Madam,

Seventy years ago on 20 August 1948 the last train ran on the Corris Railway. However, on that day Campbell Thomas, BR Stationmaster at Machynlleth, hid the two Corris locomotives Nos 3 and 4 in the lower yard at Machynlleth to save them from the national scrap drive at that time. In so doing, without fully realising it, he started one of the greatest efforts ever made in the history of Welsh railway preservation, as had the two Corris locomotives not survived until 1951 the Talyllyn Railway would have been in a difficult position. Mr Thomas is one of the greatest unsung heroes of the Welsh narrow gauge railways. If readers have any further information to share on his life it would be much appreciated. Only one other person emulated what he did. Oliver Veltom, BR Oswestry District Traffic Superintendent, saved the two Welshpool locomotives Nos 822 and 823 from the scrapman by keeping them in Oswestry Works from 1956 to 1962 and so allowing the Welshpool & Llanfair Railway to live for another day.

Yours etc,

Chris Magner, Dunval Road, Bridgnorth.

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