VOLUNTEERS - the next generation.

[PUFFINGBILLY]

There are those who give because they care, they have the time and personal costs are not too much an issue.
There are those who also give etc but are also influenced by the elevation in status within their communities by having a high profile doing good for the less fortunate and the opportunity to enjoy the personal benefits by meeting useful business contacts.
Over 40 years I have personal experience of meeting both and am so glad the latter is not applicable to those volunteering on a restored railway.
What worries me is that those who have retired and have been working on restored railways for some years are themselves soon to retire (again). This generation are generally comfortably off, have no morgage huge bills or children to feed and many have some specialist skills.
The next generation are going to be faced with massive morgages if they can get them in the first place, fuel costs be for heating or a motor car the like of which hitherto are unknown and by comparison lower incomes.
The UK is increasingly having to look towards volunteers to run our services eg libraries, thus putting pressure on volunteer resources available to run such luxuries as a restored railway.
When will those who need people to do something for nothing start considering making a contribution to their costs, such as something towards petrol/diesel fuel costs? Even a free drink and a sandwich would be nice.
Lots of fine words and pats on backs don't pay the bills. Try telling the Gas Board how much you love their gas but can't pay the bill - you get my drift.

 

[ACE1888]

Good and fair call, been a volunteer at 2 local railways over the years, would love to go and help out more, but I work full time...try telling that to some down there though...hardly 'encourages' people to come back either:roll: If you've made it to retirement and can enjoy things more like volunteering, good luck to you. Otherwise you do what you can...

 

[PFX]

I guess I must count as the "next generation" though I'm not exactly young blood at 40. I only recently started volunteering myself and although I would quite happily give over every weekend to preservation work, I have to strike a balance with married life, work and other commitments so maybe manage a couple of days a month. As ACE1888 encourages, I do what I can and if circumstances were different, I'd do a lot more. I'm lucky in that the group I'm involved in appreciate any time I can give so that's also encouragement.

 

[chris89]

Good and fair call, been a volunteer at 2 local railways over the years, would love to go and help out more, but I work full time...try telling that to some down there though...hardly 'encourages' people to come back either:roll: If you've made it to retirement and can enjoy things more like volunteering, good luck to you. Otherwise you do what you can...

Agree with the OP and that post.

I've also volunteered at two preserved railways. Overaly i prefered the smaller one more as was better treated by all staff then a particlar big one i live close to.

As i had a general feeling that unless rostered you were pretty much ignored, even though your spare time. Also other things as a volunteer giving up my own time was annoying.

Many of the railways have to change the view for Volunteers that some can only do so when they can and those are the next generation, also try to get them much more involved in all areas of running and so on.

For this railway if i do rejoin as a Volunteer i think i will try to go into S & T area instead of general/ MPD volunteer instead.

Chris

 

[AlexS]

I'm 22 years old, signalman, guard, S&T installer, station master, shunter and whatever else on the GCR. It's a pleasant way to spend my spare time, I've made a lot of good friends and a boyfriend, it works for me. I claim very little back from expenses and what I do claim is generally from when I'm acting as part of a management team buying supplies from a pot that we've raised ourselves in various ways on a station - usually one big purchase a year for station posters for me as they can be quite pricey to get looking right. I'm also full time employed so it can get a bit heavy at times I must admit (volunteering up to 2 days at the weekend plus meetings and such during evenings in the week with the odd weekday evening shift occasionally appearing).

 

[43021HST]

When the OP mentioned the next generation, I thought you ment kids.

Anyway I agree with whoever said that a lot of volunteers on preserved railways feel ignored. I totally agree with you. I was part of a preserved railway for two years and for those two years the jobs never changed, cleaning and wood breaking, meanwhile I saw someone who had been there for a couple of months and they had all the best jobs like helping with restoration and steam firing. I know people say you have to take the rough with the smooth yet I never had the smooth. That was the straw that broke the camels back.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Well, when I'm 18 (5 months...) I'll be a handsignalman, pilotman, porter, guard (perhaps shunter as well), dispatcher and point winder.

As I've found out, if you're eager and suitable you'll go places. If you're not then you'll stagnate somewhere.

EDIT:

I'll also add that I got two weeks of excellent work experience out of it, I've met some genuinely nice and interesting people and made some great friends.

Also it's important to note that you do have to start at the bottom and work up; don't go straight in thinking in 2 weeks you'll be superguard. It's taken me 3 years to get where I am.

 

[GM078]

I've volunteered since I was 18, can't say I wasn't welcomed. Naturally one has to be prepared to do what some might see as the "lesser" tasks but as in any job that will stand to you as time goes on.

