The new Falcon steam locomotive, No. 10, being constructed for the Corris Railway by Alan Keef Ltd, will have a feature absent from the original Loughborough built trio.
As delivered in 1878 the locomotives arrived at Maespoeth Junction without sanding gear. More remarkably none was ever fitted, not even when the best components of each were cannibilised and reassembled to become No. 3 at the end of the 1920’s or when the Great Western took the merged engine to Swindon for workshop attention. Given the curves and gradients of the route of the Corris Railway wet weather could cause slipping which was combatted by the fireman or guard perching above the front buffer beam and transferring sand from a box placed in front of the smokebox to the railhead by means of a watering can.
Even if the modern day Corris Railway wished to maintain this approach it would, quite rightly, not meet current safety requirements and air sanding gear will be fitted to No. 10 before it enters traffic.
The cab for the new loco which was bolted together for the first public steaming last September has now been riveted. However one section which will continue to have removable bolts is the upper part of the rear of the cab. This will be removable to make conditions more comfortable on the footplate on hot days and will give passengers in the front coach a view of the crew at work on the journey from Maespoeth Junction to Corris Station. It will also recreate the look of the Falcons’ cabs in the early 1900’s.
Other outstanding work at the end of February included the fitting of the air braking equipment and the electronics for the train communications system. The boiler and the cylinders need to have their cladding made and fitted.
Although No. 10 is making good progress towards its final testing and entrance into Corris Railway traffic later in 2023 it remains true that every completed part of the construction means a bill to be paid and fund raising continues.
Donations 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.