Corris Railway Society

The Corris Railway was the first Narrow Gauge railway in Mid-Wales. Built originally in 1859 as a 2’ 3" gauge horse-hauled tramroad, steam locomotives arrived in 1878 and passengers were carried from 1883 to 1930. The Railway closed in 1948 and was dismantled soon afterwards. The Corris Railway Museum opened in 1970 and passenger services recommenced in 2002, with regular steam-hauled services returning in 2005, operated by volunteer members of the Corris Railway Society. Trains run on the days shown in the published timetable available here. The museum is open on these days between 10:30am and 5:30pm and trains leave Corris station on the hour from 11:00am until 4:00pm. The round trip taking 50 minutes, including a guided tour of the 139-year old engine shed and workshops at Maespoeth. No single tickets are issued as under planning requirements all journeys must start and end at Corris Station.

For 50 years the Corris Railway Society has been working to preserve and rebuild the Corris Railway. A fantastic amount has been achieved in this time. Looking at the railway that is running today, with its fine facilities and rolling stock, it is difficult to remember that, when the Society started its work, all that remained of the original railway was a few dilapidated buildings. The track had been lifted and the track bed sold off. All the locomotives and rolling stock had been disposed of either into preservation on the Talyllyn Railway or scrapped. There was very little to work on. Since its formation the Society has created all that is now the Corris Railway. It has been a great beginning but their remains much to do. To celebrate 50 years of the Corris Railway Society and kick-start the next phase of the adventure, we are launching an appeal to raise £300,000 for work in the Corris Station Area. This will enable us to: Do the necessary preparation work Replace the existing trackwork between the Braich Goch Farm crossing and the station Create the new platform and track layout including run round facilities Build the new station. We have planning permission for the proposed scheme. We own the necessary land and all the stages of the project that can be completed without a major funding package have been delivered. Now is the time to push forward. Grants have been applied for and we will continue to pursue external funding wherever possible. If we are successful then any additional funds raised with this appeal will be spent on the railway’s southern extension.