Volunteering

[Boris]

The other thing to remember is that heritage railways are always shoestring operations, there is never enough money to go round so things are done a bit differently, as Phil says.  They will have some form of HR person but the chances are that individual does many other jobs or volunteers for the railway, or perhaps is only paid to do half a day every fortnight.  As a member of paid staff on a paid railway I can vouch for the fact that no two days are ever the same and the required skillsets are huge, anything you can do they will utilise.

 

Just for goodness sake don't come out with "if it wasn't for volunteers you paid staff wouldn't have a job" to a member of paid staff or another volunteer if you don't want quite a long lecture about working together, equal grades and the like.

[t8hants]

As a volunteer you are not obliged to do anything you don't want to do, but the more popular jobs like working on loco's, rolling stock, etc., are the more easily filled, and often overstaffed

but there are equally vital tasks behind the scenes.  The public don't want to see tired looking buildings, building maintenance is as vital as working on the wheeled stuff. 

Likewise if the railway relies on special events to supplement its income, then those events must be as well organised as is practical.

As a volunteer you balance your enjoyment in volunteering, against the requirements of the railway, and the mantra must be 'no-one is greater than the railway'

[Zomboid]

Thanks for the replies and there's a lot for me to chew on.

I can't believe people that work in the industry or have much needed skills are not fast track and utilised then again I can't believe that spreadable butter isn't margarine. I guess heritage railways don't have HR managers?

This is why I gave up volunteering; people with "big railway skills" showing up and jumping the queue.

Managing HR when you're essentially relying on goodwill to retain your staff is different than when you're paying them.

[PhilH]

Thanks for the replies and there's a lot for me to chew on.

I can't believe people that work in the industry or have much needed skills are not fast track and utilised then again I can't believe that spreadable butter isn't margarine. I guess heritage railways don't have HR managers?

It might well be the case on some of the newer preservation enterprises that you could walk right in to do the jobs that you want to do but it must be remembered that a lot of lines have been established for 30, 40 or 50 years and have well established departments with established methods of doing their work utilising both paid and volunteer staff long experienced and skilled in the tasks that have to be undertaken.

 

That's not to say that particular skill sets aren't welcome but you would have to mould yourself to how the railway works, not the other way round, which doesn't always suit an individual. A lot have fallen by the wayside because they felt that they were put to work on jobs which they considered unsuitable for them, but, as I say, the individual has to fit into the plan to a certain extent, not the other way around.

 

This all might sound negative and not to your taste but once you settle in to how your chosen railway works, prove to your new workmates you can wotk in a team with them, prove your skills, etc., etc., that's when the opportunities will come your way,

 

As I said in a previous post, patience is a virtue....

[bike2steam]

(In reply to post number 25)

'Sarge' Frank Roberts ( formerly RCOS at Blandford) was mainly the 'T' side of S&T, with his army experience ( and contacts) he was/is invaluable, but I believe he has gone on to more important things on Swanrail.  I knew Jeremy, haven't seen him since I finished volunteering at Swanage, and Mike is a member of Wimborne RS. On the whole it was a good time at Swanage, but like most places you sometimes experience a clash of personalities, but you mustn't be thin-skinned to let it affect you. But one character stands out, a'chippy' by the name of Geoff, whose surname I can't remember, he used to ( may still do ?), have his wife help him, runs, or ran, a small business in Bournemouth, he worked on the rolling stock, and general jobbing building work.  

[chris p bacon]

' But one character stands out, a'chippy' by the name of Geoff, whose surname I can't remember, he used to ( may still do ?), have his wife help him, runs, or ran, a small business in Bournemouth, he worked on the rolling stock, and general jobbing building work.  

Yes, he was there working on the Queen Mary brake in the goods shed. An "interesting" character, a nice enough chap but would only work on what he wanted to work on. 

[bike2steam]

Yes the one downfall of the minority of volunteers, selective, and most likely only wanting to work on their own little private projects.

[rockershovel]

There is an interesting treatment of this issue in "Little Wonder", I don't know when this was first published but my copy is dated 1975.

