The final two days of public train operations on the Corris Railway in 2022 take place on December 10th and 11th when Santa Special trains will give a festive finale to what has been a good year for the narrow gauge line. Trains will leave Corris station at 11.00, 12.30, 2.00 and 3.30 and pre-booking is essential via www.corris.co.uk
Looking back over the last 12 months Corris Railway Society Chairman Richard Foyn highlighted some of the areas of progress:
After two years of disruption, and at times enforced inactivity, due to Covid, our volunteers and partners have made considerable progress on a number of fronts in 2022. During the first quarter an important part of the improvements to Corris station was completed with a new platform and track layout, the latter including a traverser which allows locomotives to run round their trains. Its operation has been photographed and filmed by many visitors.
South of Maespoeth Junction work has continued on construction of the embankment which will eventually allow our passengers a longer journey along the Dulas Valley. This part of our work depends on funding and the availability of suitable materials, machinery and qualified operators so it is inevitably somewhat stop-start but progress has been steady and is satisfactorily visible.
Our new steam engine which is being constructed by Alan Keef Ltd steamed for the first time in September and if fund raising continues successfully we plan to have it into service in 2023. Our friends at the Talyllyn have recently completed work on the air pump for the braking system.
Work has continued on our next new-build carriage number 24 which when complete will see first class travel available on the Corris for the first time in nearly a century and our heritage waggon fleet continues to receive care and intention. The waggon shelter at Maespoeth Junction now has its slate roof.
We have caught up with the Covid delays to the Your Railway For The Day bookings whereby individuals or groups of up to six can pay to drive trains and work as guards and signalmen.
All of this has been achieved by a small number of volunteers and we would be delighted to welcome more to the ranks. Contact details can be found on the website at www.corris.co.uk where other information about the Railway and our projects can also be found.