Induction

It is great to be feeling better today, just as well as I had my volunteer’s induction course at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. There were surprising things about the day, and things that I probably expected.

Eight of us arrived at the NYMR Learning Centre at 10am, that was the first surprise the railway has a well equipped series of lecture and conference rooms in a restored part of Pickering Station. The make-up of the course was perhaps not surprising, it was entirely male and I was probably about the average age, though I did find out that the railway has two ladies on the footplate. Although there were several retired gents others wanted to apply skills that they had in a railway context. Indeed there were some serial volunteers.

The induction course was well run, as well as what I expected like the history and structure of the railway, there was much about the ethos of the organisation and what was expected of volunteers, and what could be expected from the NYMR in return. The whole approach was very professional; it would stand comparison with many commercial companies that I have worked for. When I started to think about this it was not surprising as this is a significant commercial enterprise as well as being a heritage railway. It carries around 320,000 passengers a year, which if you think about it must mean a revenue of well in excess of £5,000,000. Trying to do this with professional and voluntary staff must be a huge challenge. It is interesting to think that in the early days the town of Pickering was resistant to the railway as they wished to use the station site for car parking. That would have been a huge mistake I think.

I was also interested to see how much work goes into giving an authentic passenger experience. High visibility vests are not worn on the platforms because in the eras that they represent they did not exist. They are of course worn on the track.

After lunch we were trained on trackside safety, I now know my four foot from my six foot, from my ten foot. Again this was carried out with a professionalism that made learning a pleasurable process. All we could have done with was some sun. I passed the exam.

So I thoroughly enjoyed my induction, now cannot wait to get down to the voluntary work and hopefully my training to be a signalman!!! Watch this space.