 

[4SRKT]

Well, when I'm 18 (5 months...) I'll be a handsignalman, pilotman, porter, guard (perhaps shunter as well), dispatcher and point winder.

As I've found out, if you're eager and suitable you'll go places. If you're not then you'll stagnate somewhere.

Yes, but I think the OP's point is not what you're doing now you're 18, but what you'll be doing when you're 28 or 38, tied down with a massive mortgage, debts coming out of your arse, maybe children etc etc. I was a volunteer too when I was 18 (R&ER) but no way could I afford the time or money to do it now (and I have a well-paid job and live in cheap-as-chips Bradford). With respect, at 17 years of age you probably haven't really had much time to 'find out' about 'going places if you're eager' or about the obstacles that prevent one from doing so (and the disappointment this brings), nor should you be so quick to assume that those who are 'stagnating' do so because they aren't 'suitable'.

 

[Yew]

Im quite interested in joining some sort of Preserved Railway, however between going to uni, working part time at Tesco, and Working full time over the summer holiday, all in the middle of nowhere (sometimes called lincolnshire) with no car over here. I think that the time I can give, once driving to/from is subtracted. Would mean that I wouldnt get much out of it, and the railway even less.

Possibly once I graduate as an engineer, and gain some design experience (maybe some hands on stuff too, if I can) Ill be in a better situation to help.

Or failing that, save up and buy a HST when they are retired

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Yes, but I think the OP's point is not what you're doing now you're 18, but what you'll be doing when you're 28, tied down with a massive mortgage, debts coming out of your arse etc etc.

True, and with university I'll have quite a lot of debt! But I'm still planning to do it, even when graduated and qualified. Perhaps a different railway, perhaps not. I'm lucky in the fact that the career I'm going into pays reasonably, and forces time off - and everywhere is always recruiting.

With respect, at 17 years of age you probably haven't really had much time to 'find out' about going places if you're eager or about the obstacles that prevent one from doing so (and the disappoint this brings), nor should you be so quick to assume that those who are 'stagnating' do so because they aren't 'suitable'.

That's not quite what I meant. Some people are happy where they are, and there's nothing wrong with that. Some people wouldn't be suitable to continuing to higher training. Some want to, but never do anything about it. If you fall into the last two groups then the heritage experience could be quite disappointing for you. You get out what you put in.

 

[4SRKT]

True, and with university I'll have quite a lot of debt! But I'm still planning to do it, even when graduated and qualified. Perhaps a different railway, perhaps not. I'm lucky in the fact that the career I'm going into pays reasonably, and forces time off - and everywhere is always recruiting.

What is this career path?! TBH You'd be surprised how your money doesn't go that far even if you are well paid, if you have a family etc, or end up in the 'squeezed middle' penalised for earning too much but yet not enough. I went to Uni in the last year to get full grants, so luckily I didn't have a lot of debt from that. I did however have to start buying houses when the Baby Boomers had done all they could to extract every last penny out of their children's generation (having previously extracted every last penny they could out of their parents' generation). It is these cash- and leisure-rich Baby Boomers who have formed the bedrock of volunteering in all sectors, and David 'Big Society' Cameron is deluded if he thinks this will go on being available.

That's not quite what I meant. Some people are happy where they are, and there's nothing wrong with that. Some people wouldn't be suitable to continuing to higher training. Some want to, but never do anything about it. If you fall into the last two groups then the heritage experience could be quite disappointing for you. You get out what you put in.

Fair enough. I can't really argue with this.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

What is this career path?! TBH You'd be surprised how your money doesn't go that far even if you are well paid, if you have a family etc, or end up in the 'squeezed middle' penalised for earning too much but yet not enough. I went to Uni in the last year to get full grants, so luckily I didn't have a lot of debt from that. I did however have to start buying houses when the Baby Boomers had done all they could to extract every last penny out of their children's generation (having previously extracted every last penny out of their parents' generation). It is these cash- and leisure-rich Baby Boomers who have formed the bedrock of volunteering in all sectors, and David 'Big Society' Cameron is deluded if he thinks this will go on being available.

Fair point(s). I suppose that eventualities do arise, but I'm planning to continue my volunteering. Perhaps I will, perhaps not. But it's something I enjoy and I would be disappointed if I wasn't able to continue. It's not my main priority, but it's one of them.

 

[4SRKT]

Fair point(s). I suppose that eventualities do arise, but I'm planning to continue my volunteering. Perhaps I will, perhaps not. But it's something I enjoy and I would be disappointed if I wasn't able to continue. It's not my main priority, but it's one of them.

In that case DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES GET MARRIED.......

Good luck!

