18 June 2015
It is some years since the FR Heritage Group launched an appeal to produce secure, covered storage for the largest collection of nineteenth century rail vehicles in the world.
With a basic shed structure now ordered, a final push of support is needed to help equip this crucial storage facility.
This major undertaking has been a long time coming but we are confident that the finished product will be well worth the wait. The long hours that have been spent planning and meeting with all the interested parties and fundraising are now bearing fruit and we have an excellent site which is an integral part of the major reorganisation of Minffordd Yard.
The initial ambition for this project is now very much on the way to realisation with an approved design for a 90m shed housing 5 roads and providing covered storage for very nearly 200 waggons. This includes all of the world-famous gravity train, both the waggons already restored and those yet to receive attention to grow the train to its potential length of 100+ waggons.
We have identified a local supplier who can deliver a robust construction in authentic FR materials and colour. All the ancillary design work has been generously donated for free and all the labour on the shed foundations will also be generously supplied free of charge by Whitehouse Construction.
The shed site has been cleared. Preparations are in place for all the other necessary works and the essential services have been designed. This includes the electrical installation, not only for the shed itself but to provide power and light to the areas of the yard surrounding the shed. Many of the materials to be used have been generously donated or sourced free of charge (this includes the works for drainage and foundations). Other associated works (see panel) are being undertaken by teams of volunteers.
The foundations and groundworks will be completed over the summer of 2015 in order to coincide with the delivery of the shed. This will involve a great deal of work by volunteers over the summer and it is vital that we are able to supply them with materials for all the work to be completed on time. With your support, the shed will be erected and equipped by the end of this year.
Generous donations received to date (supplemented where possible by donations in kind) will cover the cost of the shed itself and all the work needed to produce it.
However, we still have a long list of additional items that are necessary to bring it to working order:
o Electrics to modern standards
o Shed doors to match the heritage look
o Buffer stops
o Retaining wall materials for new rail connections
o Drainage materials
