The Junior Volunteers Group provides volunteering opportunities for young people aged 10 to 15. We currently have 60 Junior Volunteers on our books. They are supported by a team of adult supervisors together with a team of Assistant Supervisors who were Junior Volunteers but have now reached the age of 16. Everyone works together to gain knowledge of how NYMR operates and to learn a range of appropriate skills. 

The Junior Volunteers Group has four main groups, with around 12 Junior Volunteers in each.  The groups meet once a month from April to October, except for July when, during Junior Volunteers Week, six days of activities are organised, including social gatherings.

Junior Motive Power Department (MPD) Group

This group deals with all things related to the MPD. We help out with tasks that the shed staff needs completing, from fencing up to cleaning locomotives. If you’re interested in helping out in the shed or moving onto the footplate, this is the group to join! The MPD group is for Juniors 13+.

Saturday Squad, Sunday Squad and 2023 Team

These squads are held on a Saturday or Sunday. The members go all around the railway doing whatever needs to be done, be it fencing, concreting, painting, you name it. All three squads are open to Juniors 10+.

Junior Volunteer Week

Members of the MPD Group and the Saturday and Sunday Squads take part in Junior Volunteers Week at the end of July. They work at various locations along the line, as well as at stations and on the trains. The wide range of activities on offer includes, MPD work, carriage cleaning, fencing, TTI, guarding, catering, retail, and signal maintenance. The Junior Volunteers are trained and supported by a team of Supervisors and Assistant Supervisors together with staff and other volunteers who all help to make the week a worthwhile experience.  Check out our most recent Junior Volunteer Week Report from 2019.

What can this lead onto?

The Junior Volunteers Group can help young people progress onto all parts of the railway. We have plenty of roles that can suit everyone, a few examples being:

• Operating Department (Travelling Ticket Inspectors, Guards & Signalmen)
• Footplate Department (Cleaners, Firemen & Diesel/Steam Drivers)
• Engineering (Loco maintenance and rebuilding, Carriage refurbishment & Wagon rebuilding)
• Commercial Department (Catering, Shop sales & Customer Services)

Moving On

On reaching 16, a good number stay on NYMR as full volunteers. There are now ex-Junior Volunteers who drive, fire and prepare our steam locomotives, check tickets on-board and guard our trains, help passengers and dispatch trains efficiently as station foremen.  Others work with the permanent way team maintaining the track and the lineside, help station groups and assist with special events such as the Santa Special trains. 

Since the Junior Volunteers Group was started in 2008, several young people have found full or part-time employment in the mainline and heritage railway sectors. 

Whatever and wherever our Junior Volunteers move onto when they reach 16 we are confident that they have learned to volunteer their time in a good cause, have learned a range of skills, made friends and helped NYMR to achieve its goals, including keeping the railway maintained and running.

 

Get Involved