 

[ralphchadkirk]

In that case DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES GET MARRIED.......

Good luck!

Stay single, stay happy!

 

[Greenback]

Indeed, though I would not describe being married as unhappy! Life changes when you have a partner, and if/when you have children! These ar enot unpleasant chanegs by any means, but you will not have the same priorities!

 

[chris89]

When the OP mentioned the next generation, I thought you ment kids.

Anyway I agree with whoever said that a lot of volunteers on preserved railways feel ignored. I totally agree with you. I was part of a preserved railway for two years and for those two years the jobs never changed, cleaning and wood breaking, meanwhile I saw someone who had been there for a couple of months and they had all the best jobs like helping with restoration and steam firing. I know people say you have to take the rough with the smooth yet I never had the smooth. That was the straw that broke the camels back.

Thats the sort of experience i've had, Was at this Railway since 2004 and stop/ gave up bothering in 2009. Didn't expect to go anywere fast at all, but seemed to be unless you knew someone don't expect to be given any form of privillaged jobs.

Also for me the finial thing was not getting the Staff pass that i was supposed to get after years of bugging and asking for it.

Chris

 

[ChrisCooper]

I currently volenteer very sporadically at a transport museum, again with distance and time being the problems. I very much see the problem as there are very few members of working age, most are retired, or are school age, and it's the retired ones that do the bulk of the work. It's when you realise that all the "management", both operational and projects, are all of the age where they could drop dead or become too ill to work, and the ones who are most likely to suceed them aren't much younger, that it becomes worrying for the future. It doesn't help that the sort of area it's in doesn't offer much for young people, especially those with the brains and skills to really run the place. That's why myself and a many of the more able working age volenteers are outside the area and don't visit that often. Thankfully the events days are when the long distance people do go over, and are very valuble, as that's when the extra staff are needed.
I think it's only going to get worse in the future, especially as people are retiring later. Skills can be passed on, infact many already are. The heritage movement as a whole is good at preserving skills, some of which died out many years before even the oldest volenteers today were born.

 

[theblackwatch]

Yes, but I think the OP's point is not what you're doing now you're 18, but what you'll be doing when you're 28 or 38, tied down with a massive mortgage, debts coming out of your arse, maybe children etc etc.

Hopefully, if youngsters who are involved do end up taking a back seat if they get a wife, boyfriend, mortgage, kids etc at some point, they will at a later date come back into the hobby. It's also possible to stay involved without physically having to go to the railway or work on a loco - I spent several years editing a society magazine from home (even preparing stuffing 1000 envelopes is quite a task, and I was grateful when others were able to help with that on occasions), then there are things like membership admin, websites/publicity, assisting with grant applications, etc.

It's encouraging to see the number of younger enthusiasts getting involved in preservation -it will help a CV too as long as people don't come over as an 'anorak'.

 

[PFX]

as people don't come over as an 'anorak'.

Sadly, that is one of the sterotypical assumptions that seems to go with rail preservation work. If I tell people, they invariably laugh but as I'm thick skinned, I don't care.

Chris89 and klambert seem to have had very negative experiences of preservation. All I can say is that I don't care what jobs I'm given to do as long as I'm kept busy, I'm happy just to be involved on, in and around preserved locos and such. I may be fortunate in that most of the people where I do my volunteering are a very welcoming bunch.

 

[4SRKT]

I make a virtue out of the 'anorak' thing, loudly and publicly proclaiming my love of the railway at work, in social circles and on Facebook etc. I stress the fun/booze-up side of it, plus getting to see tons of interesting places. I usually get 'Likes' from normals if I post up pictures of things like out-of-window shots on the Tay Bridge. I have my uses as people know me as a source of normal-friendly gen such as cheap ticketing arrangements.

My 14 year old daughter is none-too-impressed by all this though, and is stricken with embarrassment. She has even de-friended me on Facebook! Twice!

 

[Jonfun]

I must be fairly unusual within the rail preservation circles by not actually caring that much about the trains themselves. I've been a volunteer for just over 4 years, I'm 18 at the mo. Since the thread's diverted slightly, I think I have to echo Ralph's comments - you get what you put into it. And that doesn't just mean time commitment; some of the higher up people don't come down massively often, they get there because of their attitude and suitability for the job.

On my railway I'm passed as Station Staff (with competency to dispatch), Ticket Inspector, and Booking Clerk. Also currently in the latter stages of my Guard's training and hoping to start in the signalling dept when a mutually convenient time becomes available. Naturally it's hard to keep up with the commitment for all of these, which will only increase further as I go to uni/get a job etc. So in keeping with the topic, I can imagine it will get harder, and I agree preserved railways probably could do more to entice (and keep) volunteers - it costs me around £5 a time in either petrol or transport costs to get in, which is obviously a fairly large burden. But most pres lines don't have the budget to cover expenses and such as it's a difficult business to break even in, let alone profit from.

