Rheilffordd Corris Railway

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Category: Photographs

Photographs taken between 11th & 25th April 2020

4th May 202029th April 2020 David Coleman 3 Comments Photographs

Saturday, 11.4.2020. Father and son, Richard and Jack, work together to get the site ready …

… and towards the end of the day, Richard measures the perceived height of the gabion wall as a reality check for digging the foundations. It was a hot day!

Wednesday, 15.4.2020. Richard completes clearance of all the softer soil so that levels can be taken through the top of the foundation layer to inform the designer …

Thursday, 16.4.2020. … and warning posts and bunting to indicate the presence of overhead electricity lines to operators of larger machines have been set up.

Monday, 20.4.2020. Dei excavates for the gabion wall foundation, with Jack checking the depth of excavation via. a laser level. The paint marks indicate where he is “spot on”…

… but that is to be expected, when Dei is working “by the book”! Some big boulders were encountered in the trench.

Wednesday, 22.4.2020. Dei continues excavation for the gabion wall and access into the trench thereby created, while Jack loads and ferries sub-base …

… which is tipped on a geotextile sheet and spread to approximate depth by machine.

By late afternoon, a further load of sub-base is delivered to the loading point.

As the site is closed down for the day, substantial visual progress has been made.

Thursday, 23.4.2020. With but half an hour’s warning, Kieran arrives with two pallets of gabion baskets for us. Fortunately, a local builder was able to drop tools (on his own house) to off-load them …

… and ferry them down to nearer the work site.

After the sub-base had been rolled and topped up as necessary to final level for the back of the gabions, extra material was placed towards the front, using a template knocked up on site, to give the baskets the necessary design batter.

To minimise waste, required careful co-ordination between the excavator and …

… and dumper operators, so that material was placed exactly where required.

After rolling, Richard puts his eye to the job to ensure all was even. Some further adjustments and rolling was required!

Saturday, 25.4.2020. Caged! Richard and company have assembled some gabion baskets, and after setting them to line, Richard starts filling the first one.

Lunch break. Jack has fired up his on-site kettle – he couldn’t be away from steam for long!

While Richard fills baskets, other operatives continue their assembly until …

… by the end of the day, good progress has been made. However, once this section is done, we have to work the opposite way – but stepped up – and add another row on top!

Photographs taken between 1st March & 9th April 2020

30th April 202030th April 2020 David Coleman 1 Comment Photographs

Southern Extension. Pont y Goedwig Deviation Project. Sunday, 1.3.2020 – St. David’s Day. A lorry pulls up at the south end of Maespoeth Yard, laden with a mini excavator …

… which is soon off-loaded …

… leaving the excavator ready for work in the near future!

Friday, 6.3.2020. Dai has been working all day, clearing the area around the site entrance …

Saturday, 7.3.2020. ... so that with Richard and a dumper, they can move previously dumped material …

… to form a reception pad where lorries laden with spoil can safely manoeuvre off the road and reverse down to the desired location.

Sunday, 8.3.2020. This leaves the electricity pole in the middle of the site somewhat exposed, so it is taped up to render it more visible!

Tuesday, 10.3.2020. After further work yesterday, the reception pad is almost up to level – as far as can be prepared from material already on site.

Tuesday, 17.3.2020. Material has been delivered from a site in Dolgellau, and is spread to bring the reception area up to level …

Thursday, 19.3.2020. … to which has been added tar planings and a roller.

Saturday, 21.3.2020. Following the addition of more material from Dolgellau …

… the area is levelled …

Sunday, 22.3.2020. … and the planings spread (although not rolled at this stage – the roller had been vandalised).

Monday, 23.3.2020. With the roller fixed, fresh material was being spread down the ramp to provide lorry access to where the material is needed.

Friday, 27.3.2020. Passing on a shopping trip, it was noted that material was approaching the bottom of the access ramp ...

Tuesday, 7.4.2020. … and very soon, work stopped with as much as could be done completed pending setting-out and excavation for the new toe wall.

