The Corris Railway have commenced work on their second new bogie carriage, based on the design used on the railway in the nineteenth century.
The new carriage follows the example of carriage 21, which became the railway’s first new bogie carriage since 1898 when it made its debut in June 2003. Carriage 22 is being constructed to 21st century safety standards, using a steel chassis based on the Talyllyn’s standard design, combined with a steel skeleton to comply with HMRI requirements for structural strength, but clad in timber to appear externally and internally as similar to the originals as possible.
Sponsored by a CRS member, work commenced on the chassis at the beginning of September, and is progressing apace. There will be one significant difference from 21 – the new carriage is being fitted with a clerestory roof, similar to those carried by two of the original carriages in the 1920s. Unlike 21, which was largely constructed off-site, the new carriage is being made at the railway’s workshops at Maespoeth.
While work starts on carriage 22, the internal fitting-out of carriage 21 has now re-commenced, following the end of the main running season, and by the start of the 2005 season most of the internal metalwork should be hidden under wood cladding.
Anyone interested in helping with the carriage building programme, especially if they have skills either in metalworking or in woodwork, please contact the Corris Railway via the website at www.corris.co.uk
