The first steam locomotive commissioned by the revived Corris Railway is taking a well deserved rest as Loco Number 10 takes over this year’s Santa Specials on December 13 and 14.
Locomotive No 7, which is having its second, 10-year overhaul, is a modern version of the Kerr Stuart ‘Tattoo’ class locomotive, similar to loco No. 4 which is now Talyllyn Railway’s No. 4 ‘Edward Thomas’.
The project to build No 7 started on February 1, 1995 with funding provided by members’ covenants plus many other fundraising initiatives. The locomotive entered service on August 20, 2005, bringing the sound of a steam engine back to the Dulas Valley after half a century.
Over the last two decades, No. 7 has proved a reliable locomotive. Since the last 10 year overhaul, it has completed 3,978.5 miles, primarily at Corris, although the figure includes a couple of hundred miles working on Talyllyn Railway.
No. 7 has suffered only one major failure whilst working Santa Trains in December 2018, when the valve gear seized and was repaired at the Vale of Rheidol Railway in Aberystwyth. The ‘Tattoo’ returned to service before Easter in 2019.
The second major overhaul of the locomotive is now well underway. An entirely volunteer force started the strip down of the locomotive between Christmas and New Year 2024. The same team will return at the same this year to start putting the loco back together.
During the summer, the boiler was retubed and repainted at Maespoeth and has passed hydraulic testing. Hot testing will take place once the boiler is back between the frames, which have been cleaned and repainted and the gauges re-calibrated.
Alan Keef has reprofiled the wheels and fitted new crank pins and will be supplying a new stainless steel smokebox for the loco, which will hopefully return to service in time for next Easter.
No. 10, the second new build loco, which was delivered to Corris Railway on August 30, 2023, will head the Santa Specials for the first time this year – Storm Darragh delayed its debut when it caused the cancellation of last year’s Santa trains.
Four trains are scheduled to run on December 13 and 14, leaving Corris at 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm. Fares are £10 for adults and £12.50 for children. With 70 seats available on each train, early booking is advisable via www.corris.co.uk/tickets .
The last opportunity to see No. 10 in 2025 will be Saturday, December 27 when it will be hauling a series post-Christmas afternoon services.
Anyone wishing to donate to help with general running costs or the overhaul of No. 7 can do so via the website or by cheque, payable to Corris Railway. Send cheques to The Corris Railway, Station Yard, Corris, Machynlleth SY20 9SH.
For the full story of the construction of Locomotive No. 7, see ‘The Tale of a Tattoo’, written by Peter Guest and available from the Corris Railway online shop or from the museum sales counter at Corris.
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