Wensleydale Railway - Photo Archive

August 2018

Photographs

This month we have:-
1. The J27 class loco belonging to the North Eastern Railway Preservation Society was with us for August - For more photos see the dedicated page
2. The flat cap promotional event on Yorkshire Day
3. The smart Mk.1 coach on hire from West Coast Railways
4. The 'Pyramid of Pennies' event at Leyburn
5. The visit of a London Kings Cross to Redmire charter train
6. Ainderby Station level crossing was replaced during August - For more photos see the dedicated page
7. Work by the Direct Works Team at Redmire
8. Work by the Direct Works Team at Scruton
9. Work by the Infrastructure Team

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The text of the article from the Darlington and Stockton News on the 6th July 2018 about our new Volunteer Co-ordinator.

Appeal for volunteers to keep railway on track

AN ORGANISATION is appealing for volunteers to join the team essential for keeping it on track.

Wensleydale Railway has appointed Helen Ashworth as its Volunteer Coordinator & Lead Fundraiser hoping to add a more professional approach to the way their army of unpaid helpers are looked after. The post is initially part-funded via a grant from North Yorkshire County Council.

Interim Chair of the Wensleydale Railway Carl Les explained: “We are extremely fortunate having a family of volunteers who are very generous with their time, labour, and very often their money.

"Too often in the past volunteers have come and then gone because we don’t look after them well enough. Now this shouldn’t happen."

With every train that the railway runs needing 30 volunteers from their pool of more than 200, the supply is often exhausted. Ms Ashworth is making stringent efforts to increase the numbers they have available.

She said: "In some areas we are acutely sort of volunteer staff; for example we only have four guards that regularly volunteer."

Jobs on offer are many and varied: simple catering tasks on the buffet train or at stations, administrative work, or as signallers and crossing keepers which take much less training than a guard. Alternatively, if you prefer more physical work then there is the vegetation and track maintenance teams.

Their youngest is helper is 14 years old and the oldest is well over 80. Many are truly on a busman’s holiday as retired or serving railway workers. They travel from all parts of the country; one comes from London spending his holiday working in Wensleydale.

No experience is necessary and apart from reduced train travel costs, the benefits are rarely tangible, however Ms Ashworth concludes: "Being part of a large team and the comradeship of the Wensleydale Railway is hugely enjoyable and well worth it."

Each railway volunteer must complete a day’s Personal Rail Safety course; further training in the chosen roles then follows. To enquire about the many and varied roles in the railway see the website, or email: volunteercoordinator@wensleydalerailway.com or telephone 01677 425805.

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