 

The FR seems to have had a reputation in certain quarters, for not valuing its volunteers, even then. It gives the impression that the Deviation in many respects, functioned as a largely separate organisation with little overlap with the wider railway. There seem to have been regional groups from the outset, which functioned as self-contained "project teams". I knew two of the three miners who drove the Moelwyn Tunnel, being a Camborne graduate of a certain vintage, and I understood that MSC contributed significantly as well. I also knew the late Michael Seymour, and I've come to understand over time why the Perse School never developed the involvement which some schools did, in the 50s and 60s.

 

A neighbour has had a long involvement with the Nene Valley line, and they have told me more than once that the line finds it very difficult to make effective use of volunteers with "big railway skills", not least because those volunteers rarely persevere if they aren't used in what they regard as relevant roles, and a number of posters above demonstrate the view that "doing your time behind the brush" is at least as important as anything else.

 

LW also discusses at length, the relationship between volunteers, volunteers with actual useful skills, and the paid staff.

 

Looking in my workshop, I'm reminded that I have a bike to prep for a flat track meeting tomorrow, two bikes to prep for a grasstrack next weekend and two more bikes for the Festival of Motorcycling in Peterborough Showground, the week after THAT. I don't actually recall taking half these bikes on at all! The only conclusions I can draw are (1) don't volunteer for your professional speciality, you won't be thanked, and (2) if you genuinely want to do something, and people want you to do it, it will find you!

[The Stationmaster]

Are preserved lines, individually or in general, authorised to conduct PTS training? Or do they just conduct equivalent courses for their specific requirements?

 

The reason I ask, is that I receive a steady stream of agency enquiries for positions which WOULD be attractive, but require PTS. I once had PTS (I have held COSS and the old LUL Protection Master in the past) but obtaining a PTS seems to be a closed shop controlled by a limited number of agents, and can cost you dear.

 

Generally each Railway should conduct its own examinations to its own standards however there is a 'passport' scheme in operation which a  number of railways are signed up to which makes certain qualifications recognised between all the lines which are signed up to the scheme.  i do however understand it is fairly limited in extent and a number of lines will have nothing to do with preferring to train and examine to their own standards or have never heard of it.

 

As far as PTS training is involved of it nobody need have any concerns - most of it is commonsense and the rest of it is railway commonsense and its there for your own safety.  and after all if I can write the stuff in less than a week it isn't going to take you that long to learn it.  And a good examiner will pretty quickly work out whether or not you're safe to let loose or if you need further training.  Rather uniquely I was, back in a past life, simultaneously qualified to carry out PTS exams on BR staff (for BR duty purposes) and on behalf of SLOA for mainline steam operating staff as well as doing it internally for a preservation site - part of all my yesterdays; nowadays I just (occasionally) write the stuff.

[AMJ]

Continued from my previous comments!

 

If you interested in operations this is a long path to follow.

First you will need to get passed as a shunter. Then you can look at locomotive or guard duties.

 

If you enjoy shunting on the model it's even better with 305mm to foot scale!

 

I'm passed as shunter guard goods and passenger and also as a diesel second man.

 

Got a call from the roster yesterday so tomorrow I'm guard. Often it pays to be flexible. Some Wednesday if I have a day off I have been known to go to the railway and have been asked to shunt the yard all day.

[Boris]

 

Continued from my previous comments!

 

If you interested in operations this is a long path to follow.

First you will need to get passed as a shunter. Then you can look at locomotive or guard duties.

 

If you enjoy shunting on the model it's even better with 305mm to foot scale!

 

I'm passed as shunter guard goods and passenger and also as a diesel second man.

 

Got a call from the roster yesterday so tomorrow I'm guard. Often it pays to be flexible. Some Wednesday if I have a day off I have been known to go to the railway and have been asked to shunt the yard all day.

The only downside to guarding is dealing with some of the utter cockwombles that visit preserved railways, operationally as well, unless you are doing something ticket related you will need some form of medical, usually the ability to read the 2nd line on the eye chart, normal colour vision, decent hearing, no major illness and 4 working limbs.

