BESTT - Boiler & Engineering Skills Training Trust

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BESTT - Boiler & Engineering Skills Training Trust

BESTT - An organisation set up to promote and enhance the traditional skills of boiler making and steam heritage engineering by training.

BESTT will fund activities with assistance from grants, charities, bursaries and sponsorship. The training will be available regionally using experts in the field both from local engineering colleges and boiler repairers. A National Certificate of Proficiency will be awarded to all students who have completed various module based courses.

22/05/2026

BESTT announces new courses for 2026. Thanks to our trainers and partners we have dates and locations for the following courses this year. If you need more information or wish to book please email [email protected] Heritage Railway Association The National Traction Engine Trust National Historic Ships UK Steam Apprentice Club Fedecrail

Courses now arranged are as follows (others may be added):
STAYS and PATCHSCREWS 15th August practical day (plus 2 evening zoom lectures) at Cheltenham Workshop with Colin Hatch and Sam Thompson; SMALL DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR 12th September practical day (plus 2 evening zoom lectures) at Derwent Valley Light Railway, Murton Park; RIVETING 12 October 4 day course at Stephenson Railway, North Tyneside with Michael Wortley and Gordon Newton.
It is also hoped to offer a Boiler Washout and Examination Course in October - January period, dates and location tba
For further information and to book please email [email protected]

17/02/2026

NEW SEASON OF BESTT COURSES We have a good programme of courses for 2026! ALSO SEE BELOW for a new course on BASIC STEAM SAFETY for volunteers - no previous experience required. , The National Traction Engine Trust, Heritage Railway Association, Steam Apprentice Club Vintage Spirit Steam Boat Association of Great Britain - SBA, Steamworks

BESTT has already delivered 2 boilersmith short courses using the zoom plus practical day format - boiler tubing and stays/patchscrews. A further stays/patchscrews course takes place in April and will also be at https://www.facebook.com/SJThompson.co.uk

With thanks to Kent and East Sussex Railway for hosting at Rolvenden, BESTT was also recently able to provide a bespoke version of its long-established Boiler Washout and Examination course to a group of staff from the ORR (Office of Rail and Road) Heritage Railway Team.

Later in 2026 we hope to provide further courses on Boiler Washout and Examination and on Riveting.

If you are interested in any of our courses please email [email protected]

NEW! BASIC STEAM SAFETY COURSE Course held in co-operation with Westonzoyland Pumping Station https://www.wzlet.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/WZLET/

Safe Steam Operation for Volunteers. Hands-on training for anyone working with stationary engines, steam boilers or road steam – no previous experience required.

Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum, Somerset
18th–19th April 2026
£50 Day 1 | £25 optional Day 2

- Safe steam basics & legal good practice
- Learn what can go wrong – and how to prevent it
- Boilers in steam & boiler examination
- Expert tuition from experienced steam engineers (incl. BESTT trainers)

- Additional Day 2 including pipework, valves, gaskets, pipe threading & more...
- CPD / Certificate of Attendance.
To register: [email protected]
Email reference: “Safe Steam Operation Course”

29/09/2025

SUCCESSFUL PILOT Course held by BESTT on Stays and Patchscrews led by BESTT trainers Colin Hatch and Lawrence Donaldson and hosted at Sam J Thompson Heritage Engineer https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=sjthompson%20heritage%20engineer
Further BESTT courses this year taking place on Boiler Washout and Examination and training for young people. Further courses on small diesel locomotives, white metalling and other topics in preparation.
INTERESTED IN BESTT COURSES? Email [email protected] The Steam Workshop The National Traction Engine Trust Heritage Railway Association Steam Boat Association of Great Britain - SBA Steam Apprentice Club Vintage Spirit

03/08/2025

COURSES UPDATE With thanks to North Norfolk Railway, a Boiler Washout and Examination Course will be available at Weybourne in w/c 3 November. LIMITED AVAILABILITY for next BESTT course on Stays and Patchscrews - online on 11th and 16th September with Practical day in 20rh September in Cheltenham. Interested in these or other BESTT courses? Email: [email protected] The Steam Workshop Vintage Spirit Heritage Railway Association The National Traction Engine Trust The National Traction Engine Trust Steam Boat Association of Great Britain - SBA

