THE new generation responsible for sharing and securing Dwyfor and Meirionnydd’s railway heritage have started their apprenticeships.

Earlier this year, the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways were successful in securing a significant National Lottery grant of £454,500 to support an ambitious training programme to introduce heritage skills to a more diverse audience.

Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, the railway aims to attract 20 trainees over two years in order to share the heritage skills of its talented workforce and in doing so, encourage careers in the heritage sector.

A spokesperson for the Railway said: “We are pleased to confirm that we now have this year’s intake of 10 trainees in post.

“The new trainees are involved in learning the skills that help us maintain the railway and its associated infrastructure to the high standards that our customers have come to expect.

“The skills covered include horticulture, heritage joinery, heritage mechanical engineering, permanent way engineering and heritage interpretation. The scheme will work in collaboration with local partners and colleges.”

Iwan Edwards, 22, from Bala, and Bradley March, 24 from Tanygrisiau near Blaenau Ffestiniog are both working at Boston Lodge learning heritage joinery skills under the watchful eye of Glenn Williams, the railway’s carriage works supervisor.

Current projects include a new Pullman observation carriage for the Welsh Highland Railway, and a smaller 15-inch gauge first class observation carriage for the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway in Cumbria.

Talitha Fenton, 21, originally from Manchester but now living in Llan Ffestiniog, is working on heritage interpretation.

This will help the railway make a better connection with its customers, enabling them to tell their story in an “interesting and effective manner”.

The railway is seeking potential trainees for the scheme. Further in information at www.ffwhrheritageskills.co.uk

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