Love your railway - Volunteering, what's all the fuss about?
Vložit
- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
- Hello everyone,
Today we're continuing to support the #Loveyourrailway campaign, and teaming up with Lawrie's home railway of the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway and The Royal Historic Dockyard Chatham's railway to talk about one of the most important things in heritage - Volunteers.
If you want more information on the MSLR, then the link to their website is here:
www.mslr.org.uk/
Or for more information on Chatham:
thedockyard.co...
And if this video has made you want to become volunteer and joining Lawrie, drop an email here:
volunteering@mslr.org.uk for the MSLR
or
thedockyard.co... for Chatham
A video featuring, shot, and edited by Lawrie
' Want more info on us and the stuff in The Shed, or want to get in contact? Check out our Website!
lawriesmechani...
Fancy supporting us on Patreon and receiving extra bits of LMM? Have a look at our Patreon here:
/ lawriesmechanicalmarvels
Get hints of what's coming up next with our Instagram - / lawries_mechanical_mar...
Want to some LMM Merch? Check out our teespring store!
teespring.com/...
Chat with us and other like minded people on our discord - / discord
Follow us for video alerts and other updates on Facebook - / lawriesmechanicalmarvels
The Teifi Valley Railway is always looking for volunteers. Even coming in for a day or two a month helps so much. We truly do need more people to help out and it alive
I used to visit your railway when we had family holidays in pembrokeshire area of Wales as you weren't too far away. Really felt upset when you had to close due to the track issue.
@@bentullett6068 may I suggest one day coming back for a visit. We're doing alright now as new management (as of 2014 or 2015 onwards) are doing a superb job. We've made it down to pontprenshitw and are working hard on getting back into steam
@@univalenthen07 I will do. It's a lovely part of the UK to visit as well.
Teifi has been doing a very good job of coming back from nothing
@@lmm thank you! We're truly trying our best and can't wait to finally be out of the red.
Literally just came off my first cleaning turn. Loved every minute of it. Just want to say thank you lawrie as your "railway needs you" (along with the ambition to be on the footplate since before I could say "choo choo") inspired me to join.
That's fantastic, I'm really pleased to hear you've done it!
@@lmm thank you!
I wouldn't mind volunteering in a railway, the problem is there isn't one anywhere near me especailly in Linconshire as I have a severe interest in trains. I've volunteered at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre working on the Lancaster there to get her air worthy and that was a good experience where I learnt new skills and it is something that I am proud of. To say I've helped worked on a Lancaster bomber before the age of 20 is something I'm very proud of and I'm 18. Sadly I didnt stay at the centre for too long due to the pandemic of last year which was a shame
i actually found work closer to a heritage line on purpose, so moved nearer XD
Many railways have accommodation available to make it easier for people.
I totally agree with what Lawrie says. I would also add that if you have volunteer on your CV it shows commitment and that you are willing to get off your behind to do something for others. It also shows that you can generally fit into a team and be part of it. I regularly sifted through CVs and people who volunteered at whatever fancied them always got my attention and generally they were asked to attend an interview.
Now I am a volunteer member of the B and W PW crew. A full day changing sleepers is better than a trip to the gym and less expensive.
its true, i didnt have the full qualifications to become a driver for a Light rail system near me, but ive spent 2 years now volunteering on a heritage line on much bigger engines and it really did help, they turned a blind eye on my school qualifications because during the interview i was able to make clear that i knew full well how a railway operates and already have experience with locos and their function, now ive been accepted and got the contract int he mail, i start working as a driver for them next year :)
It is very useful to have on a CV. Lots of good and practical skills too!
I’m a member of the Young Volunteers scheme at Didcot Railway Centre, which is designed to get young people aged 12-17 into steam
It’s a brilliant scheme, we meet up once a month and do everything from run the G Scale model railway to help with the maintenance of the big main line engines
I’ve only been a young volunteer for 2 months and it’s been absolutely amazing, I’ve helped to clean no. 4079 Pendennis Castle twice and been invited onto the footplate of no. 1340 and no. 4144, and I’ve even been invited to join the regular volunteers in the workshop when I reach 18 in February
I couldn’t recommend it more strongly, it is absolutely amazing
That sounds brilliant!
