The famous younger generation?

The younger generation is out there now, but because steam engines tend to be surrounded with older people and railway politics, and they themselves not having any memories of steam that older people do, they tend to be interested in diesel. They also seem to be put off by the amount of work required to become just a fireman on a steam engine, as well as the early mornings compared with diesels where its pretty instant and no where near as much training to do.

 

If the type of work is limited for younger people, why not provide a mixture of experiences within different areas of the railway? That way, they would be making the tea for different people each day (only kidding). Seriously, they would then get to see a range of work being carried out - locos, carriages, S&T, P'Way, Commercial, Operating, etc - and could hopefully find the one they prefer. A student who is required to do work experience for their school/college course might then become a regular volunteer of their own choice.

Richard

 

Yes I do agree with the majority of your comment. Ten year's ago I guess I could have considered myself as one of the "younger generation" but now at the age of nearly 32 I'm not so sure I qualify for that anymore. However I do not think it's just the guys who are in the 55-75 age bracket who remember BR steam that just want to see BR liveried locos or authentic train combinations. Whilst no doubt they are in the majority, a number of us younger guys do want to see this era represented or at least have an authentic loco/carriage combination that sometimes you cannot get on a normal service train day. During photo charters there are a number of guys in my age range and younger who enjoy photting the BR era train or an authentic train combination - whether it be lined black with blood & custard or olive green loco with SR wagons or carriages etc etc. The reason is because we like to try & recreate, to as close as possible, what it was like in the real days of steam operation on the main line/branch lines and are inspired by the old photos/cine film that we see in magazines like Steam World, Steam Days etc. Me personally am inspired by my Dad's old black & white photos he took in the late 50's/early 60's which is why I always prefer the BR era even though I never witnessed it. Added to the fact he did a good job to brainwash me as a kid to favour locos in BR livery, even making sure my model railway layout was based on the BR era:smile:

I do accept that to get kids involved in steam locos the "Thomas" market, faces on engines & nameplates are massively important, even though I really hate seeing names on locos such as 9017 and the 9F on the NYMR. But also ultimately we are working museums trying to represent train operations in the Pre-Grouping, Grouping and BR eras and must try to be aunthentic as possible to demonstrate to the public the history of Britain's railway network.

 

I think that is a simplification. The young people I know on my railway are almost invariably into steam. In my experience, diesel enthusiasts are in their 30s/40s and really quite insular - which does not appeal to people wishing to be involved.

 

I'm writing my dissertation on visitor experience and expecatation on the SVR

 

I would second this. I am a university student and the closest (by age) person in my department is twice my age!

 

Sounds familiar, I wrote my LLB dissertation on the legal status of voluntary workers...supported by a case study on heritage railway volunteers!

 

So, what is the legal status? I'm sure that is something that will interest a lot on here.

 

I know I'm not in the younger generation (and haven't been for years), but I'm looking to do some volunteer work and have had a very mixed response from local organisations. One took 2 weeks to reply to my email and then asked me when would be a good time to meet up. I suggested some dates and am still waiting to hear from them another 2 weeks later. The other organisation replied within 6 hours, with a comprehensive list of the work available, a specific time and place to meet them this weekend and an alternative name/phone number if I missed them on the day. I know which organisation is top of my list ...

Richard

 

It's not unknown (I knew of several students who travelled from the southeast to north Wales to volunteer, and one London student society even organised a minibus), and it's plausible that students (with lots of holiday time and usually no family responsibilities) are more willing than older people to stay and volunteer for several days at a time, but only if the railway offers cheap/free accommodation.

I prefer volunteering locally so I can do it often, but always ask about accommodation for a different reason: I don't have a car and the early starts required of steam crew are often impossible by public transport.

However, I've no idea whether accommodation would attract enough extra volunteers to be worth the cost to the railway of providing it.

I've also encountered such lack of response (only 4 out of 8 lines replied the first time I asked, and one of those replies didn't reach me because they continued to use an email system that frequently lost messages) and agree it isn't helpful.

 

Since opening the railway at Apedale we have attracted a lot of new members. Over the last few months an encouraging number of younger members have appeared regularly on-site.

This is really focused the attention on to the younger volunteer policies etc & ways to keep them occupied and out of trouble!

Learning from our German twin railway, we have recently formed a group "Apedale Apprentices" & given them "ownership" of 2 wagons initially. Once restored, they will be able to use them on our demo trains and be responsible for their maintenance. Some details are on our news page (www.mrt.org.uk). All this should start to equip the youngsters (& indeed some older guys too!) with useful skills needed at the railway & an appreciation of the costs involved in what we do.

Our rules are that working juniors are allowed from 11 years of age - but must be accompanied by a guardian. From 13 they can volunteer on their own, but both of these are on our defined days when supervision is available (Saturdays).

You certainly have to be careful in striking a balance of keeping them both focused & interested!

Gareth

 

If you would like to get in touch,as there are opportunities at Epping Ongar... But previously we have struggled to find apprentices from colleges that can do "railway" sized engineering, rivets, wealding etc!!

 

Simon - you have a pm.

Richard

 

And I think Simon is a very good person to speak to about the involvement of younger volunteers full stop, given the age he passed out as a signalman at Swanage... ;-)

 

To look at things from another angle, there are other benefits from engaging youger volunteers. I help out at the Mountsorrel Quarry railway when I can, which makes a particular point of involving young peoiple from the local community.

This has attracted considerable media interest. As a result of that they were offered, first of all supplies of track at a considerable discount, secondly match funding from a private sponsor in order to buy it.

Regards,

Tim

 

Certainly as a now 21 year old guard/signalman/station master/whatever else I started at 16 because some of my mates were doing it, and they started because some of their mates were doing it - word of mouth seems to be important!

 

As well as aiming the new build claud project at enthusiasts and the general public, we also plan to aim it at younger people, we already have a few ideas how to do this, but seeing how Tornado as captured the imagination of younger people we hope the claud can do the same

 

I actually started at the young age of 5... Being allowed to roam and collect bottles and papers for recycling. I lasted until 18 doing different jobs and learned a great deal, but then back biting, politics and empire building took over the place so I left... Went to uni and havent looked back since, that was 18 years ago, Maybe someday I'll pick a different line and try again, but for now I've generally not been to keen to go back and get involved.
Whilst it's good to recruite younger people, old attitudes need to respect the efforts of enthusiastic younger ones otherwise like me, they'll get disaffected and quit.

 

The Claud Crew are all young people with the backing of older people so hopefully we won't have that problem.