Fancy volunteering?

I see someone has done a sort of Promotional vid for the Bo'ness & Kinneil Rly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SpByj3bpE4

 

More like Bluebell on tour \/ \/ Some of them are Bluebell loco crew and one is my former flatmate!

 

What a very good idea for a thread! I reckon there needs to be a separate forum section to keep all of the requests in though!

Anyone on for working on Nunney Castle at Tyseley by the way? Travel from Shropshire and Berkshire available.

See the website - 5029nunneycastle.co.uk - contact us through there.

And that aint the web address given by the twits at Steam Railway Mag either!!!!

Soon be back out on the main line!!

Ian.

 

I've been trying to get some information on volunteering for the London Mainline Steam Group at Southall, but have had no response from their web site contact link. Does anyone know how else to contact them?

Regards Jason

 

Beetlejuice,

Suggest that you join the NYMR York Area Group - they are always on the lookout for PWay volunteers and you should be able to get a lift with one of them.

 

Anyone who lives in and around the county of Rutland who has some time to spare is welcome to the Rutland Railway Museum, PM myself if you want to know anymore, we are on the hunt for people of all ages and skills so come on down! \/ =D> \/

 

Great Idea For getting a message out!

Can I put in shout for enthusiasts in the Northwest and Northeast, itching to get involved - Come over to the Stainmore Railway at Kirkby Stephen - For those of you who have driven by and wondered if it was where the 37's go to die... it ain't, things are moving steadily but we need Volunteers to keep up the momentum.......

take a look at the website for details....

http://www.kirkbystepheneast.co.uk/

We are 5 mins walk from KS West on the Settle line, 15 mins drive from M6 Tebay, 20 Mins from M6 Penrith and 40 mins from Scotch Corner.

Richie...

 

Hay You :smt027 , Leave those super 37s :smt021 alone they havnt done you any harm, YET!!! :smt056

 

i wouldnt mind volunteering on this line but the closest i can get to it is march mainline station.

 

Do you live in London, Essex, Herts or Kent... why not volunteer at Epping-Ongar?
There is lots happening as we work to re-open with steam and heritage diesel...
http://www.eorailway.co.uk/departments/diary/
We are a friendly team, an easy railway to get to, there is lots of enjoyable and rewarding jobs in all departments, and there is always an extra mug of tea available for a new face... the more people helping, the sooner we will re-open, and those that help now, are the ones who will get priority when we once again run trains (and they won't be painted blue & white... its authentic colours only now!)

Drop me a line to find out more (simonhanney (at) hotmail.com)
Regards, Simon, EOR Secretary

 

A great idea.

I know this has already started on the Welsh Highland track gangs to a degree and its a good way of getting younger volunteers who would otherwise not be able to go. I tend to go by rail-more just to go down the cambrian- but when I eventually can drive I'd be more than happy offer a lift there for any volunteers going there.

 

This might start a debate or then again it might not!

It seem to me that overall preseved railways are very welcoming to new volunteers, although I have seen and experienced myself an unwelcome atomsphere from some to new faces. Often to me anyway, its little groups of the volunteer force that have been the cause, although in one case it has come from the management (the individual is also the roster clerk)

This member of management expected a friend of mine to travel a 150 mile round trip just to coal engines for a few hours, when my friend asked if there was anything else that needed doing, he was told there wasnt anything and was sent home. (the railway is over 10 miles long) My friend didnt expect to be given the good or glory jobs, but just to be given a days volunteer work. He has now gone to another railway, but he could and nearly was put off altogether.



Just wondering if anybody else has seen or had simular experiences? Any comments welcome

 

Sadly theses people tend to think that the railway belongs to THEM and not the other way around. Thank heavens these fossils are dying out never to be seen again.

My advice for what it is worth is do not put all your eggs in one basket, always have plan B in your mind if plan A fails.
For example if you tend to meet a complete pillock, ignore him and go to say the Stationmaster for help and advice.

Finally once you have become established and know the right people, please point out this old git to the powers that be, explaining what damage he is doing to the Railway, hopefully his card will be marked.

Regards
Chris

 

Just moved back to Cumbria, go myself re-involved with the Eden Valley Railway, nice friendly lot without alot of the politics of other railways. Gradually extending from Warcop back to Appleby, about 5.5-6 miles of running line, with a mainline connection. No steam locos present as yet but a fine collection of Southern region DEMU & EMU stock, with the odd 37 thrown in for good measure!

 

My own experiances of volunteer work are pretty mixed. Some very nice people worked (and still do) on the Llangollen but there was one or two who really did need to go on a charm course and basic social skills training.

Already becoming disheartened I knew it was time to finally get out when as a signaller, the driver of the first train of the day I was traveling up on to my box refused to pull up to the platform at a certain halt in order to allow me to get off to open the box there! ! (yes honestly!) forcing me to jump down to the track from carriage level!!

Met a few very nice people on the railway but it was generally VERY cliquey indeed. Being snarled by another member at Llangollen station during a Santa event (I was off duty) when I attempted to enter the platform without a ticket (informing him that I just wanted to speak to someone on the platform ) well that was the final nail in my volunteering coffin to be honest.

Also, the poor levels of communication about developments on the railway to anyone who was outside a certain circle was a constant bug-bear to me. ( I know of at least one other person who walked away for the very same reason too.) For example ,seemingly, the Corwen extension plans and developments were a closely guarded secret on a level comparative to D Day!

To be fair, I think if you don't socialise after a days work on railway then you never really become 'part of the crowd' I didn't so maybe I have to shoulder some of the blame for feeling slightly outside of the circle during my time there.

Good times? Yes many
Bad days? Not bad so much as spoilt by certain individuals.

 

If you are in South Wales and feel like playing a part in a new generation line, can I recommend the Garw Valley Railway? It's a new generation line, 4.5 miles long running from Brynmenyn up to Pontycymer. It is hoped to have trains running by the Spring of 2010 with the Class 108 DMU. The line is very attractive, steeply graded and follows the river for the entire length. The current base is an excellent shed at Pontycymer, bulging with stock from the Barry Island Railway (a lot of former Barry folk are members - incl me). Track is largely intact throughout the line but the main benefit is the scenery. When I first went there it just blew me away. We have a yahoo group (http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/B-V-R/) that details work parties etc. At the moment its very much hands-on preparatory work but the atmosphere is great.

[attachment=1:1luh5u6q]DSC07485.jpg[/attachment:1luh5u6q]

 

I dont think that you should be singled out if you dont become 'part of the crowd', It is a shame that a great railway is spoilt by one or two individuals. Of course in life not everybody is going to get on, but that doesnt mean that you should feel 'out of the loop' or have your position compromised.

Most railways are big enough for everybody to fit in.

I hope that you have found another, better railway to volunteer on? (Thats if you wished to)



May be some of these people should be named and shamed in some way? Any ideas anybody?

 

I think that one or two of the Mods would pull the plug if that happenned. Not all mind you just a couple that the position has gone to their heads.

Shame really.

Chris

 

The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway in North Devon has a number of vacancies for volunteers, including steam footplate crews. No experience is necessary, as full training is available. To find out more, see the volunteering pages on the L&B website at: http://lynton-rail.co.uk/volunteer/discover

 

Unfortunately your experience is by no means unusual,there are too many inflated egos in this hobby,who believe that if you do not conform to their ways you are not worth bothering with.