I really enjoyed Didcot and look forward to returning to film later in the year!
Thanks for that Lawrie, I'm planning to voulenteer on my local heritage railway. I am already a member, but now you have given me the urge to take part. It really is a testament to you for all of the hard work you put in for the railways you work at and then being able to film it to spread heart warming messages like this, is something else. You really are amazing and so is the work you do.
Thank you very much, and I hope you enjoy being part of your local line.
Recently I decided to volunteer in Swanage Railway ever since I moved to Dorset to study in Bournemouth University. Currently I am a cleaner and passed my PTS which has made me feel proud that atleast I’m doing something what I love and at the same time studying on my degree. It’s somewhat I would describe as a form of break off my degree. It’s also very flexible as you can choose when to volunteer. All as well as it’s like going to the gym shovelling and lifting out ashes left in the pit or tracks.
It feels great to share with other residents in my student accommodation as they are curious and fascinated by what I do in Swanage railway and at the same time feels great talking with locals whenever they see me wear my hat that has Swanage railway as they are very curious about steam and want to know information such as the Flying Scotsman that recently visited our railway. It’s also brilliant for your CV or employers as they will be interested into the skills and experience you have!
And yes, I did get up close with it since I was tasked to clean its rods alongside with polishing the nameplate and the builder plate and even offered a tour on the footplate which has been a privilege for me to clean Scotsman.
Glad to hear you're enjoying it!
Getting near Scotsman is such a wonderful task!
Hearing your personal views of how volunteering has changed your life I couldn't agree with and relate with more. I am proud to have joined the Middleton railway earlier thus year after waiting for covid restrictions to ease and allow me to begin and it is the greatest thing I have done with my life so far and I wish I started years ago! Anyone who is thinking of joining any hereitage movement please do so we always welcome new commers and it will help you in your life and as a person it might just be one of the best things you ever do in your life! Don't be shy or nervous everyone you meet started exactly like you and they will take joy in training you up just as they them self's where. I my self have been a volunteer since March and am soon to properly begin my journey to footplate crew as a cleaner and I couldn't be more exited!
Middleton railway is lovely. Lot of nice people.
I think one of the biggest contributions to society preserved railways make is cultivating the attitude of "Can you fix it?" - "Stand well back, and hold me beer . . . "
An apprentice who started working on the Kent & East Sussex Railway related that, when he went off to tech college one day a week, his class had a discussion about what sort of work they were doing so far - and he was astonished at the simplicity of the tasks given to other apprentices from typical engineering firms. He then described the sort of jobs he was given: a large sub-assembly taken off an engine, "This isn't working, mate - take it to bits, find out what's wrong and fix it", and then being left to handle it himself; working on pipework and valves which would be dealing with steam at 200 psi, and way above normal boiling point; having to cope with jobs where even some of the spanners count as 'heavy lifting'; the rest of his class were stunned, and said it would be years before they were entrusted with such a level of responsibility.
Now compare that with a letter I read in a paper recently. A lady said she asked her (late teens) daughter why she was throwing away a shirt which she'd only had for a few months, and was outraged when her daughter said "Because a button's come off." It transpired that both her daughter and her (late teens) son thought the same, and so did their friends; "A button's come off? All you can do is throw it away." So she sat both of them down, taught them how to sew a button back on, and said she wanted no more of that wasteful and lazy behaviour.
But what attitude is actively encouraged on preserved railways?
"You don't know how to do this job as you've never done anything like this before? No problem; we'll teach you."
"This large and complex machine is totally knackered, some vital parts are missing, spares are no longer available, and nor are engineering drawings? Righto - we'll take it to bits, repair the worn parts, design and make from scratch the bits that are missing, and get it working again. It might take us 10 years to do it, but we WILL do it."
In a throw-away age, this attitude is close to revolutionary.
The problem is finding the people who actually want to do it!
