Thinking about volunteering on a local tourist RR

If you have the time, I don't see why not.  You could slowly build up your skills over the years.

Kent in SD

If you're so inclined, I don't see any reason not to.

Rusty

I was a volunteer on a similar line, shorter, only one mile, from 1999-2001. Eventually I qualified as both conductor and engineer. It was an incredible experience. I think you will really enjoy it. However: my o-gauge railroading suffered greatly. Let's face it, A ZW handle is nothing like a real throttle. I did realize after a time I was doing the same things as I did on my o-gauge line (moving trains, switching cars, etc.) just at a different scale.

Remember: "The railroad is unforgiving."   Safety will be paramount and, "When in doubt, the safe course of action must be taken."

I look forward to hearing about your progress!

Feel free to email me off line, too.

I'm a volunteer on the New Hope Valley Railway, working as a steam locomotive fireman. It's really an awesome experience, and I very much reccommend you try it. You will make some great friends.

Shortly before I began volunteering, I asked a railroader friend of mine the same question regarding advice. I thought his reply was awesome, so I will pass it on here.

Advice? Always look up when standing up so you don’t bump your head. Buy a really cheap rain coat to wear when oiling or greasing the locomotive (trust me, spending the day with a dollop of grease anywhere on your person is uncomfortable). The old guys have the best stories, but usually don’t like to share with the younger folks. Find out what the old timers drink and fill their glass first. Always remember the difference between a Fairytale and a railroad story (a railroad story begins, “this ain’t no bull****"). Most of all, have fun! Some volunteers get caught up in the political falderal that can swirl around some of these groups. When it stops being a hobby, stop doing it for awhile.

SJC

I joined WSRR in 2007 and spend two day a week up there. There is always something to do. We have the train to do, buildings and grounds, restorations and the track crew.

You'll be able to find a spot you like. Talk to John Z he is up there now with us on the track crew.

If you want to work the train you must be at the March 2 class.

It doesn't hurt to try it. I started with the buildings then went to track and stayed there. I also ran through the training to the train at the same time and am now an Engineer on the line. something I never thought I would do.

Were very visable at the moment replacing 300 ties allong the stretch of rail right next to RT.15.

I have the 9339 sitting there slowely restoring it when I can. John is helping me with that also.

Steam will be back this year in May.

Jamie

That's pretty high up to start! My title when I first volunteered with the steam crew was "Assistant to the Junior Engine Wiper's Apprentice," which they just shortend to "helper."

Did volunteer railroading myself for a couple years. 

Advice 1. - If you have time, absolutely do it.  Have fun.

Advice 2. - Pay strict attention to the rules, volunteering is volunteering but any railroad that interchanges with another road is the real thing.  Your actions have can have an affect on someone else's safety and or career.

Advice 3. - Now that the heavy stuff is out of the way,  despite the other non-interchange experience you have, be humble when you start.  Remember this railroad is already functioning without you because existing people have filled the jobs.  My experience was that most volunteer groups are always looking for more people but you need to take things in first.

Advice 4. - this is the big one I learned after the fact.  no matter how wrapped up you get in the railroad remember your personal relations need maintenance too.  I was very heavily in tourist rr volunteer work when I met my future wife.  I almost lost her early on because I was spending every weekend at the RR.

I have great memories of volunteering on the Laurel Highlands and wouldn't trade them for anything.  Jump in with both feet until you get through rules orientation and get your hands-on training completed.  Then set yourself a schedule and enjoy!

+1

I was a volunteer at the East Troy Trolley Museum when we first opened in 1972.  Several great years involved until I moved away from Wisconsin in 1976 for business reasons.  If it's anything for you like it was for me, you'll meet some new friends that will stick with you all your life.  You'll also learn a lot more about railroading than you ever thought possible.

I found it most rewarding and would have liked to stay active with the group until I retired and then would have liked to take a low paying position, just to keep myself involved and to strengthen the museum's operation and organization.  Alas, it didn't happen that way and I never got active in another operating organization, again.   My one consolation is that even though there were different groups running the operation, the actual RR museum operation is still running over 40 years later.  I think that I contributed to that, a bit.

Paul Fischer

I thank all for their replies. They are much appreciated. 

Bill - Thanks for the kind words here and on Facebook. I know you were at the B&O Museum for some time but didn't think to ask about it when I last saw you. I'll have to give you a call or shoot you an email. 

