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Corris No. 3 returns home for spring

No. 3, the sole survivor of the three 0-4-2STs built at the Falcon Works, Loughborough by Hughes's Locomotive & Tramway Engine Works Ltd, in 1878, last visited its old home in 2003, the year after the line officially reopened to passengers.

The locomotive survived the closure of the original Corris line in 1948 and was purchased by the newly preserved Talyllyn Railway in 1951. The railways are near neighbours and both operate on the rare 2ft 3in gauge.

The locomotive has operated on the Talyllyn for most of the time since, carrying the name Sir Haydn.

No. 3 will arrive at Corris soon after Easter and will be in service until May 17, when its boiler ticket will expire.

For the rest of the summer it will remain on display at Maespoeth as a static exhibit, raising interest for the railway’s new Falcon steam locomotive, No. 10, for which funds are currently being raised.

No. 3 will star at the Corris Steam Gala over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend of May 5-7, when, along with the railway’s new-build Tattoo class locomotive No. 7, it is planned to operate two-train running as well as double-headers and demonstration works trains.

This is, possibly, the first time this has been done with two steam locomotives on the Corris since the early 20th century.

It will be the first opportunity since 1948 to see the two classes of steam locomotive used on the Corris together at the railway’s 134-year old slate-built engine shed at Maespoeth.

Subject to availability, No. 3 will also be in steam at Corris on May 12/13. More details can be found on the railway’s website at www.corris.co.uk