I agree with everything here. I'm only 17 years old and I'm a Trainee Guard at the railway I volunteer for here in Queensland, Australia. I'm on my way to becoming a driver for them. I did a shift yesterday and after it, I'm tired but I'm proud. It's always satisfying after I stable the train in our depot and sit down with the train crew and just socialise. Sometimes, if I'm staying there overnight, we go off to the pub after a service. My next step to becoming a steam driver is becoming a Railmotor driver, after that, I go onto diesel then after that, I'm on the footplate.
It's always very satisfying to finish a long day and that sense of achievement and tiredness 😂
Perfect timing for this video for me; I visited my local line yesterday (the Mid Norfolk Railway) & should be getting my volunteer forms in the post very soon!
Oh super! Good to hear it!
Welcome aboard, Matty. I look forward to meeting you when you complete your practical PTS session.
15 Years! good on you Lawrie 👍 next year will be my silver jubilee in Railway preservation.
Oh that's very impressive.
@@lmm And my 40th too.
personally I want to volunteer as a guard
All railways are always looking for guards.
Another great video Lawie.
I have been a volunteer from the age of 11 at my local Museum which happens to be housed in the old Yarra Junction railway station in Vic Australia, 33 yrs later still having fun, as well for a few years with Puffing Billy railway as a young fella and the local CFA (fire brigade).
A large proportion of the public do not seem to understand or appreciate the value of volunteering for a club, society or organisation of any sort. As we say, one hour a year from a volunteer gets the club, society or organise one hour closer to achieving there goals, it all helps!
Great job keep up the good work and content.
All the best from Aus.
All respect to you for all your volunteering, and the old Yarra Junction station has so much history attached to it, but often forgotten by people who are not locals. As for Puffing Billy, well we all know what happened there and many kids of the day who are now adults are suffering from the cover ups of the previous management. I am surprised it is still running, it has had financial issues, and people of the likes of Whitehead and his mates did nothing to help it's reputation.
Oh that's super, it's good being involved for that length of time!
I’ve just finished a day as a volunteer at my local railway, I love volunteering as you get to be with people who are interested in the same thing as you and you can work on diesels and steam, just ask what needs doing!
One day I’ll be sanding and painting, next time I go I’ll be shunting and changing points. Everytime you go, you do something different and there’s so many jobs to do, engine crew, front of house, maintenance, track work, the list is endless!
I’d recommend it as you can learn so much stuff, shunting etc etc, it’s fun (I’ve often wondered where the hours have gone as it feels like I’ve only just arrived!)
Oh god I hate the problem, it feels like you've only started the job and it's lunch time or home time.
There are very good and satisfying times to be had.
I started volunteering at a railway this year and it’s one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done. I wished I had done it sooner!
i want to volunteer but there aren't any heritage lines here anymore since mount rainier scenic closed, the next nearest one is the muesem in puallyup and its over an hours drive away
It's a great thing to be part of isn't it!
@@lmm absolutely one of the best decisions I’ve made since lockdown ended
I started volunteering at the Williams Grove Railroad in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania this year and it has been life changing. I still can't believe I'm helping to keep the last operating Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive running. Much like all the others people have mentioned we're always looking for more help.
It's an amazing thing to be part of!
Would be proud of me Laurie goes Loco I listen to what you said and I went and volunteered at the Blue Bell railway and it's all thanks to you I will spread the word of what you said
I was volunteering yesterday. Usually my volunteering at the carriage department at Bewdley involves mostly painting components or varnishing wooden or metal components, preparing wood and metal components for painting or varnishing, assembling items onto the carriages and occasionally a bit of destruction of items like old electric motors or scrap items that are past their useful life so we can keep the yard clean and recycle the metals. Also we occasionally get to clean up the resident yard shunter locomotive.
Oh that's super. Lot of coaches at the svr!
I am a 19 year old boy who has grown up in California watching trains and always have had a massive love of trains. I live near a heritage railway called the niles canyon railway and I have always been on the fence of wanting to volunteer this video has made me decide on volunteering for the railway because all my life as I live in Silicon Valley we were told to look towed the future. However I have found more value in preserving the past this summer break from college I’m going to sign up and hopefully become a better person because of it. I appreciate you making this video it has inspired me to volunteer at the railway and get into a community I already heavily enjoy. Thank you for inspiring me and the others to help preserve the railway history around the world.
