Steam engineering (Engineering Services Motive Power - ESMP)

 

The main servicing, maintenance and overhaul of the SVR fleet of steam locomotives is carried out at the locomotive works at Bridgnorth, although some individual locomotive groups carry out activity at Bewdley.  A small and dedicated group of paid staff are supplemented by an equally dedicated of volunteers. Activities vary from routine day to day maintenance of locomotives in the operational fleet through to large scale overhauls and rebuilds of locomotives which can take a number of years from start to finish. Most steam locomotive engineering takes place on weekdays, although a limited amount also occurs at weekends.

 

Steam engineering offers opportunities for people with a wide variety of skills and levels of competence. Much of the day to day maintenance is dirty and physically demanding work, for example replacing brake blocks, cleaning fire boxes and cleaning boiler tubes are relatively unskilled tasks. At the opposite end of the scale, the machining and installation of new fittings requires a high level of traditional engineering competence. Locomotive boiler work is a specialist activity demanding it’s own skills, for example hot metal riveting and the ability to work with copper platework.

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There are numerous other attributes required to produce and maintain the finished result that hauls a passenger train. Welding and fabrication, sheet metal working, manufacture of pipework, painting and sign writing, even wood working (cab floors, window frames, pattern making for new castings).

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Skills/attributes needed

Steam locomotive maintenance really can provide opportunities for people with all ranges of skills, from an unskilled labourer through to a time served engineer, welder, sign writer etc. An aptitude to learn and follow instructions, the ability to work as part of a team, work in an organised manner and a willingness to get dirty are key attributes. Familiarity with hand held power tools and/or workshop machinery is a benefit.

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Training

 

On the job training is the norm. There is generally a right and a wrong way of doing things on a steam locomotive and volunteers will be given suitable guidance, especially to protect themselves, their colleagues and the locomotives! Basic Health & Safety training will be provided and is mandatory for some aspects of the work, such as ‘Working at Height’. Volunteers who demonstrate a particular aptitude for a certain type of task may be considered for mentoring by other staff.