21 April 2016
The modern world of flying drones and light cameras gives a great opportunity to look into the old world around us, such as an overview of Boston Lodge works.
As the oldest operating workshops, there is a lot of fascination with the place.
Also, it is at the beginning of some significant changes with investment expected to make it fit for purpose for today’s requirements.
Some of the changes will result in replacement of existing buildings, whilst there will also be additional buildings erected on the site.
Some of the initial plans were released last year.
On the left picture, looking at the works from over the Traeth, the nature of the site can be clearly seen, including the amount of rock carved out of the hillside to make the Cob, which provided the space to build Boston Lodge works.
At the front by the railway line there are white buildings – these are Boston Lodge Cottages Nos 1 and 2. These were constructed in the early days and used as barracks as well as horse stables there.
Across the road, the small building by the roadside is the old toll house, redundant for the last 15 years since the 5p road toll was cancelled.
The archway by the road is the original entrance into the works, clearly visible in this view.
In the bottom left of the photo can be seen the new pointwork to the old loco shed, recently installed.
The view on the right is taken with the drone out over the foreshore.
In the lower middle can be seen the carriage sheds and workshops. The long (5 carrs) shed covers roads 13 and 14, the main running carriage sheds, which includes a full length inspection pit on 14 road.
Adjoining the long carriage shed is the carriage workshop, built in the 1970s and extended at the rear in the 1990s as a result of the successful application to the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore original carriages 15 and 16.
Nestled in between the carriage works and carriage shed is the C2 shed. This private project erected the shed on site and is progressing the restoration of their loco imported from China. Details can be found on their website.
In the bottom right is the headshunt and run round for the carriage sheds, built in the early 1990s.
Looking down the cliff edge, immediately below is the New (left) and Old (right) Erecting Shops.
The loco shed adjoins the Old Erecting Shop, with the old paint shop behind it.
Recent clearance in the Glan y Mor yard area shows the area prepared for development, covering where the old Gunpowder Sheds used to stand.
Diesel loco Conway Castle can be seen sitting on the rear end of 8 road, next to the old paint shop, whilst the Earl of Merioneth stands on the old Long Shed pit.