The Llangollen and Corwen Railway in Wales is holding an Apprenticeship Open Day on Tuesday 29 July, hoping to attract aspiring heritage railway engineers.
The event is open to people interested in working in railway engineering, and to their families, teachers and careers advisers. Attendees will meet the Railway’s engineering team, tour the workshops and learn what is involved in keeping the Railway running.
The Railway is working with Coleg Cambria to deliver the apprenticeship programme, which is aimed at students who are studying, or planning to study, Level 2 or Level 3 Engineering, Fabrication & Welding, Construction or related qualifications.
Successful applicants for the apprenticeship programme will gain hands-on experience as they work with experienced engineers and skilled craftspeople. They will work on steam locomotives, historic railway carriages, bridges, tunnels, track and infrastructure across the Railway’s route, which runs for eleven miles through the Dee Valley National Landscape.
The tasks that apprentices will carry out include:
- maintaining and overhauling steam locomotives
- repairing and restoring steam boilers
- general fitting and machining
- repairing and maintaining plant and machinery
- mechanical overhaul of historic railway carriages
- restoring carriage bodies and interiors
- renewing and maintaining railway track
- civil engineering works, including on bridges, tunnels, embankments and culverts
- fencing and managing vegetation.
Apprentices will carry out physically demanding work, which is often dirty. Work regularly takes place outdoors in all weathers.
The Llangollen and Corwen Railway is a busy and popular heritage railway. Among its special events this year, it has hosted Eistedfodd festival activities, a Classic Transport Weekend and a ‘Steam into Summer’ event which featured two of its Great Western Railway (GWR) steam engines.
“Anyone interested in attending the Open Day on 29 July or learning more about the apprenticeship programme is encouraged to contact Tim Pulford, Heritage Engineering Manager, by emailing [email protected].
“Tim will be happy to discuss the opportunities, answer questions and provide further information about the apprenticeship programme.
“Come and build your future while preserving our past.”
Llangollen and Corwen Railway
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