Oh that's super! I wish you the best with your volunteering!
I work as a fireman on three different railways and its full of dirt, grime, long hours, early 5am starts, extreme heat, freezing cold in winter, shitty kiosk pies for lunch, hard & harsh conditions, incredibly difficult learning curve, the loud noise, awful smells and generally uncomfortable environment physically and i would not change it for the fucking world, Its pure bliss.
I can’t describe the feeling of getting to the top of a 4km 1:30 grade with the correct amount of steam and water, its just ecstasy. this guy isn’t kidding or playing it up when he says it’ll change your life. I probably would of ended up as a pretty miserable person that just sits on reddit all day at home if i hadn’t joined the railways.
I have been a volunteer at the east Somerset railway since the moment I turned 14. I went to do driver for a fiver when I was twelve and all I could think about was working there when I was old enough. It has most certainly helped me with socialising, I'm autistic and so social situations are not my strong point. But having met so many other like minded people: that are all probably on the spectrum somewhere, has really helped my comfordence and ability to socialise. But it has also helped my career, when I left school a couple of years ago I failed English and so didn't really apply for many apprenticeships as I didn't think I'd get them, so I just ended up cooking fast food and stacking shelves for a couple years. But just the other week our workshop manager advertised a position at the Paignton and dartmouth where he also works and I applied and I got it, so now I'll be learning all sorts of skills getting payed to do a job I'd happily do for free. So volunteering has really changed my life and is one of the best choices I made. Great video by the way
Thank you, I'm glad volunteering has been a good experience for you.
I started volunteering at the local trolley (tram/streetcar) museum in 2017, having not made a visit since I had been as a little kid with my family. I'm so, so glad I ended up sticking with it, and it's been one of the most fun, rewarding, and educational ventures I've ever made. I've learned so much, and even in little ways, been a part of many different things, from regular operations, to restoration, to track work. I remember when I was only able to operate one of our pieces of equipment- whereas now I'm versed in and qualified on almost all the vehicles we have, and I've gone from speaking and knowing relatively little, to extensively conversing with volunteers and guests, and having lots of knowledge to share as well as continuing to learn more and more each day I volunteer. It really has made a world of difference, volunteering contributes both to the place you volunteer, and to yourself. If you want to learn new skills, meet new people, and build your confidence and self esteem, volunteering is well worth giving a go. I'm glad I did.
i like the variety at my line, we have a mikado, we have electric engines from the 1920s and 50s, and an asortment of smaller shunting steam locos.
one day youre painting up a side wall, next day youre refurbishing a carriage frame, then the weekend after youre a conductor for two fulll steam days, then youre taking part in lifting a newly refurbished cab on a loco and inbetween you have visitors you can show around a bit
That's very exciting isn't it - which railway is that?
Once again well spoken Lawrie. I'm currently part of the midweek crew at my heritage railway due to the fact I work weekends. We have a guy who when he first joined us was a bit nervous because he didn't know what he was doing. Now he's way more confident when working on the track and has qualified as a guard.
As for me I'm trade qualified and spent years as a mainline driver and enjoy passing on the knowledge to others so they can get the most out of their time volunteering.
It's amazing how it can make people come out of their shells.
I agree with passing on knowledge to the next generation, hugely rewarding
@@lmm Absolutely.
I'm doing my part on this side of the world! I may not know much yet, but every little bit counts.
That's great to hear!
Well said, Lawrie. Hopefully your video will inspire many people to volunteer at their local railway.
Thank you, I really hope so
I will certainly consider volunteering at my local heritage railway/museum (Despite living 500km away) even when I have my own farm work to attend to I want to make the time for this, and this very video has helped to increase the ambition
Cheers Lawrie
#loveyourrailway
Lots of places do have accommodation to make long trips more worthwhile.
