12 August 2015
The annual Kids Training Week was held in the first week of August. Some 35 youngsters, assisted by a large team of volunteers and staff, achieved a sizeable list of projects at various sites, but largely concentrated on Boston Lodge.
Some of the work undertaken included preparing locos for boiler inspections, preparing and repainting diesels and even the demolition of a building in Boston Lodge top yard.
As well as the work during the daytime the evenings are well planned with activities including special trains and even a Hog Roast on the last night.
The main works shunter, Moel y Gest, received a rub down and repaint during the week. Additionally, the Simplex received a tidy up also.
Sign writing instruction and practice was carried out in the carriage shed.
The kids helped out with preparing Hugh Napier for annual boiler inspection. It passed and was steamed later in the week.
Additionally, Palmerston’s overhaul was progressed with assistance in dismantling and painting the boiler.
Over two days, a team removed the content of the old tunnel mess which had been used as the S&T stores for the last couple of decades in Boston Lodge. With a new purpose built building being constructed in Minffordd, it was time for demolition of the old building.
The long term vision for Boston Lodge will see new carriage sheds on the sea-side of the existing carriage shed. A team participated in carefully removing the memorial that would be in the way of this.
Our drains job at the back of the Machine Shop was to put in a drain to stop water getting through the wall and flooding the shop floor. A contractor came in with a mini digger and dug the trench along the wall down to bed rock.
Our drain Kids were then able to return and build the new inlet chamber. We cleaned out the trench and put our usual 100mm diameter slotted pipe in and back filled with ballast.
The watery hole is where we are to drain to – it is to have sub-mersible pump, to pump the water up to a higher drain that goes under the erecting shop.
A key part of the Kids Week is the evening activities, the finale of which is an evening meal in Minffordd Yard, accompanied by footplate rides. This year Prince and Hugh Napier were on hand.