Wednesday, 8.4.2020. Surveyors have arrived to set out the new wall and slope …

… the front of the new wall being marked out with blue pegs …

… followed by the batter boards (which indicate the wall height and slope angle + 1.00m) …

… like this.

Thursday, 9.4.2020. A start has been made on excavating for the foundation of the new wall and widening the access track to feed materials for its construction …

… but there is a little way still to go!

Photographs taken between 23rd March & 23rd April 2020

27th April 202027th April 2020 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Monday, 23.3.2020. Towards evening, the Government declare a Lock Down in an effort to control the spread of Coronavirus – a local accommodation provider is very quick off the mark!

However, just beforehand, Dave had given the vestibule of carriage No. 23 a coat of gloss.

Friday, 27.3.2020. Construction work is permissible and Lez, a local self-employed contractor who provided us with sterling service on the Carriage Shed construction, had just been awarded the task of completing work on the retaining wall in Maespoeth yard. While passing on a shopping trip, a security check was made on the Sheds and view the progress Lez is making by himself.

Monday, 31.3.2020. Things have moved on a little …

Friday, 3.4.2020. … and the wall now nears full height.

As Builder’s Merchants are closed, Lez is resourceful and obtains slate dust from Aberllefenni to mix with our slate chippings to create concrete.

Monday, 13.4.2020. Some chippings have been used to protect against hazards at the back of the retaining wall …

Wednesday, 15.4.2020. … so that the pots in the blocks can be filled.

Tuesday, 21.4.2020. All pots filled, the capping layer of blocks are set out, but it is a sweltering day so none were laid!

Thursday, 23.4.2020. About half of the blocks have been laid in the morning…

… which were finished off in the afternoon. All is now ready for the wall plate of a Waggon Shelter to be constructed by volunteers – when travel and other restrictions are eased sufficiently.

Photographs taken between 1st & 18th April 2020

20th April 202019th April 2020 Andy Cooper 0 Comment Photographs

01.04.2020. The first stage in making the curved U section channels to cover the roof supports for carriage 23 is to glue together sufficient meranti boards.

Next the shapes are cut out with a router attached to a 2m long trammel previously used for carriages 21 and 22.

What will become the outsides are sanded flat...

...and a rebate machined on the inside. To be continued.

Most of the cladding sections for carriage 24 are already made, these glued up angles will cover the insides of the cant rails.

Also for carriage 24 most of the joints on the sliding doors have been cut...

..and after trimming out the corners assembly is progressing. Also to be continued.

Photographs taken between 17th & 28th March 2020

2nd April 20202nd April 2020 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Tuesday, 17.3.2020. Practicing social distancing, Chris cuts up steel channel as part of a process to manufacture more track jacks …

… from the material delivered last week ...

… to leave a pile of material to work on once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Meanwhile, in the Carriage Shed, Bill and Charles are rough-sawing the running boards for carriage No. 23 …

… or not

Thursday, 19.3.2020. With the carriages normally used in the passenger train safely out of the way …

… No. 8 and the boiler for loco No. 10 are drawn out of the Carriage Shed to release the two plank Heritage waggon …

… and other stock moved (with advantage being taken to clean the floors!) …

… and the body of waggon No. 5 mounted temporarily on a trolley …

… so that carriage No. 23 can be swapped (carefully!) …

… with No. 24 …

… so that they are in suitable locations …

… for the next phase of work on them.

All the “restored” Heritage waggons are now all together.

Friday, 20.3.2020. Dave calls by, and by evening …

… he has started the remaining painting work within the vestibule of carriage No. 23.

The finish machined slide valves and ...

... crossheads have arrived with Alan Keef.

Photographs taken between 8th & 14th March 2020

16th March 202016th March 2020 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Sunday, 8.3.2020. The Carriage Shed is a hive of activity, with some working around carriage No. 23 …

… Tony giving one of the picnic tables some winter tlc …

… and Richard testing the train communication system on all the carriages (including No. 23).

By lunch time, work on the roof of carriage No. 23 was quite appealing …

… with a brief pause while other projects were discussed …

… and bell pushes were wired up.

