Thread and Consultant Team have completed an NLHF funded project for the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway - the oldest narrow-gauge heritage railway in the world, and the oldest workshop still in use for its original purpose. It runs through the UNESCO slate landscape, once transporting slate, by horse drawn wagons from the nearly slate mines to Porthmadog - before the steam locomotives were introduced. A critical part of the development of the Welsh Slate Industry.

We were appointed by the @ffestiniogwelshhighland to develop a philosophical and practical approach to conserve, restore and rebuild 11 Grade II listed buildings at this historic engineering site. This included the creation workshops, a training centre, exhibition and visitor space, conserving the oldest Carriage shed in the country and the restoration of the horse drawn wagon shed - set against a raw quarry face - to bring that early history of the site back into its historically significant context.

Notably this site has been inaccessible to visitors to date, meaning the design and management of visitor routes around a working engineering site - with passing trains - was a major consideration. As important as the story of how the railway and the industry around it developed. A further key component of this project has also been the training and development of individuals in heritage railway skills, including the following:

• Providing hands-on training opportunities in traditional engineering and heritage railway operations.

• Engaging with local communities to offer educational programs and apprenticeships.

• Preserving and passing on specialised skills essential to the maintenance and operation of heritage railways.

The project was completed under budget - and the most exciting thing - the reinstatement of the Britomart’s earlier home - see video left.