It's certainly something worth getting involved with.
Total respect dude with you're very honest view on volunteering and I hope this gives others a push to get involved with something so amazing 👏
Thank you very much! That's what I hope too!
I might have had a rather unusual start as a volunteer or at least stressful, I had only ever seen the coaches twice in person and had never rode on it before volunteering. Not only that but I'd only sent in the form and fee the week before hand and was asked to come in that weekend. I ended up stewarding on coaches I'd never been on for the first time on the first of the busiest train the Santa runs.
And somehow I ended up in a situation during the second Sunday (having worked 11 return runs) when both volunteers that should have been covering the next coach had gone off, having to cover for them while also help maintain my assigned coach.
All compounded by social anxiety (ASD).
But I wouldn't change it, but like you said than to make it a few years sooner.
I agree with you so much, it has helped me similarly to your experience.
It's a great thing to do - getting you to do things that you wouldn't have thought you'd have been able to do.
Which railway is that on?
Here in Germany, there pretty much aren´t Heritage Railways with employees. It´s all volunteering, every little bit.
One thing I want to tell everyone who is considering to be a volunteer:
It´s really not that complicated. Experienced folks are always around and willing to teach you. With time, you´ll learn everything you need to know. So don´t hesitate to try volunteering!
Excatly! So many places are completely dependent on it!
Thoroughly enjoyed this, railways (and other heritage operations) simply would not work without volunteers. I began volunteering ten years ago now, and worked my way up from cleaner to fireman and eventually passed out as both steam and diesel driver. Now that I am unable to return to my usual railway as my circumstances have changed, I am finding it exceptionally difficult to find a local railway that has any respect for my previous footplate experience (almost 50,000 miles). I am at a stage of life where I cannot afford to give up a lot of time so I am desperate to find somewhere that I can keep up my competence without having to work my way back up from the bottom again. Fingers crossed someone is looking for experienced footplate crew!
Most places will accept your qualification and let you join at the role below and fast track you back to your previous rank.
Good luck
i would consider myself pretty lucky as i mainly got into trains (mainly steam) back when i was 13 but it is kind of hard becoming a volunteer for a railway as i live in finland and there aren't that many steam railways or locomotives for that matter but i still love trains and thats the main thing
How many steam railways are in Finland?
Was gonna begin volunteering at the one of bigger mainline heritage operators in Victoria, lockdown 6.0 hit and messed that up, so hopefully I can begin volunteering with them soon!
Hope that when the situation improves you can get involved
Great video! I am sitting at the Munkedal Heritage Railway right now after a day of volunteering! One of the best places to be!
I've never heard of that one, where is it?
I volunteer at my local railway which I'd ridden on when I was little but forgotten about until I started uni. I met someone who did at the time and they said come down, eventually I did for that first time and every odd little thing I've done, fixing machines, doing brake block and axle oil checks, and my special job of jumping in the firebox to clean it I love doing. And of course meeting everyone already there and getting to know a few of them beyond the railway has been lovely too
It's a wonderful thing going back and getting involved isn't it!
@@lmm I did always remember our engine's whistle, of course I had to come back :D
Haa🤣🤣 there's me at 0.47 but in all honesty I love volunteering there I learn new things every time I'm up there it is great fun and we have a bit of a laugh. We always look for new volunteers to help out at Midsomer Norton and we would be happy to welcome you to the Somerset and Dorset. You can pop down and ask questions or be in contact with us on social media. But I definitely don't regret it because I love it.
Hopefully come the new year I'll have some free time and would love to get down and do some turns.
Been volunteering for the past 10-15 years doing this and that. Cleaning, fire-lighting and steam-raising, firing, shunting, driving under supervision, track maintainance, etc. It's slow going, but it's going.
It's good just being involved!
I'd absolutely love to volunteer, but there isnt a railway anywhere near me! Might have to establish my own in my garden!
Where do you live as there may be a railway nearby or other area's of heritage that may require volunteers.
There are many likes, like the Talyllyn which offer overnight accommodation.
