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We are a team of highly experienced engineers with extensive experience of all aspects of narrow gauge and miniature railway consultancy and training.
Our expertise is sought the world over, so you need look no further than Alan Keef Ltd for expert advice and guidance from the start to the end of your project, no matter how large or how small.
Whether your requirement is for an initial inspection of a current railway; feasibility study for a new railway, help with specifying the right locomotive, carriages or wagons, or if it is the track system elements themselves. Our expertise is renowned and we are relied on for our straightforward advice as well as robust, practical and durable solutions that deliver day in and day out. Take a look through our gallery to see just some of the many railways we have been involved with over our long history.
Operating a safe railway is going to be your main priority and we can help create a structured training programme, bespoke to your railway and deliver initial, one-off or periodic training to suit your requirements. We can deliver individual one-to-one training or to larger groups and cover everything from inspection and maintenance of rolling stock and track through to practical hands-on driver and crew training.
We can help with investigations into railways that are having problems with their track system, rolling stock or maintenance as well offering 'incident investigation' reports. We are able to offer a fast response to ensure your railway is operational again in the shortest possible time. Lastly, we'll back this up, when required, with straightforward reporting to ensure that if there are changes needed to prevent the issue arising again, you'll understand what needs to happen.
No matter how challenging, we rise to the occasion for any site, from marine locations to those with steep gradients including funicular railways. Alan Keef Ltd has been working with complex and challenging railways for over 50 years and we know what works best for just about every situation.
We are able to supply consultancy for narrow gauge railway valuations for insurance, sale and probate purposes and will handle your affairs with complete discretion and sensitivity. To find out more, simply get in touch and let us know how we can help you.
Every project will involve an element of consultancy, and many training too, and we've been called in to work on many projects, a few of which can be seen below. To see more of what we do please visit our Gallery.
Alan Keef Ltd acted as consultants for a fascinating project in Myanmar to locate, secure and restore a traditional locomotive to sit at the entrance for a new hotel.
Alan Keef Ltd acted as consultants for a fascinating project in Myanmar to locate, secure and restore a traditional locomotive to sit at the entrance for a new hotel.
The hotel was being created in the footprint of an original Burma Railways head office building in Yangon and the hotel owners wanted to remain faithful to the building's heritage by displaying a locomotive outside, along with a traditional carriage. Further railwayana was identified to help create an exhibition of the hotel's heritage.
Extensive travel throughout the railway network took place before the right engine was located. Once the locomotive had been secured by the hotel, a detailed restoration project started and, as the engine was not allowed to leave the country, a workshop was set up in Yangon and a team recruited to undertake the restoration work.
Sadly the project came to a premature end, not only with the start of the Covid pandemic but also due to the escalating political situation in Myanmar. The hotel project has been completely mothballed and everyone concerned watched the unfolding situation with great sadness and concern for the many friends made during the course of the project.
Some of the most challenging sites to inspect are of course funicular railways.
Some of the most challenging sites to inspect are of course funicular railways.
Ensuring the safe operation of funicular railways is of course crucial. We have considerable expertise on working on the requirements of the track and wheels for these unique operations, undertaking inspections and providing condition reports for a number of these railways around the country.
Maintaining the track of the Postal Museum's MailRail offers a fascinating insight into a formerly hidden, underground railway.
Maintaining the track of the Postal Museum's MailRail offers a fascinating insight into a formerly hidden, underground railway.
Our brief when we were called into investigate and work on the MailRail track, was to make the interface between the wheels and the track work correctly, and so reduce wear and tear on the rails, as well as reduce 'wheel squeal'.
It was determined that all of the work required could be carried out in-situ very effectively and, with the railway the key element of the Postal Museum, an overnight working schedule was put in place which meant that the railway could continue to operate without interruption.
Annual inspections and a schedule of the minor track maintenance work continues, again all carried out after the railway has closed for the day, so there is never a need for our work to close the railway to the thousands of visitors it attracts each year.