Locomotive Support Crew

Hi this is a bit random due to me relocating to South Wales from Manchester I have mainly been invloved in Road Steam.
I am interested in voluntering to becoming support crew volunter on the main line a freind of mine dabbles a bit, but I am unsure of where to start and what skills are required?

 

you'd be best joining the preservation society of a particular engine you like and becoming a support crew member that way. you'll need to undertake a personal track safety exam (pts) and probably a medical examination. Many preservation groups with mainline engines are crying out for support crew so you probably can be selective in choosing a particular engine/group. there are a few in your general are, tyseley perhaps being one or mid hants having mainline registered loco's, west somerset as well. it is hard work and would probably require you having the odd day off work as you'll be needing to prep the loco about 48 hours before the day of the trip. very rewarding though.

 

Cheers Mate well what got me thinking was seeing the advert for support crew for Braunton with it being based in Bristol I will be in Cardiff but I am prepared to travel thats not an issue, I am sure I would pass the PTS and medical as I'm in pretty good shape. I wasnt really sure where to start with regards to societys etc so I will send a few emails and see what comes back. Again I don't think getting time off would be an issue either and I am more then prepared to put a shift in

 

The Braunton Management Company are looking for support crew members.

Extract from a news item on WSR.ORG dated 22/10/10 "Before this can happen though we need some additional support team members to ensure we can roster a crew when required – please contact David Hurd in Minehead shed or Keith Speller via 01984 633547 if you’re interested. Once testing is complete it is intended for the first twelve months at least the locomotive will remain based in the South West, either on the WSR or at Bristol ". Keith Speller is a member of this forum so you could send him a PM

 

Whats the minimun age to join a support crew?

 

Hi Pete, I can only speak from personal experience. I went to Tyseley and offered my services as a volunteer, never dreaming that I would become a member of the support crew.
After about six months of polishing and preparing 4965 for her mainline runs, I was invited to ride on a few of the mainline runs.
About a year later I was put forward to become a member of the support crew. This included a two day PTS course and a rigorous medical. Once I passed those two exams I soon learned that what was involved was a commitment to turn up at stupid o'clock in the morning to prep the loco for the days run and to finish at an equally stupid o'clock after putting the engine to bed at the end of the day.
Having said all that I think you'll find that a willingness to learn on the job and most importantly to be able to work as part of a team are the most important requirements for being a part of a support crew.
I have to say that the five years I spent as support crew at Tyseley were invaluable to me and I have many memories that I'll treasure forever.

 

As far as I know for the mainline NR insist on 18 years old.
But if you are younger than that as far as I know most preserved railways will accept volunteers younger than that.
But if you volunteer for a preserved line don't expect to be riding on the footplate as soon as you join. Remember that they need to take a look at you to see if you have what it takes. And it gives you a chance to understand whether or not you are willing to make the commitment to the society.

 

Cheers for the answers guys it has certainly given me a starting point and a few idea's to run with

 

One thing that I don't think has been mentioned above is the willingness to travel. You may choose to be involved with a loco that is based near you but, quite often, locos end up overnighting (and longer) many miles from their base. The West Highland operation is a classic example and, only today, I was looking at 61994, which is presently residing at Loughborough, a long way from home. Don't think about serious involvement if you expect to sleep in your own bed every night.

 

Start practicing now by sleeping in a dusty sweaty old Mk1 carriage seat wrapped in two sleeping bags, stabled in a remote depot hundreds of miles away from home with no running water or electric link and an outside temp of -10!!! ...... and as has been mentioned getting up at 3am to light her up and stayying up!!!. You could also have a bath in heavy oil then cover yourself in soot and ash for about four or five days to experience the feeling of being part of the working crew!!
seriousley If you do have a passion for steam locomotion, Id say its the best way to get into the workings of a loco and its group, especially if your at the start of an overhaul etc etc......It will get under your skin its almost addicting. Its a very self rewarding activity too, but expect little grattitude anyone out of the "loco's circle" which actually gives me a chance to contradict myself there by saying that there are certain groups of people who send the support crews dvd's of the locos year that they have filmed which is a splendid gesture. BTW i have to admit the above is based observations rather than personal experience (my Dad is on a support crew)....but to any working loco crew be it a humble narrow guage one, or a mainline superstar I for one have the utmost respect for you!!

 

well I already have the sleeping rough and travelling experiances to a degree with the steam roller living van floors aint comfy!! I have been part of that crew for years whilst this is a massive step up I feel I am ready to do it, I know the hours are long and hard my old man did this in the 70s but steam is under my skin

 

Pete, go for it! Ive travelled around with traction engines for years & been a fireman for 20 years or so. I must admit , I'm tempted to go with the crew of Braunton, & I would if i was single & 20 years younger! I dont know what your circumstances are, but my advice is jump in with both feet! Dont live with regrets!!

 

Cheers Jim, thats basically what Intend no point thinking what if, although I am not sure I will have the neccesary experiance certainly in railway terms!! and if the support crew doesn't come off there are plenty of local railways to consider as well, and I still have my steam roller commitments up north for the odd weekend in the summer!!!

 

Wont be long till we see 76084 on the mainline in 2016 as funding is almost completed and I know their gonna be looking for people.

 

I created a new account as I forgot the login details for the petejd13 one , as an update to this I joined the support crew firstly for 5029 then latterly the wider LSL pool. I had a thoroughly enjoyable 4 years working mainly with 5029, after moving back up north again I am currently on a hiatus due to a fairly imminent new arrival!. I may look at volunteering again further down the line.
I would say to anyone tempted to join a support crew, go for it I made some brilliant friends, experienced some great highs and some bitter lows. I learnt so much over the time I was involved, really super experience.

 

Wouldn't mind working on Galatea or Guardsman but they are WCRC owned so the support crew will likely be made up from paid staff at WCRC. Leander I would love to work on as her crews made up of volunteers but I haven't really asked although iv been working on steam locos for a number of years.

 

The other thing that needs to be taken into account is you need to get a PTS certificate and I have absolutely no idea how you can get hold of one of those unless you approach a company that is recruiting people and will be willing to sort out PTS certificates. Im 21 years old so im more than old enough to join a support crew but it's finding a group that is recruiting that's the problem.

 

One thing that needs to be considered is that many operators of main line locos will require a new entrant to fund the first PTS and medical themselves. This is used as a way to ensure that the new entrant is committed and will make a lasting contribution. Subsequent PTS and medicals are usually funded by the loco operator.

These aren't cheap. The PTS course, for instance, is usually a three day affair and this, together with the medical, can cost a few hundred pounds. You also have to be flexible in terms of when things go wrong you could, for instance, get back to base at 04-00 instead of the 22-00 the previous evening that you were expecting.

Not so good if you have to be at work at 06-00!

 

I struggled with the hours, even doing a Torbay express I wouldn't be home until fairly late on a sunday evening, Sentinel is easy enough I got mine at Amtrain but I had to take two days annual leave, I was sponsored by LSL at the time but you are right its an expense the individual will have to fund.
I would say David if there is a loco you fancy working with why not look if they have any working party days and ask if you can attend see how you get on, I did that with 5029 for a couple of months before joining the support crew fully .
As for being owners rep on the mainline rules around this are becoming far stricter in terms of who is allowed up as owners rep. In some cases it might be the RO and or engineer only.

 

PTS/Sentinel you can obtain via a company in Litchfield called Amtrain, as has been said previously you will have to pay for this yourself, its about £150 quid I think so not to expensive.
I think quite a few are always on the look for new blood ( MNLPS for example), or it can sometimes be a case of knowing the right people, no harm in contacting the relevant groups you fancy though.