Chance to become a heritage railway engineers of the future

 

* Tim Hines and Matthew Carty qualified as steam locomotive drivers aged just 27.

Young people with a passion for engineering, construction and traditional craftsmanship are being offered a unique opportunity to help preserve one of Britain's most iconic heritage railways through a new apprenticeship programme at the award-winning Llangollen and Corwen Railway.

Prospective apprentices, along with their families, teachers and careers advisers, are being invited to an Open Day on Tuesday July 29, where they can meet the railway's engineering team, tour the workshops and discover first-hand what it takes to keep history on track.

The apprenticeship programme is being delivered in partnership with Coleg Cambria and is aimed at students studying, or intending to study, Level 2 or Level 3 Engineering, Fabrication & Welding, Construction or related qualifications, which is far more than a traditional apprenticeship. 

Successful applicants will gain hands-on experience working alongside experienced engineers and skilled craftspeople on everything from steam locomotives and historic railway carriages to bridges, tunnels, track and infrastructure across the railway's 11-mile route through the spectacular Dee Valley National Landscape.

Today, more than 400 volunteers and a highly skilled engineering team work together to preserve Britain's railway heritage while welcoming thousands of visitors every year, making a significant contribution to the local economy and community.

Tim Pulford, Heritage Engineering Manager at the Llangollen and Corwen Railway, said: "This is a genuinely unique opportunity for young people who want to build practical engineering skills while working on something truly special. The Open Day on 29 July will give prospective apprentices the chance to meet our team, tour the workshops, ask questions and experience the Railway first hand before applying.

"The engineers here at the Llangollen and Corwen Railway are recognised for their expertise around the world. People come here to learn specialist engineering skills and traditional techniques that are becoming increasingly rare, and we are determined to make our Railway a place of learning where those skills are preserved and passed on.

"We are equally determined to create the heritage railway engineers of the future. By investing in apprentices today, we're investing in the long-term future of our Railway and helping ensure these remarkable engineering skills continue for generations to come."

Apprentices will have the opportunity to work across a wide range of engineering disciplines, including:

• Steam locomotive maintenance and overhaul
• Steam boiler repairs and restoration
• General fitting and machining
• Repair and maintenance of plant and machinery
• Mechanical overhaul of historic railway carriages
• Restoration of carriage bodies and interiors
• Railway track renewal and maintenance
• Civil engineering works, including bridges, tunnels, embankments and culverts
• Vegetation management and fencing

The railway is keen to stress that this is not an office-based role and that the work is physically demanding, often dirty and regularly takes place outdoors in all weathers. 

However, they say that for enthusiastic people with an interest in engineering, construction or industrial heritage, it offers an unrivalled opportunity to develop practical skills that are increasingly difficult to find elsewhere while helping to preserve an important part of Britain's engineering history.

* Anyone interested in attending the open day on July 29 or learning more about the apprenticeship programme is encouraged to contact Tim Pulford, Heritage Engineering Manager, by emailing engineering@llangollen-railway.co.uk.

* Steam locomotive driver Dave Owen presents Matthew Carty with his certificate for passing as a driver.