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Junior Members By Matthew
Turner
Junior members range from the age
of 12 to16 where they then progress onto adult membership with more
responsibilities. I spent two years at the G.C.R. with my Dad, who glazed the
signal boxes along the line. From there I spent nine years at another 7 1/4”
gauge railway until I returned at the end of the 2004 season at the age of
16. I soon became reacquainted with the familiar faces of the railway, and
with team spirit, a helping hand and the friendly atmosphere the G.C.R made
me feel right at home (again). I am now a trainee driver and with a bit of
luck a qualified signalman around the start of the 2006 season. I started off like every
junior, at Hardwick Central Station, This is the main station where all
passengers start and end their journey. There are many jobs that the juniors
are able to do at Hardwick, these include: turntable duty, clipping tickets,
loading passengers, checking tail lamps and other tasks around the station.
Working close to the locomotives and drivers, juniors soon will be able to
try their hand at driving ‘Pinza’, our very own Deltic diesel locomotive on
the signals train in the morning and evening. Once they have shown
commitment to the railway, they will spend time with one of our many
qualified drivers and progress onto become a shunt driver. Responsible for
the safe running of a real steam locomotive, where they will have to develop
quick turnaround times to ensure that the next train can leave as soon as
possible and not to delay the working of the mainline. Not to mention
steaming up in the morning, cleaning and putting the loco away in the
evening. On top of all that, occasionally they might get the opportunity to
drive on the main line to refine their skills as a driver. At the age of 16 junior
members are able to train with the S & T department (Signal &
Telegraph). Our S & T department is said to be the best of its kind
within the miniature railway world and so it is well worth the hours of
training and is an area which needs more junior interest. Junior members
start at Cockcrow Hill Signal Box, the smallest box along the line, but that
doesn’t mean that it is easy, however it is well worth the effort and
tremendously satisfying, if it all goes well. After spending a season as a
shunt driver, reaching 16 and showing the skills needed, a junior member will
become a trainee driver and be able to drive paying passengers the full
length of the line. Other jobs that can be done and that I am trained to do
are: ticket office clerk, where you handle money, answer any questions from
the public and remember, you are the first person the public see. Another
high profile job is the Station Master, where you are responsible for looking
after passengers getting on and off trains, helping staff working under you
to do their job efficiently and the general safe working of the station. During the season when the
railway is closed, the junior members are as essential as if it were the
height of summer. You can find me as well as many other members working away
laying down new track, repairing old track and helping with repairs to
locomotives and rolling stock in all types of weather. Without this essential
repair work after the strenuous workings of the summer season, the railway
would not be able to provide its service during the following year. This is my average working day
at the G.C.R. Many junior members
don’t spend as much time as this at the railway, but I believe that to get
the best out of the railway, I have to put a lot of time in and after all,
you get out what you put in. 10:00 – Arrive, sign in. 10:15 – Go to the depot, give
the Deltic a check over. 10:20 – Start up and leave
with signals train to put out the majority of the signals. 11:30 – Leave Deltic up at
Cockcrow Hill and head back towards Hardwick. 11:40 – Lunch, if I’m lucky,
or any other odd jobs. 12:00 – Clean the 8F or any
other locomotives that I am needed on. 12:30 – Do pre-start checks. 13:30 – Hand over the loco to
the driver for that day, and head to Cockcrow Hill. 13:40 – Clean, check and oil
the signal box and points. 13:55 – Open signal box and
start shift working in the signal box. 15:30 – Finish shift and head
to Hardwick. 15:40 – Commence shift of
driving duties. 18:00 – Training run. 18:20 – Help with loco
disposals and make sure that the signals train is being done. 19:00 – Head for home, or
finish off any other jobs on the loco or workshop. The opportunities are
absolutely endless at the G.C.R. if a junior member shows an interest, they
are able to be taught by highly experienced and interesting men and women, from
permanent way (track work) to driving, from engineering parts for locos to
signalling. All that we expect from our junior members is to work six Sundays
during the summer season and the same again during the winter period and the
great thing is that there is no membership fee, all we ask is for their time. This also goes for our adult members as well. If you want any
information you can contact us on admin@cockcrow.co.uk come and have a talk
with one of our members on any Sunday of the year, you’re bound to find
someone on site even during the winter, as we say, ”it’s a labour of love”. |
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