I was a member of the Embasy Steam Railway for most of my childhood, I have moved on and I am now a member of the Heritage Railway Association. Thank you for sharing your video on Heritage Railway's.
Embsay is a lovely line, very impressed with it.
Good to see you're still supporting heritage
I volunteer at Chasewater Light Railway. Its Epic!!!!. 8 years now
It's a lovely railway. Very much enjoy the galas
I never liked groups where the uppers looked you down or you needed to fill a million forms before you even start. Without the volunteers that said “hey can i do something” and people like my friend saying “hey help me take this apart” that is how heritage is saved.
It does depend hugely on the organisation. Some are betters than others.
@@lmm The paperwork part also, of course, depends on the job a volunteer wants to do.
What a wonderful video. I have volunteered for both the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and Yorkshire Wolds Railway and loved them both.
Volunteering is so rewarding. All you need is time and enthusiasm.
I usually work in the Pway Department, but yesterday I was dispatching trains. Who knows what I will be doing next.
Every day is a learning day.
That's rather different ends of the spectrum! Great thing to be part of though!
Something that really drives home the point of this video is that my local line couldn't run their Saturday diesel service last week due to lack of volunteers. They're in a city centre, and it's one of the busiest cities in the UK If they're struggling for volunteers, it's almost a wonder how extremely rural lines like the MSLR get volunteers. Actually, it's not a wonder - it's dedication. And if more young people like me put in that dedication, heritage has quite a bright future.
Oh which railway was that? Its very concerning.
@@lmm The Middleton Railway
@@PHsRailwayVideos oh that's a shame
I think volunteering and restoration of antique equipment go hand in hand. I am in the process of restoring a 1940 Allis Chalmers B. We need to keep small engine classes and metal shop in high schools.
Oh I love the B such a skeletal shape
Hi
I joined a heritage railway just over a year ago, and have for the past 12 months been a qualified guard possibly the best thing I've done, great video lawrie.
When your closest heritage railway is a 7 hour drive away.
Lots of places do have overnight accommodation to make it easier.
This video was great! I've been wanting to know how to get into volunteering and this has cleared up a lot of the way into it all!
I'm really glad to have helped.
Hi mate I do volunteer at our local railway and I'm the chief locomotive cleaner at the helston railway and I will always be involved and I do have railway connections in the family my great grandad worked for the gwr and my other grandad work for the LNER
Super thing to be involved with. You guys have a nice looking thing based with you at the moment.
great video as usual. i agree, i cant stress enough how important our heritage railways are and keeping whats left of their history alive. i started volunteering some time ago at The Spa Valley railway, and glad i did so. i have enjoyed my time there so far and made new friends along the way, starting out in the engine shed, onto works trains, now on p-way. we also are always on the look out for volunteers in all dept's. again, thank you lawrie for another great video and raising the awareness of keeping our heritage railways alive.
Thank you. I had a girlfriend down in London and did a few turns down at Spa valley. It's a great line!
I love the work your doing Lawrie keep it up!
Thank you very much!
I know I've said this loads on this channel, but I'm going to start volunteering at my local line as soon a I'm old enough. I'm already doing the Talyllyn's youth programmes and am going to start on the KWVR's youth programme soon too. Basically, I just want to volunteer.
That's very good, we need people to get involved!
I really wanna volunteer at the East Somerset Railway, but the problem is I'm starting college in September and I'll be working weekends if an employer finally allows me work - amongst this i already volunteer at a 5" gauge miniature railway but available voluntary work is so sparce because of a lack of funding for tools and materials to grow the railway. Idk what to do :(
get through college and volunteer once your done :)
It's possible to just do the odd day of volunteering when time allows
Another brilliant video Lawrie, im going to share this on my social media so people can better understand why i volunteer at Bressingham and why i love doing it.
Thank you - spent a lot of my childhood at Bressingham!
@@lmm likewise with me, been coming and going since I was able to walk. I even wrote to Alan Bloom when I was 10 asking if I could be an engine driver
I don’t live near any heritage railways and whenever I would go to places near one I wouldn’t be there for long enough to be able to help out with something
Lots of places do have overnight accommodation, like the Talyllyn.
i was a volunteer for a heritage railway near me for many years though i fell out of love with the railway as my time became taken up by other matters.
