website or cheques, payable to Corris Railway, can be sent to Peter Guest, 38 Underwood Close, Callow Hill, Redditch, B97 5YS.

Separately we have two new items in the online shop. Artist Michael Huber has produced two more of his Corris Railway posters. Sized at A4 these prints, and his previous ones, are very handy for brightening up a wall in a railway room or anywhere else that needs an attractive coloured image.

August Bank Holiday weekend sees the return of the Corris Railway Society’s Model Railway Exhibition after a Covid enforced two year gap. There will be a variety of layouts in scales ranging from N to 16mm and including some vintage models to rouse memories for older visitors. There will also be a display of Gauge 1 models.

In addition to the layouts there will be a variety of stalls offering railway books, Corris related items, railwayana and models, plus one offering jewellery and ornamental items crafted from recycled glass.

The venue is Y Plas in Machynlleth and the doors will be open between 10.00 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. on each day. Admission will be four pounds for adults, two pounds for children and a family ticket for two adults and two children will cost ten pounds. Visitors can pay on the day to come in or book tickets in advance. Refreshments will be available and there is car parking close to the venue.

Meanwhile just over four miles away trains will be departing from Corris station for a round trip along the beautiful Dulas Valley to Maespoeth Junction and return. To reach Corris station from Machynlleth follow the A487 towards Dolgellau and turn off into Corris Village at the Braich Goch Inn. Descend the hill past the church to find the entrance to the station yard. The Railway’s Museum and Shop in Corris will be open. If you wish tickets can be booked in advance for both the Model Railway Exhibition and train rides on the Corris Railway here. 

The Open Day at Alan Keef Ltd in Lea near Ross-on-Wye on September 24th will be the first chance to see the Corris’ new build Falcon 0-4-2ST locomotive in steam, albeit still needing work and fund raising to see it in service in the Dulas Valley.

The Open Day will last from 11.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. and admission will cost seven pounds fifty pence for adults and three pounds for children. The day is a fund raiser for local charities.

In addition to Corris No. 10 three other locos will be in steam, Woto, Taffy and the visiting Peter Pan. A road roller will also be in steam.

Enthusiasts may be aware that Keef’s acquired the derelict engine and carriages in 2016 from the Dalmunzie estate in Scotland and after extensive restoration, both of the carriages from this historic and unique train will be on display and in use behind the engines.

Alongside the engines, a walk-through-time display of five decades of Alan Keef Ltd will form a central point of the day, offering a fascinating insight into the company’s history. There will also be an array of trade stands to browse, whilst the newly planted private gardens behind Keef’s works will be open for visitors to enjoy and relax.

IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION – Keef’s are located on the main A40. If you are approaching on the A40 from the Gloucester direction you will find the road has been closed (until Spring 2023). Please follow the signed diversion route to rejoin the A40 or plan an alternative route via M50.

The project working to see a new steam locomotive for the revived section of the Corris Railway in Mid Wales took another very significant step forward when the boiler passed its hydraulic pressure test. The test took place in the last week of July at the workshops of Alan Keef Limited in Lea near Ross-on-Wye although the boiler was constructed by Israel Newton and Sons, then based in Bradford, in 2012. Before being taken to Keef’s in August 2020 it had been displayed at Maespoeth Junction on the Corris Railway as part of the fund raising towards the overall four hundred thousand pounds cost of building the locomotive which will become No. 10 in the Corris Railway’s fleet.

No. 10 is a 21st century evocation of a trio of steam engines built originally for the Corris Railway in 1878 by the Hughes Company in Loughborough. One survives and works on the Talyllyn Railway.

Apart from the boiler testing other important work carried out included the mounting of the control springs for the pony truck and work beginning on fitting the smokebox. With the boiler out of the frames for the hydraulic test it was possible to look to mounting the ashpan, made by Keef’s from a wooden pattern constructed by a Corris Railway volunteer. Volunteer work is continuing with the construction of the saddle tank.

Although the plan is to steam the engine at the end of September as part of Alan Keef’s Annual Open Day on the 24th there will still be completion work to be done in order for the locomotive to enter Corris Railway service in 2023. This will include such tasks as fitting the buffers and sanding gear and of course painting, followed by delivery to the loco shed at Maespoeth Junction. This work is estimated to cost forty eight thousand pounds with the Corris Railway still needing to raise twenty thousand pounds to reach this target.

As a further incentive to see No. 10 completed and in service next year, 2023 will mark the 140th Anniversary of the introduction of steam services to the Corris Railway, headed by the trio of locomotives which were the ancestors of the new-build engine.

Donations for the new engine are very welcome in order to meet the timescales and can be made online at www.corris.co.uk or cheques, payable to Corris Railway, can be sent to Peter Guest, 38 Underwood Close, Callow Hill, Redditch, B97 5YS. Peter is also able to provide standing order payment forms. There will be a fundraising stand for the loco at the Corris Railway Society’s Model Railway Exhibition which will be held at Y Plas in Machynlleth on August 27th and 28th.

For anyone thinking of visiting the Alan Keef Open Day on September 24th the following information has appeared in the Hereford Diocesan Magazine as part of the village notes for Lea near Ross-on-Wye. As can be seen the new Corris locomotive No. 10 should be in steam, although its entry into traffic on the CR will depend on continued fund raising to complete the construction work including fitting of buffers, sanding gear etc.

Alan Keef says:

“It’s been four years since the last steam-up and so this year’s event is going to be very special, especially as we also celebrate our company’s 50th Anniversary! For everyone that is new to the village or new to this event, it’s when Alan Keef Ltd open their doors, steam their own and visiting locomotives, welcome hundreds of visitors to see what they’ve been working on and invite you to enjoy a ride or two behind one of the engines. Alongside ‘Woto’, one of our other engines, ‘Taffy’, is currently being worked on and will be returning to steam for the first time in over 12 years. We’ll be welcoming the steam engine ‘Peter Pan’ too, alongside a brand-new steam engine that we’ve been building for the Corris Railway and which will be ready for its first public steaming. Steam trains to ride behind, a look around the workshop,  trade stands to browse; garden to relax in, hot and cold food and, hopefully, a fine and sunny day – come along and enjoy the Steam-up and help us to raise funds for Lea Church. You can’t miss us at the top end of the village – parking in the field alongside, or why not enjoy a walk up the new footpath through the fields to reach us?

Please – no dogs though!“

The address is Alan Keef Ltd, Lea, near Ross-on-Wye, HR9 7LG.