Following on from Robert’s involvement with pupils from Armadale Academy who were tasked with constructing a ‘mobile wagon with a difference’ as part of their second year Design and Make class (in the Craft Design and Technology Department) ESME were delighted to welcome them to our Almondell Model Engineering Centre where the wagons were run on the track. The pupils were able to see their own wagon successfully operating on the track and later each pupil had the opportunity to drive Robert’s class 27 pulling their train. Appropriately, the locomotive was in the Scotrail livery with the ‘Scottie’ logo.
To give their project context Robert explained that the railways have a history of producing specialist wagons and gave them some examples. One of which was the ‘cinema’ coach that during the 1935 was included by the LNER in one of their trains. British Pathe have a newsreel of it on their website.
The pupils showed a great interest in how railways worked, asking about the working of the points, how the train stayed on the tracks and how the steam engine works. The ESME members were happy to explain and demonstrate the principles to them.
The visit started by getting on the trains at Drumshoreland Station which then took them around the track, dropping them off at Almondell Central where they were able to operate their wagons. As ever our photographers were out and the gallery records their visit.
To watch the video of their visit, click here. The general consensus was their workmanship was outstanding, the wagons fitted in well with their scale counterparts.