Pendre Works – Past, Present & Future



In the build up to the launch of the “Preserving Our Past, Building Our Future” Redevelopment Project and the 75 Appeal, Luke & Ian take a look around Pendre to delve into its past, present problems & some potential solutions for the future, bumping into a few friendly faces along the way.

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14 thoughts on “Pendre Works – Past, Present & Future”

  1. Thanks very much Luke, Ian and team. It was great to have a guided tour of Pendre and learn about its history and current usage.
    I really enjoyed volunteering during the recent Spring Outdoor Week and will be back for more very soon.

    Reply
  2. A partly interesting update. The talk through the 'past' (particularly the historic photos) was helpful, though the 'cottage' was rushed through or missed and "wallpaper hunt" skipped (I would have liked to have known more). The 'present' mainly consisted of moaning about the shortfalls of the current engineering space. And the 'future' was revealed that you don't yet have a plan, with a brief mention of property options. Not very illuminating. What came across was the current piecemeal nature of structures around Pendre yard, with some quite historic elements obscured or not emphasised. Perhaps you ought to consider how the FR is currently re-developing Boston Lodge to not only improve facilities, but also strengthening the presentation of the heritage of BL for future public guided visits. I look forward to seeing what happens at Pendre. BTW, two further points: 1. The so-called 'Dutch barn' referred to was in fact a pole barn; Dutch barns are something different; and 2. Interviewees should never look to camera, only the presenter at the beginning or end of each interview to explain to the audience the next item. It also helps if those providing an explanation are not frequently interrupted with a repeat of what has just been said. I hope this is all taken as positive feedback to improve future videos, which I otherwise greatly enjoy watching.

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  3. Effectively, yes… But please, don’t rush towards the purely “economic” effectiveness that’s literally fracturing both societies and people in everyday life.

    Time is a poor asset when “saved”, especially for volunteers who don’t invoice by hours. Sure, everything external to heritage railway operations is victim to the so called market, but time used and cherished within the organisation is pure gold – giving meaning to work, otherwise lost to “productivity” demands.

    Seen that way, the amenities needed for accommodation should indeed be adequate and safe, but not necessarily “modern”? There’s a certain whole experience working with bygone knowledge and tools (and colleagues with deep insights), and also living part of it in an environment that’s a little bit “slower” than the hustle we sometimes need to escape from.

    That aside, I really wish for all the plans and funding to come together, as the value of heritage establishments are simply unmeasurable in money alone.

    Best wishes from a 🇳🇴‘Ian with no heritage railway close by…

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  4. With locomotive fireboxes that are too knackered to be used safely in an engine, have you ever considered using one as a pizza oven? I watched that video of a guy making pizza using a steam locomotive's firebox and I think it would be genius if the Tallylyn Railway took old fireboxes and cleaned them up to be used as coal or wood fired pizza ovens to be cooked on the shovels for a more authentic flavor.

    I can already imagine a fine pizzeria on the railway with its own welsh spin on things 🙂

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  5. Just throwing two ideas in, beyond the gates you could throw in a passing loop but have a shed covering it, the shed would be 40 metre long so you could a set or two in and it means a morning service could start at nantgewernal offering people travelling from the east a road trip to Tywyn town to find the car park is full and to offer a easier day out. One con of the idea is nant (going to refer to it as nant now) would need a car park upgrade to accommodate more vehicles. The work shop situation is simple to draw up an idea of as you could combine the workshops and possibly the paint shop if the first idea isn’t a success. This idea would have the site on that but of land that you mentioned, the paint shop would be a single row with about 32 metres by 4 metres with a permanent divide to the workshop. The workshop would be a 2 row shed with 3 metres clearance of either row, it would be the same length as the paint shop to allow for the multi project aspect that was raised, it would also allow for the larger stock to be repaired and moved moved out as quick as they got in.

    Of course these aren’t 100% flawless but just a general idea. I do hope that the building externally represents its surroundings and history with the use of slate and isn’t like most modern additions to other heritage railways where its like an eye sore to the setting.

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  6. I remember plans for a new workshop and carriage facilities in the trading estate just east of Pendre crossing. This must be more than thirty years ago. It's a shame nothing came of that plan.

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