The Corris Railway has set a target of 2021 to have steam locomotives ‘Falcon’ and ‘Tattoo’ back in steam in the Dulas Valley.

2021 marks 100 years since the Corris Railway took delivery of new steam locomotive No. 4 from Kerr Stuart Ltd. The ‘Tattoo’ class locomotive worked train services between Machynlleth and Aberllefenni alongside ‘Falcon’ No. 3 until the final set of Corris freight services were withdrawn, subsequently closed by British Railways in August 1948, after a period stored at Machynlleth, the locomotives were purchased by the Talyllyn Railway at continue to work there to this day.

However, now the narrow gauge railway is being brought back to life and since 2005, a 21st-century version of the ‘Tattoo’ class is been steaming at the head of passenger trains between Corris and Maespoeth Junction. A new ‘Falcon’ locomotive is being constructed to bring the 1878 design, with 21st Century Adaptations, back to the Dulas Valley.

The new locomotive is being carried out at the Herefordshire Workshops of Alan Keef Ltd. at a pace dictated by the fundraising carried out by the Corris Railway Society’s members and donations from passengers.

Corris Railway is looking to be able to recreate the scenes of 1921 a century later with ‘Tattoo’ No. 7 and ‘Falcon’ No. 10 heading the recreations of the original coaches and wagons constructed by volunteers at Maespoeth Junction.

This also offers the possibility of photo charters and possible filming work utilising the period recreations.

The boiler for number 10 has already been completed.

What did the officials say?

Writing in the latest edition of “The Corris-Pondent” quarterly magazine volunteer Andy Cooper writes:

“As the costs are covered Keef’s have the go-ahead to fit the cylinders to the frames, finish the axle box slippers and fit the wheelsets to create a rolling chassis and start work on the connecting rods and associated parts. My best estimate from quotes to hand is that to finish the rods and make the pistons, valves, piston rods, valve rods, glands, crossheads, slide bars and brackets, inside motion with all the eccentric parts, rods, links, die blocks, weighshaft brackets and reverser quadrant would require a further £53,000.  At that point whilst having a way to go to completion we really would have the guts of the loco done. I can’t help thinking how good it would be if 2018 were the year of the “motion” and by March 2019 all of those parts could be in place and the main mechanical workings completed”.

Donations

If you would like to donate towards seeing two steam locomotives back at the Corris Railway, then please click here.

We look forward to seeing two steam locomotives back at the Corris Railway 🙂

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