The Corris Railway has released a short update on its Tattoo locomotive, No. 7.

No. 7 entered service in 2005 and has proved a reliable locomotive, completing 3,978.5 miles in its last 10-year ticket.

The Tattoo locomotive is a modern version of the Talyllyn Railway’s No. 4 Edward Thomas, and whilst most of the mileage above was on the Corris line, some mileage was completed at the Talyllyn Railway.

The only major failure came in 2018 when the locomotive failed while working the Santa trains. This issue required help from the Vale of Rheidol Railway, but the locomotive returned in time to work a photo charter and passenger trains in 2019.

2025 is the 20th anniversary of the locomotive, and the overhaul is well underway.

Volunteers stripped down the locomotive last year, and the same team are returning between Christmas and New Year to start putting the locomotive back together.

The boiler was retubed and repainted at Maespoeth in the summer and has now passed hydraulic testing.

Hot testing will take place when the boiler is back in the frames. Speaking of the frames, these were cleaned and repainted.

Alan Keef has reprofiled the wheels and fitted new crank pins, as well as supplying a new smokebox for the locomotive.

It is hoped that the locomotive will be back in service in time for Easter 2026.