12 February 2017
With £235,000 funding from the Ffestiniog Railway Society approved in early 2015, the plans for a new workshop building in Minffordd yard were finalised.
The initial source of the funds has been the legacy received by the Ffestiniog Railway Society from long standing S&T volunteer Cyril Barnett, who had recently died.
Supplemented by further funds this has allowed the railway to provide a significant asset for the outdoor engineering teams, providing under cover accomodation for tools, workshop areas and mess room facilities. There is additional storage space for the pattern stores and other items.
Further funding has been made available on top of the original £235,000, to facilitate the fitting out of the internals of the building, as well as landscaping outside. This has been the largest project the Ffestiniog Railway Society has supported financially.
The building represents a huge improvement for the outdoor engineering staff and volunteers, principally in providing a modern mess facility along with quality washing arrangements, sorely required after a dirty cold day out lineside.
