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Developments on the Corris Railway

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by Corris Steam, May 22, 2016.

  1. ross

    ross Well-Known Member

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    Cool. I'm a carpenter, and tbh, I've just always fancied building a station roof. I think they are very cool structures, and building one from scratch looks like fun. I've built barns and cabins and the like, but never yet built a railway structure.
     
  2. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

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    One of the CGI images, this will be the sort of view from the station entrance. It is a lot of pounds of income and expenditure away yet.

    [​IMG]
     
  3. Meiriongwril

    Meiriongwril Member

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    Hi Ross
    Have sent PM via the conversation feature.
     
  4. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

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    Some more locomotive news has appeared on the wesite:


    Following the departure of the boiler and smokebox of the new build “Falcon” 0-4-2ST from the carriage shed at Maespoeth Junction work will soon be getting underway there on the brake gear for the locomotive. This will be carried out by two or three of the team who have previously made brake components for the carriages constructed in the workshops at the Junction. Meanwhile another Corris Railway Society volunteer will be working in the East Midlands to produce patterns for the brake blocks and the cast iron brake stand to support the shaft and handle. This work will save money as construction proceeds.

    Meanwhile in late August at Alan Keef’s workshops near Ross-on-Wye, as the boiler and smokebox were arriving, work was continuing on the motion for the “Falcon”. Castings for the eccentrics had arrived from the foundry and the crossheads had been trial fitted. Most recently the right hand side piston rod was in place so that the slide bar alignment could be checked. Once the slide bars have been finally aligned and bolted the crosshead slippers would be machined to suit. The valve buckles had been externally machined and some weeks earlier sent away for the insides to be wire cut out.

    Thoughts are now turning towards other fittings and offsite work is underway also on the Salter Spring Balances which will control the safety valves in due course.

    Discussions are ongoing about boiler fittings for the loco. Some are straightforward but others require areful consideration so that the parts which will not only do the job well but also look right. The aim is to put together a definitive list so that best prices can be sought.

    The work being carried out and the raw materials required for it are of course consuming funds and donations will be gratefully received. These can be made online via the “Falcon” section of the website www.corris.co.uk or cheques payable to Corris Railway can be sent to Peter Guest, 38 Underwood Close, Callow Hill, Redditch, Worcs, B97 5YS
     
  5. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

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    More news photos inc progess with the waggon shed have appeared on the website this evening.
     
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  6. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

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    And 24 hours later there are a couple more pages of pictures loaded up on www.corris.co.uk
     
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  7. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

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    Not a new news clip but an interesting viewpoint of a trip from the Junction to Corris last year. I suspect on a "Your Railway For Thee Day" working given the lack of folk at Corris


     
  8. Vulcan Works

    Vulcan Works Member

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    The Corris really is making great strides, lots of positive developments and lots of momentum. I’ve only ever read about their exploits, it has been a slog for them at times. Hopefully the progress that is being made will help to overcome some of the doubters’ concerns, there seems to be a tipping point in many preserved railways’ histories where things seem to start coming together. A visit with the family is on the cards next year!
     
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  9. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

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    The Corris has progressed steadily down the years but right from the pioneering days a firm policy has been that no money is spent that isn’t in the bank and to make sure there are reserves.
    So all of the three “major” projects:- new steam engine, Southern Extension and Corris Station, plus carriage and waggon building/restoration depend on funds coming in. As does costs of routine maintenance, insurance etc, etc. If the money isn’t in the funds the projects stop until it comes in.
    The Corris Railway Society membership hovers between 500 -600 and a small band of volunteers who have achieved remarkable progress.
    2020 has seen the Railway closed for both regular passenger services and “Your Railway for the Day” operations and therefore no income from those sources. Fortunately there have been kind donations to specific projects and general funds and good sales from the online shop. Thanks go to those who have supported in that way.
     
  10. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

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    More new photographs inc work on the Extension in the recent dry spell are now at www.corris.co.uk in the News section
     
  11. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

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    Once more there are fresh images in the News section of www.corris.co.uk. Good progress being made with the waggon shelter and some dry weather making for Extension progress amongst other things.
     
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  12. ross

    ross Well-Known Member

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    It is truly a joy to the heart to see these regular updates from Maespoeth. You seem to have a great little team up there, well motivated and clearly with energy and enthusiasm to get stuff done. Whoever is doing project management on the southern extension is on their game, and all together the railway is doing great. I can't wait to visit.
    For a railway that was bit later off the starting block than its neighbours, with no track, no stock, locomotives sold, never to return, and a trackbed eaten up by the trunk road, by heck you are making up the ground! It is truly great to watch.
    I think thanks are also due to whoever takes the time to put these pictures up, with their witty narrative captioning- Cymraeg iawn ac yn dda iawn

    Edit- a JOY to the heart, obviously. Bl**dy fat fingers
     
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2020
  13. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

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    Thanks Ross for the praise. The embankment work and he who takes the pictures, plus getting them to the webmaster, is the same volunteer in the small workforce. Regular watchers will notice most of the cast list fairly quickly.

    Progress is considerable currently courtesy of restricted funds for projects and reserves, plus some individuals funding spedific projects, but longer term there is a need to be running trains again and generating fares plus on day sales and donations. The loading gauge is small and recreating the original carriage layout has passengers quite close together and facing each other with entry through a central doorway, so ongoing Covid has potential to require some hard decisions in due course to ensure that what has been done, and what is planned, is not endangered. Online sales and donations, either to projects or general funds help towards the future. As said upthread if the funds aren't there it doesn't happen.
     
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  14. Bikermike

    Bikermike Well-Known Member

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    Impressive stuff. How high do you need to go? all the way up to road level? or can you keep at a lower level and save the fill for further along?
    Is it a case of fill up to the gabions, put new gabions in and repeat?
     
  15. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

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    I'm not sure as to how high it will go as I'm not involved in the civil engineering side. An earlier picture shows the pegged out track route which looks to be slightly below road level. The gabions are in long term postion to support the toe of the embankment as it all settles down.
     
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  16. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

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    Talk about me missing the obvious -- there's a Southern Extension section of www.corris.co.uk with more about the dimensions.
     
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  17. Vulcan Works

    Vulcan Works Member

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    It’s a shame you’re not currently running trains but entirely understandable, and it looks like the Corris is using its time wisely to plan for the future. I wonder if those ‘hard decisions’ might include making the best use of what you have, e.g. by altering an interior coach layout. It might end up being ‘semi-permanent’ (who knows how long any Covid restrictions will last) but there is always the potential to return a coach back to its traditional layout in the future. Needs must!
     
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  18. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

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    Things are being constantly monitored and considered by the folks on the ground but changing the seating arrangements wouldn't be that easy. It's not a case of unbolting one layout and bolting in another, as a wind back through the coach building images on the website will show. In addition, if practicable, this work would need doing by volunteers, and a number of those regulars don't live locally -- so getting to Maespoeth Jnc potentially runs across travel restrictions as these are making a comeback.

    There are other problems. The usual package includes a talk and tour when trains arrive at the Junction which has distancing problems. Similarly until there is a new Corris station on wet days passengers tend to wait in the Museum/Sales area and that can get quite cosy on busy days.

    .
     
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  19. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

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    There are some new pictures on the website, mainly showing some work being done by a volunteer towards the construction of the new steam loco. See news section of www.corris.co.uk where there is also a recent press release.
     
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  20. Llwyngwern

    Llwyngwern Member

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    With lockdown imminent across Wales there some new pictures on the website. Also there (may as well get in a plug) the online shop has a discounted price for Peter Johnson's history of the Corris and offers on Christmas Card purchases.
     
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