If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Recommissioning after Coronavirus

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by johnofwessex, Mar 24, 2020.

  1. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2011
    Messages:
    26,907
    Likes Received:
    25,914
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Grantham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Somehow, I’m not surprised at those outcomes.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
     
  2. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    Discussed upthread was the potential risk to Christmas events for heritage railways.

    Vaccine passport plan for nightclubs and large events scrapped in England, announces Sajid Javid
    The vaccines minister had defended the scheme as the "best way" to keep the night industry open.
    No 10 stressed the plan - would be kept "in reserve" should it be needed over autumn or winter.

    So, all clear for the moment and no details of the reserve plans have been shared

    Patrick
     
  3. M59137

    M59137 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2009
    Messages:
    1,365
    Likes Received:
    2,223
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Carriage & Wagon
    Location:
    Sheringham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    There have been some positives to the volunteer turnover. Completely inappropriate to name names of course: however I've observed a few, franky quite unpleasant, volunteers kicking around who seemed to specialise in trying to squeeze out the joy and enthusiasm of others on a daily basis. Most of these individuals had been volunteering for a long time and their vocal cynicism had become wearing.

    I observed these people for several years thinking "if it's that bad why on earth do you come here every week?". Anyhow several of these had their routine bumped by Covid and have decided to depart, citing a re-evaluation of their (remaining) life/time as the reason. More enthusiastic "second in commands" are now stepping into their roles with a noticeable improvement in atmosphere, as at the end of the day volunteering is supposed to be enjoyable!

    Sent from my moto g(8) power using Tapatalk
     
  4. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,496
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    A cynic writes ........ Great to see any silver lining after the last Bobawful 16 months, but will it extend to a couple of Boardrooms we might think of? :rolleyes:
     
  5. Woof Mk2

    Woof Mk2 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2015
    Messages:
    314
    Likes Received:
    238
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Padstow
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    It does work the other way round too..... volunteers who have been volunteering for a long being pushed out by those who are not as long timed served / paid staff.
    These long termed volunteers had the drive and enthusiasm and willingness to whatever for the railway. Now they do their bit and then go home and not go those extra miles they used to do.
     
  6. gwralatea

    gwralatea Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2014
    Messages:
    482
    Likes Received:
    957
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I think that all depends on who's doing the pushing out and why though doesn't it?

    I lived and breathed the SVR 1989-1999 then went off to university and discovered girls, the wider world etc and never came back (as a volunteer).

    I wouldn't expect to slot back in with my friends (though they are still friends) at their level now just because of what I did then.

    Ok, it's not the same because it was my choice, but given the past 18 months I'm afraid if it's being usurped by other volunteers then that's not their fault, that's another casualty of the pandemic. If people have been able to put the hours in recently and are now top of mind/first call vs some of he others then that's the way the ball has bounced.

    We're in uncharted/crisis territory here - people might have been around for 30 year and not as much for the past 18 months; others will be newer and have dug out blind for the last 18 months - in the words of 2nd division prog rock titans Barclay James Harvest, 'victims of circumstance that's what we are'

    As an aside, I hate the term 'time served' outside a strict apprenticeship (clearly there does need to be an amount of hours and skills needed to reach a baseline standard) - after that it smacks too much of dead men's shoes/buggin's turn/bed blocking/gate keeping. There is absolutely no substitute for experience, but at the same time you can have the most experienced idiots in the world and (after they're qualified) good people who walk away because of them.
     
    Romsey, mdewell and 2392 like this.

Share This Page