LMS Patriot Project Updates

Given that LNWR have not developed the planned boiler shop at Crewe, one has to ask where the present priorities lie. I think we'll find that the answer is coaching stock.

 

A couple years back when I was looking for work I remember seeing NYMR looking for a boiler shop person (of what exact nature escapes me, I think it may have been foreman, but the description has disposition, examine, set out repairs, so basically an engineer) and the salary quoted being in around 30k?? This was a while back, and my recollection of this is weak at best. There is applicability in other industry as the skill set is highly valued. I imagine the insurance inspectors are most likely the highest paid. I speculate that they earn around 50k minimum??

As others have said tho, this is effectively a cottage industry, so its hard to say what they would earn, but its effectively engineering work, for which pay in the 30-60k bracket is pretty common. Someone on here must be better placed to correct/add to my ramblings...

 

A boiler smith is a skilled job with the required paperwork to prove that you have served your time. Any company that wants to employ a good one has to pay the going rate. Any talk of minimum wage is rubbish.

 

Agreed. If you are on 7 odd quid an hour for skilled engineering work, your manager/employer has pulled the wool over your eyes.

 

There's a fair amount of youngster who are undergoing their training/apprenticeship at LNWR who are on or close to minimum wage. A foreman or more senior member of staff will of course be on more, but the average salary will be a lot lower. This is why I stated that the majority of the staff will be on a low wage.

 

What exactly is left to do I don't know. As said previously I'm on the fundraising side and not engineering. I just read Kevs updates and chat to him when on events together etc. I do remember reading something about the dome on a report recently though. Maybe on one of the last few on the website. I'm sure Kev will post an update on one of the upcoming engineering reports with regards to what's left to do on it and who it goes to as and when they have spoken with the suppliers etc etc.

 

Thanks Gav, yes I did read that there was a meeting to discuss outstanding work to completion in the January 2017 news update, so there must be a relatively detailed plan in place.

At least the majority of the expensive and more complicated work such as the flanging of the plates is now complete, hopefully that gives you a few more options for suppliers with regards to the completion of the remaining work outstanding.

 

Fair


Its tough news about the boiler. I guess I was totally wrong to think they would want to take more of this kind of work on...

 

Twice in my life my Job and hobby have been the same thing and I can assure you that it's a mugs game, the only ones making any dosh are the pen pushers. Even the guvnors are financing there jobs in order to order to keep the workers in a job, and there's always some-one who knows better. Mind you down in my neck of the woods no-one wants to pay the going rate, even the local BBC radio gave up on the job hunters slot when companies were after top qualified people( Holders of Hnd and similar) and offering 'pay in line with the minimum wage'

 

Firstly, is a bit of a bump, is there any news as yet on a new contractor to finish the works.

In response to the post above to lose so many staff to retirement would suggest a frightening lack of succession planning or if they are all leaving one has to always ask, why....

 

At the moment we have received a number of expressions of interest in doing the work, one has already quoted with the others left to do so. LNWR are still working on the boiler until the end of this month. Until the quotes have been received and the time scales of when the work can be done by are given to our engineering team to decide which is the best way forward there isn't really much to say. But the good news is that things are progressing.

 

Thanks and fingers crossed for you!

 

Who has retired?

 

No idea, I was merely replying to the earlier post which I quoted.

 

Me, on Friday, thanks for askin...

 

We have up-loaded a video up-date to YouTube today showing latest progress and what was on display to our members last Saturday.

 

I think it's great to see the behind the scenes stuff with projects like this - but for the general public, some Je ne sait quoi would be beneficial. If you need a top notch cameraman and presenter, you could do worse than approach Chris Eden-Green of SLIPS fame.

He is always happy to do additional work and he'd produce some brilliant films for you, I am sure.

 

Nice to see the video - I was at the Members' Day for the first time, and it was really interesting to be able to walk around the Loco and have a look at it in detail - I really miss those evenings spent walking around Haworth shed getting up close with the KWVR fleet.
Progress looks to be cracking on apace, hopefully the delay to the boiler won't be too long if a suitable contractor is decided upon.
All in all, it was a great day out, and we were also provided with belting weather to boot!
Well done to all at the Patriot Project for organising the event.

Richard.

 

Thank you for the suggestion. We already have a professional film maker working on the project to produce a series of films. These video up dates are just a snap shot from the workshop to show progress.

 

It would also help to have a commentator who can pronounce "Llangollen" instead of "Langothlen".