Category: News

The Corris Railway will hold its third Spring Gala Day on Sunday May 27th with a variety of trains in action between Corris station and Maespoeth Junction.

Passenger and van train services will be handled by “Tattoo” 0-4-2ST number 7, Ruston Hornsby diesel number 6, following winter work which included tyre re-profiling and journals being trued at the Vale of Rheidol, and Orenstein and Koppel diesel number 11. The first locomotive to work during the revival of the Corris Simplex number 5 “Alan Meaden” will head some demonstration works trains and Clayton battery electric number 9 “Aberllefenni” is planned to be found in its usual role of carriage shed shunter at Maespoeth Junction. Visitors will be able see components for steam locomotive number 10 (currently under construction at the workshops of Alan Keef as fund raising permits) at Maespoeth Junction. Beyond Maespoeth Junction the extended section of track, the first step on the southern extension of the line, will be in use giving passengers some chances to ride on this part of the Corris.

There will also be demonstration gravity trains but travel in these is limited to members of the Corris Railway Society.

Timetables and loco diagrams will appear on the Railway’s website in due course.

The Railway’s Museum and Shop will be open at Corris station throughout the day and light refreshments will be available. Parking is only available at Corris station.

The Corris Railway Society has been in possession of the former Railway stable block and coach house in the village of Corris for nearly half a century and today it houses a museum, shop and café which opens its doors on days when trains are operating on the revived section of the Railway. It is one of a trio of original C.R. buildings in the care of the volunteer workforce, the others being the locomotive shed at Maespoeth Junction and Esgairgeiliog station (which is awaiting the return of trains to its platform).

The museum building has needed considerable adaptation, renovation and maintenance since the 1970’s and at the end of February this year contractors were arriving on site to carry out repairs to the roof to keep the Victorian era building weather tight well into the 21^st century. It is planned to have the shop open in time for the running of the first trains of the season on Good Friday (March 30^th) but opening of the museum area will depend on  completion of the roof repairs in time and the replacement of the exhibits from storage.

Away from Corris and the Dulas valley progress continues on construction work for the next steam engine to work on the Railway. Two Society members with engineering skills have been manufacturing the trailing pony truck in their workshops and quotations for the manufacture of its wheels and axle are being sought. Sponsorship of the pony truck components can be made via the website www.corris.co.uk