Lunch could then be taken …

… as another load of cuttings from Corris churchyard hedge arrive for disposal.

By late afternoon, the roof sheeting on carriage No. 23 is all but finished …

… and it is time for those travelling afar, to pack up their tools …

… and homework for the next few weeks …

… to leave the Shed nice and tidy!

Tuesday, 10.3.2020. Bob & Chris have adapted more track jacks …

… while in the Carriage Shed, Pete is fixing slats to the vestibule seat in carriage No. 23 …

… and Tony is finishing off preparation of the picnic table.

Pete takes a break while Bill and Charles fuss around other details in the vestibule …

… before Graham lends Bill a hand, securing leather straps to the drop light windows …

… and a waggon is shunted to the car park, ready for deliveries later in the week.

Friday, 13.3.2020. Deliveries have arrived for various projects, some placed on the ground …

… others in the waggon …

… while others have already been moved inside the Engine Shed.

The vestibule seat has (temporarily) been removed to allow varnishing – and painting the supporting frame within the vestibule …

… while waggon No. 5’s body has received a coat of gloss finish.

Saturday, 14.3.2020. All is peaceful in the Engine Shed, as Dave and Trefor (under the loco) gently bring No. 7 into steam while also checking for leaks.

A working party sets off up the line …

… where the track is carefully slewed into a straight line to improve appearances!

By the time lunch is ready, No. 7 is simmering gently outside the Shed after the safety valves have been tested.

The movement of No. 7 enables No. 6 to be released to fetch the waggon from the car park …

… just as the P Way gang arrive at the Stop Board, having been thoroughly rained off from their task up the line.

No. 7 can then be gently pushed back into the Shed, with all stock where we want it for the next week or two.

Photographs taken between 3rd & 7th March 2020

11th March 202011th March 2020 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Tuesday, 3.3.2020. Bob starts modifying a track jack …

… to reduce the height and make them less liable to be tripped over!

Meanwhile outside, Tony is shunting waggons …

… to position the Lydd bogie …

… on the car park, ready to receive a delivery.

In the Carriage Shed, Charles throws some light on the subject of re-fitting vestibule doors and partitions after painting.

The end top panels have also been fitted and varnished, ready for finishing.

Thursday, 5.3.2020. Adrian busies himself, making brake gear components for waggon No. 5 …

… and shortly afterwards, a delivery of blocks appears on the bogie

Friday, 6.3.2020. The sheets outside the Carriage Shed look startling …

… while Ian and Andy fix the end capping on carriage No. 23.

By evening, some of the roof covering is at least laid on the roof …

Saturday, 7.3.2020. … even if they have not been fixed yet.

The frame for the vestibule seat has been delivered …

… and is soon fixed in position (if only temporarily at the moment).

The slats for the seat have also been cut and sanded, ready for fixing …

… with the work being undertaken by a good gang of jolly volunteers …

… overseen from his vantage point by Andy!

The top end panels have been fixed together with mirrors …

… with the Carriage Shed a hive of activity.

Meanwhile outside, No. 5 has been started and the bogie waggon collected, enabling some blocks to be off-loaded where required.

However, the rail is wet and the load heavy, so Trefor places some (very!) lumpy sand on the rail to control our descent …

… but all is safely negotiated …

… enabling the blocks to be stacked handy to the work site ...

… and covered to allow them to dry out.

In the Engine Shed, Trefor is filling No. 7’s boiler with water while checking for leaks …

… followed by the saddle tank.

He is also much relieved to receive a delivery of spare brake blocks for the loco!

Delivery has been taken of a headboard for a Special later in the year (April 26th).

Photographs taken between 26th & 29th February 2020

3rd March 20203rd March 2020 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Wednesday, 26.2.2020. Dave cleans up the dust after rubbing-down the first coat of gloss paint on vestibule components for carriage No. 23 …

… and clears away his vacuum cleaner, prior to having lunch and giving most parts, a second gloss coat in the afternoon.