[rockershovel]

The only downside to guarding is dealing with some of the utter cockwombles that visit preserved railways, operationally as well, unless you are doing something ticket related you will need some form of medical, usually the ability to read the 2nd line on the eye chart, normal colour vision, decent hearing, no major illness and 4 working limbs.

.... and the driver at the front

Thinks the guard is not really a very nice chap at all,

And the guard thinks the driver is the same

[PhilH]

.... and the driver at the front

Thinks the guard is not really a very nice chap at all,

And the guard thinks the driver is the same

Never had that problem....

 

Anyway the guard is in charge of the train so feelings don't enter into it. You work together to make sure everyone has a safe enjoyable day.

 

You seem a tad negative about volunteering...personal experience or just something to say?

[rockershovel]

I thought I'd said it....

 

Regarding the "guard" business, I spend weeks on end working with, and around people I don't always much care for or in some cases, trust as much as I would wish. It really comes down to being professional. But it's a great deal easier if there is an amicable working relationship.

[lmsforever]

I enjoyed volunteering at Chinnor till ill health stopped me I was welcomed and worked with a great bunch of chaps on the Tuesday Gang doing a great variety of jobs the PTI was not a problem and seemed to be common sense.Chinnor is wholly volunteer run and has achieved  miracles plus its a very pretty line to go on ,and on a Tuesday we did all sorts of work from mowing the grass to cutting back trees painting and even helping to install the new loos!  I would recommend going to your local line and helping you will have fun.

[numpty]

Well I never been called arrogant before but I sincerely apologise!

I personally don't like queue jumpers, everyone has value and something to offer.

It just seemed silly to me that a fabricator/welder was putting up a marque,OK he enjoyed it but wouldn't he be more useful elsewhere?

I would have thought that each heritage railway would have a comprehensive risk assessment for every task on the railway.

You have to take the rough with the smooth, unfortunately for me I haven't discovered the smooth yet.

Friction always seems to be a problem with us humans which is a shame, perhaps a few more positive vibes might help?

[Boris]

Never had that problem....

 

Anyway the guard is in charge of the train so feelings don't enter into it. You work together to make sure everyone has a safe enjoyable day.

 

You seem a tad negative about volunteering...personal experience or just something to say?

You must have some really polite Drivers and Guards on your railway, this little ditty gets trotted out in our messroom quite frequently in between discussing the football, cricket, demise of page 3 girls, cars, fart jokes and rarely trains.  It's not particularly negative its just some of the fun that goes on in certain quarters in preservation.

[t8hants]

My point was the joy of volunteering is that you need not be constrained by your background.

Our railways special events, are all vital fundraisers, and there is a full season, the marquee may be moved up to six times.

However half a lifetime lumping steel beams around is perfect training for erecting and taking down a 9 x 18 meter marquee.

This is not a job a retired office worker could easily contemplate, you need a bit of grunt, even with the modern style of tent, also it was where there was a need.

The Engineering dep't have a full time staff, and apprentices, they don't need me, and there is only so much workshop space.

[numpty]

My understanding from talking to volunteers of the last overhaul of 2857 on the SVR was mostly carried out by the volunteers themselves.This reduced the time of the overhaul as the full time workshop staff were busy.

[PhilH]

You can of course join one of the 'specialist' groups on bigger railways where you might well get jobs more suited to you...for instance on the MHR we have the Urie group dedicated to restoring those S15 things and a Thurs/Sun gang restoring a Standard 4.

 

You will most probably still face a 'probationary' period while you work each other out, but that's a close to a fast track route as it gets.

[roythebus]

I received a 40 years of volunteering certificate from the IWSR a few years ago. It was most welcome and unexpected, I didn't know such things existed until then! My volunteering there started a long time go when the stock was still at Newport. In the meantime got married, got into restoring old buses, but kept touch with the IWSR, becoming active again taking my bus to the steam shows, helping with the beer tent which I still do every steam show. It's a great way to meet people and catch up on the latest things. I was also a guard there for a number of years in the 1980s and early 90's until life changed again.

