Rail Restorations and Heritage Vehicle Renovations North East
Our Mission Statement is 'Quality First'
PERSONNEL - PARTNERS: WHO ARE WE?
David Foxton: is a highly skilled and experienced foreman coach-builder. After leaving school, he served his time with OK Motor Services, based in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. When David started working in the 1960's traditional, coach-building was still very much to the fore. The 'OK' ran a varied fleet, maintained to a very high standard. As a direct consequence of this, many buses survived into old- age and being wooden bodied, needed much care and attention to keep them in pristine condition and on the road. Dave Foxton has had a lifelong interest in railways. He has been an active and founder volunteer member of the then Weardale Railway Society, which eventually became the backbone of the Weardale Railway Trust. He has rebuilt diesel locomotives, railway vans and wagons and more recently railway coaches and heritage vehicles. He then became Depot Manager at Wolsingham, on the Weardale Railway, until serious financial problems hit the railway, and he found himself being made redundant. As a direct consequence of these circumstances Rail Restorations North East was founded. He is naturally very keen to see this venture succeed and flourish.
Dr. Mike Wood: is a General Medical Practitioner, based in County Durham. Brought up in Durham he attended the local Grammar School. After leaving school, he studied BSc Agricultural Sciences in Aberystwyth, Wales, for 1 year, before converting to a Medical course in Newcastle upon Tyne. After qualifying, he has remained in the North East as a dedicated General Medical Practitioner. As a GP, Mike Wood has also spent 17 years as Occupational Medical Officer for a major international manufacturing company. This experience has provided an invaluable insight in to the world of manufacturing and commerce. A life long railway enthusiast Mike Wood is an active volunteer member of the Weardale Railway Trust. A member for many years, he is heavily involved with volunteer activities, track- clearance, and conservation and railway carriage renovation. He owns several railway coaches, which are in service on the Weardale Railway. In addition, he is an experienced locomotive fireman, as well as Company Medical Officer for the Weardale Railway Trust.
Personnel - Apprentices: In our endeavour to preserve and re-establish traditional coach-building skills and craftsmanship within the Durham Dales, we employ two full time, young apprentice coachbuilders who aim to become fully-fledged coachbuilders in their own right.
Our Aims:
1. To provide a first class, reliable 'Heritage Vehicle' restoration service, based in the North East, for the 'Heritage Railway' industry.
2. To provide a first class, reliable 'Historic Vehicle' restoration service, based in the North East, for those interested in restoring or preserving 'Historic' road vehicles of any type.
3. To use a combination of the best of both traditional, as well modern restoration practices, for vehicle restoration and refurbishment.
4. To preserve and re-establish traditional coach-building skills and craftsmanship within the Durham Dales.
5. To provide and develop a well equipped training workshop facility in Weardale, County Durham for 'Heritage Vehicle' preservation.
Please contact us to find out more details:
Address: Unit 8A, Hackworth Park, Shildon, County Durham, DL4 1HS.
Telephone/Fax: 01388 777138.
Mobile Telephone: Dave on 07890 382715 (Daytime).
Mobile Telephone: Mike on 07974 969058 (Evenings only).
Email: enquiries@rail-restorations-north-east.co.uk
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