NNR Volunteer

So today may mark the beginning of a new hobby for me.

Sheringham Station

For most of my life, I've been interested in trains; I like travelling by train, I like the technology, and I particularly like the enthusiasm, excitement & tourist business that the North Norfolk Railway brings to our little town.

From Wikipedia
The line, which is just over 5 miles (8.0 km) long, once formed part of the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway. Work on rebuilding the line started in 1965, and on 4 June 1967, two steam locomotives were delivered. The operating company, North Norfolk Railway plc, was launched in 1965 following the granting of two Light Railway Orders. In May 1973, the railway was the scene of filming for the episode "The Royal Train" of the popular TV programme Dad's Army. The railway won the 'Independent Railway of the Year' award in 2006.

At Sheringham the line has now been reconnected to the National Rail network station via an 'occasional use' level crossing. There are two stops between Sheringham and Holt – Weybourne (about 1 mile (1.6 km) from the village) and Kelling Heath.

The main restoration sheds are at Weybourne. They have room to accommodate four standard length British Railways Mark 1 coaches and six large steam or diesel locomotives. New carriage storage sheds have been built near Holt with Heritage Lottery funding. These have the capacity to store the equivalent of 18 Mark 1 coaches. The railway is operated mainly by volunteers. There is also a Junior club for members who are aged between 10 and 15. Every year there is a volunteer of the year award and also the 'John D Hammer' trophy for the 'Junior volunteer of the year'.

So, now that I am working three days a week, I have a bit of spare time to get involved in something new. I work from home, and consequently the day to day interaction with workmates is confined to Skype which though excellent is hardly a substitute for office banter; secondly, I'm at a time in my career, and play a part in the oil & gas industry where I am constantly in a leadership role, guiding others & supporting more junior staff: I'm looking to be led, to learn something new and to do it in a face to face environment, preferably with a structured approach to training.

From TrainDriver.org

Traditionally, boys were recruited onto the steam railway at the age of fourteen as engine cleaners with only a basic education. After a year or so of laborious engine cleaning combined with general shed duties, such as assisting the boiler-smiths and fitters, they would be examined and passed out by a locomotive inspector as being fit for firing duties. Now re-classified as Passed Cleaners, from this point on they could be used by the shed foremen as firemen on such workings as local goods trips or yard shunting. Incredible as it now seems, there was no paid, formal training at all. Cleaners taught themselves and attended unpaid Mutual Improvement Classes (MICs) run by experienced drivers and firemen in their own time, often between church and brass band practice on Sunday morning in a driver’s front parlour! Eventually a cleaner would obtain a full time fireman’s appointment, often

Mayflower passes Sheringham West Signal Box

posted to a depot far from home, beginning the slow progression through the rosters, called links. This would see them starting on shed, local and shunting work, gradually venturing further afield, then onto semi-fast passenger work and long-haul freights before finally getting onto express passenger trains. Promotion through the links and grades was on a rigid system based on length of service or seniority, what is commonly known as ‘Buggins’ Turn’! To working class men with no formal qualifications their seniority was often the only thing they had to distinguish them from those around them and was jealously guarded. After ten years or so, and still studying in his own time, a fireman would be examined and passed for driving, becoming a Passed Fireman, thereafter being available for the most lowly driving duties, usually shunting or preparation & disposal of locomotives. Finally, perhaps in his late thirties or early forties he would obtain promotion to Driver and begin the long haul through the links all over again, perhaps not becoming a ‘top link’ express driver until just a few years before retirement.

That same approach to driver training is built into the regime provided by the NNR Locomotive Operations Department, so that fits the bill - albeit on hopefully shorter timescales. One of the staff did ask me how old I was, and seemed satisfied that it might be feasible to earn a driver's role before I was... 60? 70? pushing up the daisies? The group is based at the NNR Works at Weybourne, two miles from Sheringham and at the end of some nice biking roads; the car park is usually full so a bike will be the perfect thing to take me there when it's my turn.

So I've signed up; a nice lady Volunteer Coordinator called me and gave me access to the NNR Volunteers website and Facebook group, so I can start the learning process.

Today, Thomas the Tank Engine Day on the NNR, I went to Sheringham to undergo the first part of the training, the Personal Track Safety course and test. I'd read the PTS section of the Operating Manual (several times) and watched the training video (again, several times) and today had some practical experience of walking around the yard at Sheringham with the Operations Officer, answering questions about where to walk (and where not to walk), train movements, visibility and PPE; apparently oil industry yellow HiViz coats are not allowed on the railway - it has to be orange. I sat the 35 question test in the buffet at Sheringham station, amongst dozens of small visitors and their Mums & Dads, whilst Percy chuffed up and down outside.

I am pleased to say I scored 100% - the Oil & Gas industry certainly leaves you tuned in to HSE matters, and I now have my Volunteer's ID card. Next is the Steam Induction Day, in a couple of weeks; I'll need to sort out some suitable overalls since my modern, bright red overalls with their reflective HiViz stripes look a bit out of place in the Edwardian scene that Weybourne represents...