#44 - "The Falcons Will Fly" Corris Railway Steam Gala

On 15th June 2024, the Corris Railway held a steam gala event to celebrate the first time that their original 'Corris Number 3' locomotive (Now Talyllyn Railway fleet locomotive Number 3, "Sir Haydn"), was united with the new-build Corris Number 10. The significance of this was that, the only two Hughes Falcon locomotives would be working publicly for the first time together, since Number 10 was constructed to the original Falcon design in 2022. Also in steam on this day, was 'Corris Number 7', which is a Kerr Stuart new-build similar to the original 'Corris Number 4', now also at the Tallylyn railway, still wearing the same fleet number.
On the day, one of the volunteer drivers told me that this was quite possibly the very first time that the Corris had actually seen 3 locomotives in steam at one time, in the entire 170 year history of the railway! Although the Corris had historically had three steam locomotives on it's roster, there was only ever two in service, while one was stored or in for overhaul. So with Number 7 joining the party, the 15th June 2024 became quite a day for celebration at the railway.