That's sad to hear
If I lived in the U.K I would love to volunteer!!
There are many places throughout the world looking for people to be involved!
#LoveYourRailway I volunteer at a miniature railway in Hamilton, New Zealand, we are in need of volunteers as recently we have been understaffed and last Sunday we had issues running enough trains as we didn't have enough trained drivers
Lots of places are having similar issues
@@lmm yea
I wish I didn't live in suburban America. The distance between me and my nearest heritage line is as big as all of Wales. It's just too far for me to be able to volunteer there, especially as I don't own a car, and public transportation is lousy over here. You folks on the other side of the Atlantic are lucky, you have local railways to volunteer at. Some day I will probably end up moving to the UK or Europe, I'm just too unamerican to ever be happy here long term
I do miss being a fireman on a steamlocomotive....
Greetings from a Swede in Glasgow....keep putting up them great videos!
It's an amazing sensation isn't it.
Thank you very much!
@@lmm
It certainly is....miss doing my lunch in the firebox, the smell, sound....the almost alive, living and breathing qualities of a steam locomotive....
Keep making them excellent videos! 👍🏻👌🏻👏🏻
@@Duececoupe we'll try our best!
I'd love to volunteer at a heritage railway, but sadly there is none near where i live. However i am thinking of volunteering at a war museum and this video is getting me hyped to do that :)
All heritage is important. Railway, cars, tanks, whatever. All needs people to support it.
Your videos have also inspired me to volunteer. Unfortunately we don’t have any heritage railways where I live except a heritage trolley line. But they only seem to look for volunteers Mon - Fri from 7am to 4pm. Not sure why and it makes it literally impossible to volunteer if you have a fulltime Job.
Thank you, places do need people outside their normal hours, so worth getting in touch with.
We have suffered big times with volunteers this year at our miniature railway while we haven’t been open to the public due to Covid 19. Which is a shame as there still jobs to be done 👍
There are always jobs that need to be done.
Just a little side note, don’t think that you have to be 18 or 16+ to start volunteering. I started at 13 years old and never regretted it. If you don’t want to join a railway’s junior group or whatever they have, there are plenty of much smaller preservation groups that will let you join in with most volunteering activities.
Legally you cannot volunteer. I think it's a result of the children at work act, and somewhat to do with insurance.
Railways can set up youth groups, but it requires someone to manage and look after it, which takes them away from other tasks that they may prefer to do.
Some places will allow younger people to come along with parents as well.
@@lmm Yes I am aware of that, what I am trying to say is that on smaller lines, volunteers tend to welcome you more as a member and less of an outsider when at a younger age. Whether the line has a young members group or you a volunteering with a parent/member of family, you are more likely to be welcomed and shown more at a younger age.
When you find time, you should visit the North Tyneside Steam Railway, a great railway indeed!
I have tried to get in contact with then, but never heard back.
@@lmm sorry to hear that.
Volunteering… I’d love to do that but unless you are retired most of us are so tied up … it’s a crazy world … I really would rather volunteer on something
I do understand, it's possible to make time to do it, and it doesn't have to be every week or every month.
I have been trying to volunteer on the east lane railway but just waiting to hear from then on a start date
That's good! I wish you luck!
Let steam engines go on!
That's the hope
I would love to volunteer as a guard or driver on my local heritage railway but they seem to never be taking on conductors
That's a shame. So many places are really struggling to find people.
wish there was a railway near me to volunteer at in the states
Yes, they are quite spaced out. Though several do offer accommodation.
Lawrie has now turned into Uncle Sam. Uncle Lawrie.
I can work with this
Im waiting till im 16 to volunteer at bredgar wormshill light railway
Lovely railway!
It's a shame I don't have the privilege to live near a heritage railway, if I could volunteer, I would
Lots of places do have accommodation which makes things easier
my childhood dream to travel in a steam engine
They are lovely things
I really want to move to England and help on a heritage railway
You can actually join them and visit and volunteer. At the Severn Valley Railway we apparently have a group of volunteers who are from South Africa and they literally visit once a year to volunteer.