22/07/2025

We are pleased to announce a further series of short courses for the second half of the year including the following:
September 20th BOILER STAYS AND PATCHSCREWS (practical day and 2 evenings of online training); venue - Cheltenham. This course includes understanding the function of BOILER STAYS and their repair, the principles and process for stay removal, the correct method of examination of boiler plate and stay holes, the preparation of stay holes to accept a new stay, the correct method of installation of a replacement stay, and the correct method of inspection and testing of stays. On PATCH SCREWS the course includes the purpose of patch screws and why they are used in place of rivets, recognise why patch screws require replacement and methods for their removal, identify the correct methods of preparing boiler seams for acceptance of patch screws and correct methods of replacement.
OTHER COURSES October (date tbc) BOILER WASHOUT AND EXAMINATION at North Norfolk Railway; December - FITNESS TO RUN (date and venue tbc). Courses currently being developed include MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF SMALL DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES and WHITE METALLING OF BEARINGS. If you are interested in any of the above please email BESTT at: [email protected] The Steam Workshop The National Traction Engine Trust Vintage Spirit Heritage Railway Association Steam Boat Association of Great Britain - SBA

12/06/2025

New pilotcourse on Stays and Patchscrews. One day practical on 28th June and 2.online tutorials on 19th and 26th June evenings. Last minute spare place due to cancellation. Interested? Email [email protected]

07/04/2025

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER for this free BESTT "New Directions in Training" event at Ironbridge on Friday 25th April. Hear about a new course on diesel maintenance and repair, wider sustainability challenges, training needs in industrial archaeology and leading an under-18s group on a steam railway. Event is free but participants must register by Friday 11th April. Contact [email protected] Steamworks The Steam Workshop The National Traction Engine Trust Vintage Spirit Heritage Railway Association

29/03/2025

The world around us is getting more challenging - how do we keep up? A special BESTT Open event "New directions in Training" will hear presentations on developing the new BESTT diesels course, tackling sustainability, training needs in the industrial archaeology sector and how to encourage under 18s to join your team. This Ironbridge hosted event on 25th April, which includes a visit to Blists Hill, is free but you must register. To know more or register contact: [email protected] The Steam Workshop The National Traction Engine Trust Heritage Railway Association Steam Boat Association of Great Britain - SBA RailAdvent Vintage Spirit

19/02/2025

OPEN DISCUSSION EVENT on steam and heritage engineering training - Ironbridge 25th April 2025.

The heritage sector faces many challenges but if it is to have a future it must commit to more and better engineering training. To that end BESTT is holding a “New directions in Training” event for 25th April at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum in Coalbrookdale.

The event is free but you must register to attend. All concerned with training in heritage engineering at any level are welcome.

Hear from a range of speakers across the sector - topics will include proposals to extend the current range of BESTT short courses to cover diesel locos, sustainability (eg energy and fuel) challenges, training for under 18s and other identified needs and solutions across the wider industrial heritage sector. There will be a brief outline of BESTT courses, a panel discussion and a Q and A session. The aim of the event which will run from 10am to 1pm is to look also at areas where there is a training gap and where BESTT could realistically do more.
It is hoped to include a tour of the operational heritage engineering at Blists Hill in the afternoon.

The event is FREE but please email: [email protected] to reserve a place and to get further details. To find out more about BESTT see http://www.bestt.org.uk Heritage Railway Association Steam Boat Association of Great Britain - SBA The National Traction Engine Trust The Steam Workshop Historic England AIA FORUM

LAST PLACE available on BESTT 4 day riveting practical course on 17-20 March, near Cheltenham. Interested? Email enquiri...

21/01/2025

LAST PLACE available on BESTT 4 day riveting practical course on 17-20 March, near Cheltenham. Interested? Email [email protected]. ALSO reminder of BESTT Meeting in York on Saturday 25th January at 10.30. Includes talk by John Reddyhoff, CME, Keighley and Worth Valley Railway on managing major bridge replacement projects. All welcome - contact [email protected] Heritage Railway Association The National Traction Engine Trust The Steam Workshop Steam Boat Association of Great Britain - SBA

Address

14 Greenfield Lane, Idle, Bradford
York
BD108PT

Website

http://www.bestt.org.uk/

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