Work on the construction of Corris Railway steam locomotive number 10 has taken another significant step forward with the casting of the cylinders at Barr and Grosvenor Wolverhampton where proof machining will also take place. Once the work is complete they will be moved to the workshops of Alan Keef Ltd where the locomotive is under construction. At Keef’s work towards completion of a rolling chassis is progressing with crank pins fitted to the driving wheels and the driving wheels mounted on their axles. Delivery of the steel tyres from South Africa is awaited. In addition work on the manufacture of the trailing pony truck for the 0-4-2ST, which will be a 21st century recreation of the original trio of Corris steam engines, continues. The completed boiler and other components already manufactured can be seen at Maespoeth Junction on days when the Corris is operating passenger trains.
The pace of the work to bring a second steam engine to the narrow gauge line in the Dulas Valley north of Machynlleth is dependent on fund raising and there is an opportunity to sponsor some already completed major components in retrospect via the Corris website at www.corris.co.uk where non-specific individual contributions can also be made via PayPal. An interesting fund-raising opportunity has also arisen. An individual has offered to contribute £25,000 to the loco fund if three similar donations or net contributions are received. Should these sums be raised – and an anonymous donor has already contributed £3000 – there will be enough money available to take the locomotive very close to completion and pulling trains in the Dulas Valley. Any donations by cheque can be sent to Peter Guest, 38 Underwood Close, Callow Hill, Redditch, Worcs, B97 5YS (cheques payable to Corris Railway).