Barrow Hill Roundhouse Open Day 2022

On Friday 26th – Sunday 28th August, Barrow Hill Roundhouse hosted their 150th Anniversary event.

The Bank Holiday event celebrated 152 years of railway history for the iconic Midland Railway roundhouse and the wider railway industry it continues to support to this day.

This fantastic family event was extremely well attended with local visitors finally enjoying the celebrations in the Bank Holiday sunshine following 2 years of setbacks due to Covid.

Built in 1870, Barrow Hill Roundhouse is the last surviving railway in the United Kingdom with an operational turntable. Dedicated volunteers have transformed it into a premier railways and events venue after saving it from the threat of demolition in 1991 when the site was closed by British Rail.
Arranged for the event was a special line-up of both resident and visiting locomotives which were arrayed in the Roundhouse itself and around the depot yard allowing cab visits and photographic opportunities.

Mervyn Allcock, general manager of Barrow Hill Roundhouse, said: “This is a unique opportunity to not only celebrate 150+2 years of the Roundhouse’s existence but also to celebrate the achievements since the building was saved from demolition in the 1990s and the site’s growth over the last 30 years. We are delighted that so many of our commercial and heritage partners in the incredible success story of the Roundhouse’s renaissance will be involved in this celebration.”

Qualitrain have recently partnered up with Barrow Hill Roundhouse to refurbish an engineering workshop and classroom. The aim of the refurbishment is to deliver L2 NVQ Diploma in Performing Engineering Operations to unemployed candidates in the local area, looking for a new career opportunity. The course focuses on key engineering skills such as working safely, efficiently, and effectively in an engineering environment, using and communicating technical information, producing components using hand fitting techniques and preparing and using lathes for turning operations.

Upon completion of the course, Qualitrain will endeavour to source suitable job placements or engineering apprenticeships with our extensive customer base. This has been a major success story to date with a huge 35% of completed learners progressing into employment or an apprenticeship opportunity from our Engineering Academy in Alfreton.

Over the last few months Qualitrain has also assisted Barrow Hill Roundhouse in securing additional funding which will be used to build an innovation centre. Qualitrain’s intention is to set up a long-term Rail Academy within the centre to develop staff within the UK Rail Industry. The Rail Academy will provide an excellent platform to deliver rail apprenticeships in an environment that will stimulate learning and stretch and challenge abilities in an industry that really needs the influx of exciting new staff at this time.

Qualitrain were pleased to attend Barrow Hill Roundhouse’s 150 years anniversary event and showcase our portfolio for now and the future. It was a wonderful occasion to use the event as an opportunity to network with the local community.