Reasons for having a second locomotive. Back in 2006 discussion centred around the idea of having another locomotive on the Corris Railway. A second locomotive would take pressure off the `Tattoo’ when maintenance and repair work became necessary, especially important when it came to the 10 year overhaul of the Tattoo. This might happen as soon as 2015. The boiler would be out for several months w
hile the tubes were removed. Additionally, by having a second locomotive, the work involved in operating the railway could be shared. What sort of locomotive would we have? To build another Tattoo might be considered sensible because the design had been accepted by HMRI, but the opportunity to build a locomotive which would closely resemble the original Corris No.3, a Falcon, although fraught with difficulties, was an opportunity not to be missed. To have an appropriately modernised replica of a Falcon would be an advantage to give the railway variety in motive power. Our photo charter friends would love it, the visual display would be more satisfying than two identical twins and it would improve the profile of the railway as a national tourist attraction. After a poll of the CRS members the decision was taken in the spring of 2007 to build a replica of No 3. Lack of plans for No 3. The builder of Corris locomotives 1, 2 & 3 delivered in November 1878, was the Hughes’ Locomotive & Tramway Engine Works, Loughborough. It eventually became the Brush Electrical Machines Ltd, Falcon Works, Loughborough and still exists today. The researcher George Toms assured the Society that no plans exist of the locomotive. To obtain drawings the extant locomotive at the Talyllyn Railway must be surveyed (with permission). Appointment of design & build consultants. Reluctantly our Tattoo Locomotive consultant, Colin Blackwell, had decided for family reasons to take a back seat with regard to the Falcon Project. Fortunately Graham Morris, our boiler inspector, agreed to take responsibility for the project along with a colleague of his, David Potter. In August 2008 they began work on producing drawings by visiting the museum at Corris and then travelling on to Pendre, Tywyn to meet David Scotson (Chief Mechanical Engineer) and John Bate (former Chief Engineer) of the Talyllyn Railway. So began the complicated task of surveying the locomotive and producing drawings. This lasted for nine months and in September 2009 the drawings were complete at a cost of £26,000. Funding. Society members were encouraged to make a gift aided one-off donation or donations by standing order and by November 2008 the fund had reached £22,000. Nineteen members had taken out standing orders. Since then members have been encouraged to sponsor parts of the loco and a list of parts is included below. Manufacture of the Locomotive. The decision was taken in 2009 to make the boiler the first item to be built and our two consultants obtained a suitable quote (one of several) from Israel Newton, a 200 year old firm of boiler-makers in Bradford, for £31,250.00 plus VAT. Click here to see this being reported in the Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Progress to date. The boiler was completed by Israel Newton and was brought to Maespoeth in the late summer of 2012. A good number of other smaller components have also been produced. Once the boiler was received the next move was the cutting of the main frame plates for the locomotive which was done using the water jet method to produce the outside profiles and also all holes needed for bolts and rivets. The frame plates, have been taken to the workshops of Alan Keef Ltd for er****on and the latest stage to be completed has been the fitting of the horn guides to the frames and the next step in the new build work on “Falcon” number 10 will concern the axleboxes and driving wheels. The driving wheels on the Corris “Falcons” as built in 1878 are unusual for a small narrow gauge tank engine by being larger than the norm at 30” diameter and being solid with spokes cast on (rather reminiscent to the onlooker of the original Tri-ang model railway locomotives of the 1950’s). By way of contrast the wheels on the trailing pony truck which converted the original 0-4-0ST’s to 0-4-2’s with a view to making the original trio of engines ride more steadily were very small with a 10” diameter, but Number 10 will have slightly larger ones of 12” diameter. The wheel centre castings for the driving wheels have been estimated as costing £543 each and sponsorship is still available via the Corris website (please see below also). Alternatively individual donations, payable to Corris Railway, can be sent to Peter Guest at 38 Underhill Close, Callow Hill, Redditch, B97 5YS. The casting work for the axleboxes has already been sponsored by supporters of the project to bring an additional steam engine to the Dulas Valley. New build steam engines, even small ones like ours are expensive. Your support would be very welcome if you feel able to click in the donations icon for one of the remaining individual items listed below. But we do value ALL donations, small or large, so if you would like to help please go back to the main page of the site and click on the appropriate icon there. Thank you in anticipation of the day when the sound of a “Falcon” 0-4-2 saddle tank can be heard again in Cwm Dulas.