Thursday, 27.2.2020. Adrian has fabricated a temporary frame and is removing part of the sleeper stack …

… so that he can turn the body of waggon No. 5 on end …

… so that he can sit comfortably …

… and begin finishing work on the inside end of the body.

With the body righted, Tony is quick to apply primer to all the exposed steel work …

… while Adrian puts the (loose) end door on to finish the effect ...

… which in total, looks good! All it needs now is a set of frames!

Meanwhile, a coat of priming varnish has been applied to the drop windows and inside top end panels for carriage No. 23.

Friday, 28.2.2020. Dave has been by …

… finishing off the second gloss coat on those items he did not finish on Wednesday.

Saturday, 29.2.2020. Trefor and Ifor are finishing off the re-assembly of No. 7 …

… including the re-assembly of the motion complete with appropriate bushes and spacers.

Meanwhile outside, Tony is digging holes for posts to support the roof of a waggon shelter, and Richard tidies up.

An SOS is then received from Stevie, who is being swamped by the cuttings from the Churchyard hedge …

… so a train is made up and despatched …

… up to Corris, where the scene of the massacre is terrible to behold!

Never mind – it was not long before the train was loaded, and about to set off back to Maespoeth for disposal. Another train was run on Sunday.

Photographs taken between 20th & 25th February 2020

26th February 202026th February 2020 David Coleman 0 Comment Photographs

Thursday, 20.2.2020. Adrian has finished the loose end door for waggon No. 5, and Tony has already started to paint it!

Adjacent, the waggon body is on its side to ease access for some work.

Elsewhere, Tony is trimming fence post off-cuts …

… to provide posts to retain hungry boards on waggon No. 218.

He has also completed fixing new dumb buffers on the waggon.

Also in the Carriage Shed, the Tuesday gang have completed trial fitting of the end windows and skirtings in the North saloon of carriage No. 23 …

… while the South saloon is not far behind.

Saturday, 22.2.2020. Dave called yesterday, and painted the end drop-lights in gloss …

… together with the vestibule in carriage No. 23 ...

… and other components to fit around the vestibule.

In the Engine Shed, No. 7 is slowly being put back together …

… after passing its annual (cold) boiler examination …

… although it appears more of the motion has been dismantled, pending fitting of new bushes.

A lonely waggon sitting on the main line within Maespoeth yard …

… suggests that a working party is active up the line …

… jacking up the track to remove undulations …

… and packing ballast under …

… before laboriously shovelling fresh ballast out of a waggon to place carefully …

… around the sleepers, thereby emptying one waggon …

… so that another one had to be fetched – and emptied!

Job done and passed by Molly, tools are loaded …

… to return everything back to Maespoeth.

The absence of the waggons enables access to the back of the roadside hedge to finish trimming it after the visit of the tractor-based contractors …

… but there is a lot more to do!

Meanwhile, two waggons were despatched to Corris to collect hedge clippings …

… with three waggons making another trip to where Stevie was radically trimming the churchyard hedge …

… which were duly filled and sent back to Maespoeth.

Sunday, 23.2.2020. Trefor is still clean, and is fetching paint …

… for Richard to apply to the inside of the smokebox door and baffle, when Richard has finished cleaning them down!

Outside, John is lost in thought as he builds shelves into the fuel store …

Falcon Build Images – 24th February 2020

24th February 202024th February 2020 Andy Cooper 2 Comments Photographs

24.2.2020. Update from Alan Keef - We have an 0-4-2!

The Corris Railway Falcon Locomotive becomes an 0-4-2 for the first time having had the trailing truck fitted ...

... the locomotive chassis can be clearly seen to be itching to get onto the metals.

Progress seems to be brisque and ...

... other work on the inside motion ...

... such as valve rods ...

... and their guides have been fitted.

With the chassis work currently going on ...

... it really does look impressive!

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Photographs taken between 19th June & 1st July 2020
Smokebox Rolled And Smokebox Door Formed As Work Continues On “Falcon” No. 10 For Corris Railway
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