Category: News

A key part of the lead-up to Christmas for model railway enthusiasts is the Annual Warley National Model Railway Exhibition at the NEC Birmingham which this year takes place on November 25th between 9:45am and 6:00pm and November 26th between 9:45am and 5:00pm.

The Corris Railway will have a stand there (E78 in Hall 5) selling a wide range of Corris related books and goods including Christmas cards, our 2024 calendar and the new booklet telling the story of the construction of our new steam locomotive, “Falcon” No. 10. If you aren’t attending the show these can be purchased from our online shop at any time.

And after Warley it is only two weeks to our Santa Trains which will be running on December 9th and 10th from Corris Station at 11.00am, 12.30pm, 2.00pm and 3:30pm. Pre-booking is essential as seats are limited and tickets can be booked online now at any time.

The new Corris Railway steam locomotive “Falcon” No. 10 completed its first spell of operations on October 21st having headed all passenger trains since its entrance into traffic on September 8th. The locomotve has worked very well since delivery from Alan Keef Ltd but as is inevitable with a new machine a snagging list was drawn up as No. 10 worked and engineer’s from Keef’s and the Corris were due to work on these minor problems in the last week in October. In the new year its paintwork will be completed by the addition of lining out ahead of the resumption of passenger train services at Easter 2024. A 36 page full colour booklet telling the story of the “Falcon” from inception to its first workings has been produced and can be purchased from the Corris’ website shop for £3 plus p and p.

Before that the annual Santa Trains will run on December 9th and 10th and these will be headed by the Corris’ other steam locomotive “Tattoo” No. 7. Bookings should be made in advance on-line as seats are limited.

Whilst the “Falcon” has attracted news stories and passengers other projects have been taken forward by the volunteers and work will continue through the winter. The latest new build carriage is moving towards completion in the workshops at Maespoeth Junction and when finished will offer First Class accommodation for the first time in the history of the line’s revival. Amongst developments with the waggon fleet a new trestle waggon has been completed so that the Railway can demonstrate once again how slabs of slate were once conveyed along the Dulas Valley from the quarries to the mainline station at Machynlleth. Painting, track maintenance and control of lineside vegetation is always ongoing and more volunteers will be welcome. Track work is cheaper than gym fees.

Having seen the finale of one major project with the completion of No. 10 and its arrival on the line the Corris will now turn its thoughts and efforts to a very big target, extending the line southward from Maespoeth Junction to Pont Y Goedwig which will double the length of the journey for passengers. Work to be done and funded includes completion of a new embankment and bridging the Goedwig stream itself. The new embankment is underway but it and the crossing will now be the “large project” focus.

The embankment is necessitated by the loss of part of the original route of the line to road improvements made to the A487.

Saturday October 21st will be the last day of Corris Railway trains for the 2023 main season and a chance to ride behind No. 10, our new “Falcon” steam locomotive which will head the 11.00, 12.00, 13.30, 14.30 and 15.30 trains from Corris station.

The train trips are ideal for families with children. The short trip doesn’t allow for boredom to set in while the adults enjoy the beauties of the Dulas Valley in autumn and we provide some quizzes to be tried. And if the children need to let off steam there is a playground beside Corris station.

Our Museum and Shop at Corris station will be open and with Christmas getting closer there are our Christmas cards and our 2024 Calendar to purchase along with other goods for all ages.

Our next trains will be our Santa Specials on December 9th and 10th for which seats can be booked in advance on-line.