 

I tried volunteering for a couple of local railways, one was not particularly user friendly despite being half a mile from home. Start in the shop, work your way up. In a previous life I'd been an LT guard and a BR driver. I wasn't all that interested in shop work or selling tickets. the other local railway, I'm a shunter; tried steam loco work but it was too hot for me; offered to drive diesels and was initially offered a fast track course but that never materialised. Tried to introduce my new lady to that railway in catering which she enjoyed, but one of the full time staff was particularly rude a couple of times so she's not keen on going back there.

 

I've subsequently found a metre gauge tramway in Belgium where I have a static caravan that is desperate for any sort of volunteers. I'm learning French and hope to be driving there later this year. It's a long way to go but the people there are very friendly and really appreciate the help. They've also made use of my bus restoration skills helping rebuild and repair bits of rolling stock.

 

I'd suggest the OP tries a few railways to see what they're like.

[rockershovel]

I think the real point is that sooner or later, something will find you. I see the point about people will "big railway" skills only really being interested in practicing those skills makes several appearances.

 

For me, volunteering never really began. I wasn't interested in "working my way up", I'd already done that in a much harder sphere and I wasn't going to do it for amusement.

 

As it happens, I'm drifting back into old motorcycles. I can make recalcitrant old brutes go, when their owners often can't, and that's a skill! I know how to deal with competitive riders so I go out as Starter or Paddock Marshal. I'm qualified as a Technical Official so I do pre-meeting Scrutineering. I didn't actually set out to do any of this....

[BobM]

Hello Everyone......

Just wanted to say that I have been a volunteer on the SVR since 2003.....I only went to 'pull up a few weeds' within the grounds at Arley Station and working at a horticultural nursery for 34 years, this remains a bit of 'bus mans' holiday (wonder if there's a better railway analogy)......but volunteering on a heritage railway is more than the sum of its parts perhaps and has become a major part of my social life (two days a week are a regular commitment, even though t'other five remain normal working days) and not only have I been able to put something back into the railway for all the days enjoyment I had as a child with family over the years.....I have learnt many new valuable skills along the years as a result.....anyone who has any spare time, whether having any skill or not, just enthusiasm then...... do it..... you won't regret it at all........

 

There are times when sitting in the sunshine (even rain, snow or anything meteorological actually) hearing the beat of a loco echoing along the line, then see the said beauty coming in to view and then disappearing around the curve into the cutting.....it just makes you think there can be no better place to be at that one time.......friends around one, in a stunning location, steam, exhaust, the tang of burnt coal and loco of whatever build, design or company.......idyllic.....( perhaps always just that better for a coffee in the hand and a chocolate biscuit  ).......If you're thinking of Volunteering on a Heritage Railway.........Go for it folks,,,,regards to all Bob

[roythebus]

One problem I had working on steam as a trainee fireman was that I now restore old buses for a living. Living in grease, dirt, Unpleasant Things, heavy things...why should I do the same without getting paid for it on my days off? I know one has to work their way up in a lot of of grades but I'd already done similar to that when I joined BR in 1974 as a secondman (albeit not on steam). I suspect that a lot of loco volunteers couldn't cope with life on the Real Railway if they had to do it every day of the week for years on end.

 

Only one person on my local railway bothered to ask (and was interested to hear from my experiences) what it was like working an express train  at 100mph in the fog, at night, with only semaphore signals to go by. Yet the rest of them knew it all. At 25mph. A lot don't even know how to use a vacuum brake properly, let alone a Westinghouse air brake.

[numpty]

Searching on the internet about the SVR I came accross a mothers and baby's group which had several cases where guards had been rude to them.

I remember a few years ago at the cafe at Bridgnorth there was a young girl on the till.I personally found her polite, pleasant and she appeared to be hardworking but her old battle axe work colleague was absolutely horrible to her,she wouldn't leave her alone!

I went into the cafe a couple weeks later and she was still being horrid to this young girl whom look quite upset about it,understandable.

The next time I used the cafe the girl was no longer to be seen.All three occasions were on a Saturday and haven't been in there since.