Yeah, I've heard stories like that too! There are people from England that go to South Africa to be part of Sandstone
I’d love to volunteer to be a train driver but I wouldn’t have the time to do it 😔
It takes time to train up, but it's something you can do a few times a year and slowly learn.
James passed out at a driver? I hope he was ok!
Long time coming. He's very happy to have.
I'd love to volunteer but it's just so hard for me to get to any if the heritage railways.
Several railways do have facilities for over night staying - like Talyllyn for example, so makes it more possible. It's not every line, but hope that helps
@@lmm I shall have to have a look into that. I'd be willing to do a few days that way.
Unfortunately my experience as a heritage railway volunteer was not a pleasant one. I'm not going to name the railway in question but will say that communication with volunteers left something to be desired, regularly causing rostering issues. To then have the General Manager accuse of not contributing enough to warrant a PTS was a real kick in the teeth. The GMs treatment towards volunteers both new and well established was appalling, and suffice to say many of the volunteers in question have never returned. It came as no surprise when I saw a message about a month after my incident that services on the line had to be cancelled due to a lack of available critical staff. I'm afraid it put me off the idea of volunteering again.
That's awful, that's the kind of experience that would put anyone off.
That sounds terrible. There are sadly railways that are mismanaged and it does a lot of damage to the concept of volunteering.
Most places aren't that bad, and would be very grateful to have you.
Volunteer at Bressingham steam
I used to when I was very young
Lawrie, I have to ask, how do you drive all these engines? I know things are different in the UK but what do you do to get permission?
Edit: nevermind, I should've watched a bit more in...
It's all done in controlled way under supervision.
@@lmm Ok, thanks for the reply!
Sorry doing a pennsy and b&o
Doing what there?
@@lmm punching tickets on two museum runs the black river&western _willimton &western(del)
@@lmm doing a ex pennsylvania rr&a b&0 rr museum runs ok?
Am the first to watch this video
So?
@@stevebarnes2 and?
@@Scottish_Transport_Explorer Oh dear
@@stevebarnes2 dude no one cares and you not the first
I Knew what was going on I'm in the behind the sence
Good show
What's all the lo-commotion?
Very clever 😂
@@lmm couldn’t help myself 😂
How old do you have to be
Depends on the railway. To volunteer is normally around 16, to drive over 21.
Depends very much on the railway
Firstly I need a job, money and a car...
These do help, but possible to do without
i wanted to volunteer, but there's an upfront fee, im not paying to give up my time and as im trans, they never phone me back.....
You do know that's how most railways work, P&BR have a yearly fee and you get to ride on the railway for free
i highly doubt you being trans has anything to do with them not calling you back....
we all pay annual fees, partly as it funds the locos, but you get return in things such as free rides where normal passengers pay a fortune, plus benefits. last weekend i was able to be on the footplate on a Mikado during a full day of high speed mainline running and it was only possible (for free) because i was a member
pay the fee and give it a go, its worth doing and a fun hobby :)
it also helps pay for any insurance, training and equipment is required.
We all have to pay to be part of the railway.
That supports the railway, and pays towards insurance - to legally have people on site, and newsletters and admin.
We all have to do it.
If you don't sign up, they won't get back to you because you won't be able to volunteer.
no you need to pay people for there time!
Sadly that means most heritage can't survive.
People do something because they want to do it, and they enjoy being part of it.
@@lmm you cant expect people to work for free though
That's kinda what volunteering is.
It's doing something because you enjoy doing it, you want to do it, keep heritage alive.
It's a magnificent thing.
If we all need to be paid, would you mind paying me first please? Making these videos isn't a paid gig.
@@jayamd3579 I know plenty of people who do this for a living and then give up the odd day off for free to help elsewhere (myself included). You need to change your own expectations!
@@benbrotherwood9128 do you want a medal? my time isnt free, must be some kinda boomer who has so much free time after ruining the economy nice for you