Equally though, through volunteering I've gained probably the best complement of friends I could ask for (and a few enemies too, but bigger fish to fry and all that ) which makes things worthwhile. And it'll be something I carry on doing, not necessarily to the same degree of commitment however, in the future.

 

[PUFFINGBILLY]

Stay single, stay happy!

Single or married is fine, just remember if your breed kids because of peer group pressure or to prove to your mates you've got lead in your pencil don't whinge when you can't do the things you want, have to drive a dreadful-van-with-windows thing and have no money.

 

[chris89]

For me i always was willing to do anything and be helpful and enjoyed it. But guessing due to being a bigger railway stopped things.

For those who are finding success that is great to hear for you though also i wish all the best for you's.

Chris

 

[PUFFINGBILLY]

- it costs me around £5 a time in either petrol or transport costs to get in, which is obviously a fairly large burden. But most pres lines don't have the budget to cover expenses and such as it's a difficult business to break even in, let alone profit from.

1. Only £5 then you are lucky. My volunteering involves and 2 hours driving per week plus numerous phone calls. I have turned down requests to give talks (unless my travel costs are reimbursed) or become embroiled in at elast 2 additional inititives over and above my core role.

2. A preserved railway WILL find the money if free labour is threatened, simply by not buying yet another locomotive, delaying restortaion of a non-essential item of infrastructure or adding another artefact to 'period' dress a station.

 

[Jonfun]

I know I am, Puffing Billy, but I don't quite follow your point. Yes, transport expenses are probably something preserved railways will have to look at in the future. But as it stands, many railways are finding it hard to find funds for the essential items - heaven knows what the situation will be like in 10 or 20 years.

I don't doubt many people have greater transport costs than myself, but it is most likely they would be able to volunteer fewer hours than someone living closer. Thus, I would guess that in the next generation, we will find that these railways are run less by people from afar and more from people within the local area, as costs will most likely rise (for both the individual volunteer and the railway).

It is your prerogative to volunteer your time where you want, and indeed to refuse to do so. I suspect the latter will be true in the future of many current volunteers as fuel prices and public transport fares rise.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

The bonuses of my volunteering was free travel on any event, but that was OK for me although most the free trips was on my gala day.

I applied to the Avon Valley Railway last year, they only offer something like 5 free tickets for non event days, but they don't seem interested in a volunteer, I wonder how many other railways have been like that?

I applied April I think on their volunteer recruit day, then got back to me 4 months later saying the paperwork was muddled and was I still interested. I said yes and waited until last November where I asked again and was asked if I was still interested...again I said yes but then yet again...no reply. Early this year I made the decision to stuff their membership...if they can't be bothered then nor can I, so I will not re-new the membership in May and forget supporting it anymore...

 

[PFX]

My own personal view is that as a volunteer, the last thing I expect is to have my travel expenses paid for. I'm about 20 miles (45 minutes) from the place I volunteer at. There are others there who are 2 hours or more away who also don't get paid expenses and some who can walk to the site.

I'm lucky to be in the position of affording to cover my travel costs, PPE, etc, as I'm sure there are many who find it hard. This of course affects the frequency with which they are able to volunteer.

Heart of Wessex, don't be discouraged by a lack of contact from AVR. You need to remember that voluntary operations may not have a particularly robust 'recruitment' process in place and it is likely things can get overlooked. I'd wager your services will be very welcome and rather than wait another 4 months before someone comes across your application again get on their case.

 

[Tomnick]

Remember that, in many cases, the chap(s) dealing with new volunteers will be volunteers themselves - I'm sure it's likely that paperwork gets passed between staff too, if there's no single 'regular'. If you really want to volunteer, then it's well worth chasing things up - if you can get a contact in the relevant department, then you'll probably get moving a lot more quickly.

 

[PUFFINGBILLY]

It is your prerogative to volunteer your time where you want, and indeed to refuse to do so. I suspect the latter will be true in the future of many current volunteers as fuel prices and public transport fares rise.

Having started volunteering last year one day a week I was invited to assist in 2 other initiatives and to that has now been added an invitation to join a team who give illustrated talks. The 3 additional items all involve more travelling and other communication costs. My fault really as I have never been an observer always a participant and 'doer'.
The solution is to make a case to the railway to review budgets and policy and offer token travel assistance and I now just undertake just my original duty and occasional talks providing the host agrees to cover my travel cost.