Places features

Without the sterling efforts of committed volunteers our heritage railway and preservation movement simply would not exist.

The Tanfield Railway developed from a handful of enthusiasts clubbing together to buy a few colliery and industrial engines that were fast disappearing nearly 40 years ago, to what you see today.

It is then you realise just what has been achieved by volunteers from virtually nothing.

The expansion places ever increasing pressures on the volunteers involved with locomotive, carriage and wagon restoration and maintenance, building and track work, signalling, operating the trains and, of course, a key source of income for the railway - the shop.

Steam loco Renishaw in a blizzard.

Being a volunteer is not about strutting around the Station in a smart uniform (there are a few!), but there are many in the background doing rather less glamorous jobs.

Perhaps lighting up an engine at 6am, humping sleepers and rails around, scraping the rust off an old wagon, or cleaning the station toilets.

It is on these people that the railway is totally dependent for its continued viability.

All the volunteers have to be trained, and periodically examined, to ensure the safe operation of the railway. It can be a dangerous environment so the safety of its volunteers and our visitors is paramount.

Volunteers are not necessarily from a railway background. We have teachers, health workers, factory workers, a retired bank manager and retired surgeon.

Just because you retire from your daytime job does not mean you have to retire from life altogether.

Volunteers take a break between trains.

There is a lot fun to be had in volunteering. The railway offers good camaraderie and light hearted banter, plenty of tea drinking and social activities. Building friendships is so much easier with a common interest in the world of railways.

As one of the signalmen at Tanfield my duties involve the safe operation of the points and signals controlling the train movements. I also check the equipment is working properly before train services commence. This more or less makes up an 8 hour day - that's about 400 signal box hours a year.

There is great joy to be had in volunteering. If you have some spare leisure time why not give it a try? Whatever you skills (or not) your local heritage railway needs you!

Click on the following link to see pictures of Tanfield Railway.