The IDSME workshop is well equipped to carry out both construction and maintenance on the railway and rolling stock.  Our stable of machinery includes a 6ft folder and 4ft bending rolls for sheet metalwork, a surface grinder and a jig borer (a recent donation) as well as a good selection of the more usual lathes, mills, drills and saws. 

For hot work we have a forge, propane equipment and an arc welder, the later being rail mounted can be used anywhere on site.  The usual hand and portable power tools complete the arsenal.  The workshop is available to members for work on club or private projects with instruction or supervision for the less experienced.  More experienced members will learn that there are many better ways of doing their current task as advice is freely offered.

An ongoing workshop project is the construction of a new boiler for the club's Speedy locomotive which has been inoperative for many years.  This work is being done mainly by members with no previous experience and has progressed as far as making formers and flanging the necessary plates, and preparing the firebox wrappers.  Work is currently on hold while some reorganisation of the workshop is carried out by the A team, but is expected to restart as part of the winter programme.

Other recent workshop projects have included a new set of dual gauge points to replace those at Marsh Junction, construction of a 100 ft of portable track for outside runs and a new steel framed workbench for the workshop.

Our workshop team also includes a trio of boiler inspectors who will check drawings and monitor boilers under construction, and test and certificate the finished products to Southern Federation requirements.  Pressure gauges can be tested with a dead weight tester.

The main requirement for access to the workshop equipment is a willingness to learn.