Welding at local steam railway

[dextadriver]

There’s a local steam railway run and maintained by volunteers
I have been following on Facebook and I noticed the carriages or maybe trailers which are used for carrying stone there is not good quality vertical welding probably won’t break though
Now then….
I have been welding for many years without any problems in all positions
I don’t have any certificates for welding
Which means I can’t weld where pressure is involved but could I weld on the railway where steam pressure is not involved
I have been told holding welding certificate does not make someone a better welder
Thanks

 

[brightspark]

There’s a local steam railway run and maintained by volunteers
I have been following on Facebook and I noticed the carriages or maybe trailers which are used for carrying stone there is not good quality vertical welding probably won’t break though
Now then….
I have been welding for many years without any problems in all positions
I don’t have any certificates for welding
Which means I can’t weld where pressure is involved but could I weld on the railway where steam pressure is not involved
I have been told holding welding certificate does not make someone a better welder
Thanks

plenty of farmers using180 amp oil cooled welders on farm gear self taught and make a lovely job. im pretty fair at it and can also gas weld with oxyacet its a lot neater on thin materials than a mig

 

[Onthespotwelding]

I wouldn’t want the blame / liability for any of it… especially where Joe Public is concerned.

 

[Wildefalcon]

The charity that runs the railway should be able to assure you that they've got appropriate insurance in place to protect you. And would have qualified engineers that would "instruct" you and review your work. Just like working paid as an employee for a firm, you'd not be on the hook so long as you don't pretend to be qualified.

If they don't, then don't get involved.

 

[Barking Mat]

Go show them what you can do, I'd imagine they'd appreciate it.

 

[minimutly]

You might find yourself very busy.
The NG railway lot tend to be desk jockeys looking for somewhere to get dirty mostly. Someone with skills allways wanted.

 

[Roger440]

The charity that runs the railway should be able to assure you that they've got appropriate insurance in place to protect you. And would have qualified engineers that would "instruct" you and review your work. Just like working paid as an employee for a firm, you'd not be on the hook so long as you don't pretend to be qualified.

If they don't, then don't get involved.

They should do more than that. They should be going through all the stuff any employer should do including assesing your competence to do the task. That doesnt mean a certificate in the welding sense. Just that you are competent for the task(s) you will be doing.

That said, a lot of these preserved railways are a law unto themselves, have been for a long time. But the pressure on them now is climbing fast. Just because they are volunteers, doesnt make the normal rules not apply. See recent prosecution of bloke falling off roof of a wagon. Working at height with no equipment, restraint or access equipment. He was pretty lucky to with just a broken leg as i recell.

 

[chrismac]

There’s a local steam railway run and maintained by volunteers
I have been following on Facebook and I noticed the carriages or maybe trailers which are used for carrying stone there is not good quality vertical welding probably won’t break though
Now then….
I have been welding for many years without any problems in all positions
I don’t have any certificates for welding
Which means I can’t weld where pressure is involved but could I weld on the railway where steam pressure is not involved
I have been told holding welding certificate does not make someone a better welder
Thanks

Your correct holding a welding cert does not make someone a better welded but it makes them qualified, thats where the implications would lie should anything fail. Be careful what your asked to do, ie if working to drawings, make sure there are no notes on acceptance or welder quals, given its a railway I would have no idea if thats the type of thing thats relevant.

 

[Roger440]

Your correct holding a welding cert does not make someone a better welded but it makes them qualified, thats where the implications would lie should anything fail. Be careful what your asked to do, ie if working to drawings, make sure there are no notes on acceptance or welder quals, given its a railway I would have no idea if thats the type of thing thats relevant.

The op suggests welding up bodies of ballast wagons. They are normaaly dog rough, wear and rust away. Finesse isnt a requirement, nor was it ever. I dont think theres much to worry about here so long as the railway itself has proper systems in place. It not like you are acting as a self employed contratcor. They will have (should) a nominated person responsible for engineering activities. The buck stops there.