Steve - Thanks for the tips. This is something I've always wanted to do but never have. Granted I have no experience in these sorts of things - never hooked up glad hands, etc, etc, etc. The 2-foot gauge RR I currently run on uses non-standard equipment unique to our stuff. Not much carries over to the big stuff. With my no experience, I would think much of the app. brakeman training will focus on these things. I want to learn and already have learned much, and feel a bit overwhelmed just going through the rulebook. In the same way, you have to start to learn this stuff somewhere! 

Jamie - Thanks for the reply. I know we have spoken on the forum a bit on the WS. This is all new to me but want to learn. The rules class I plan to attend, since my interest, as of now, is in train ops. Granted I won't be there as much as you are, but hope to be there once or twice a month depending on my work and school schedules. 

jhz- Thanks for the tips. As I mentioned, I have no experience doing this and the 2 foot gauge equipment I run now uses things generally unique to our stuff. I do want to learn and feel like I will. Lots of things to learn of course but it is something I really wanted to do and hope to enjoy it and meet some nice folks. 

Thanks again all!

Told my wife about this thread.  She wanted me to point out that we will be married for 10 yrs this fall.  I must have done something right.

Have fun

Don't get too intimdated by the rules--no one has them all memorized. Pay attention in class. Just remember those rules are there so that you don't make the same mistake someone else may have in the past. A lot of railroading is about common sense.

It sounds like you already know this, but do far more listening than talking. Watch how people do things. If you don't know how to do something, always ask. These guys know you're inexperienced, but won't hold that against you--they'll be very happy to teach you the proper way to do things.

There are times when you might hear a couple ways to do things from different people. In that case, see what works best for you, keeping safety in mind.

Keep your eyes and ears open, have situational awareness, and always remember that a train can approach you at any time, on any track, from any direction. Also, this stuck with me the first time I heard it: We all think trains are cool, but that equipment has absolutely no concern for you or your safety.

Thanks again Steve. For me, I'd rather have more rules as, at least in theory, it would help make a safer operation. 

I've been going back and forth with one volunteer asking a number of questions but am really just wanting to get a feel for what to expect on March 2. As I've mentioned, I want to learn these things and enjoy myself in the meantime. 

I've been one to stress the "always expect a train motto" and almost got nailed one afternoon when I was off my guard. On our 2 foot gauge RR, I was out doing a track inspection and heard 3 short blasts for backing up, just thinking they were doing some switching in between excursions as passenger ridership had died down (we run passenger excursions on about a mile of 2 foot gauge track). Only a few minutes later, I look up and here they come, about 100 feet from me, in between public runs, with the empty passenger train, in reverse with the engine pushing. They didn't see me until the engine passed me standing on the side of the ROW, a bit freaked out, as they went by. I forget the reason for the unplanned reverse run on the main, well outside of the yard, but it really hit home the fact that one should always expect a train. 

Our rules class is taught by a NS engineer who's also a volunteer on our RR. He's very good at it, and peppers his talk with all kinds of stories about real-life situations he's experienced. It's serious and sobering, but very enlightening. Afterwards, the newer folks are taken out to the yard to practice throwing switches or performing coupling/uncoupling moves.

I really think you'll enjoy volunteering.  Sounds like the place has a lot of opportunities, and even more so with steam coming. It may be a little overwhelming at first, but soon it'll all come together.

SJC

In response to your example about the track inspection incedent you gave. At the RR you NEVER run a train in reverse, even in the yard, with out a fireman on the rear giving orders. He can also dump the brakes from any of the stands. Only once have I come up on people on the track that was a real concern, they were wacked out on drugs, any did get out of the way before I could dump the breaks as a fireman.

The fireman is the engineers eyes in many cases. He is on the rear in push mode, and I'm in the cab pushing six cars and can't see a thing. They must communicate frequenely. If comunications fails (hand or radio) stop the train, period.

I didn't know anything about true operations until I started there. I have learned alot. Sometimes i didn't really understand why I was doing something until I went to the next level, then it was clear as a bell.

People watch each other as a safety precaution. We also work in pairs on track, and people know we are on the line. As I type this I know two guys are out on the line inserting ties and will call me when they leave so I know there not upside down in ditch somewhere.

I don't know of anyone failing the general rules test. It's well covered and discussed in the class before hand. You then get the ground experience that cements it in. Repeditive operation makes it second nature.

Jamie    

SJC

Give your self credit then I think you will find the safety rules are similar and you should breeze through the training class.

My guys reported in and gave me the stats for the day.

Jamie