A Volunteers Day, organised by the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland, will be held at Whitehead Railway Museum at the end of the month.
This will be an opportunity for the public to see what goes on behind the scenes at the RPSI’s headquarters, and to hear all about the opportunities to join the team of volunteers who make it all happen.
The Volunteers Day will take place on Saturday 28 September, with two sessions held at 11am and 2pm in The Stables Gallery building at the museum.
There are many areas in which the RPSI offers opportunities to would-be volunteers – from working on carriage and locomotive restoration to staffing the Tea Room, acting as a guide to the museum, admin, selling souvenirs and working in the buffet car.
Volunteers act as carriage stewards on the Society’s steam trains, and are involved in trackwork and electrical upgrades of the site and train.
No previous knowledge or skill is required – just a willingness to get involved.
Induction and training are provided, and there are volunteering opportunities in Whitehead seven days a week. The Society also relies on volunteers to keep the wheels turning on its locomotives and carriages in Dublin.
Mark Walsh has been an RPSI volunteer for 18 years who provides skills and expertise in various areas including Loco Maintenance.
“My first love is the operations and the maintenance of the steam locomotives. When you look around Northern Ireland generally you will realise what we have lost of our heritage; we are just about the only people who do the proper coal-shovelling and heavy metal work of previous generations. I find that incredible. The engines do not go without teamwork and some of the things we’ve achieved are incredible,” he said.
And he added: “Myself and some others both younger than me became Assessors in Sept 2018. We have put in place a training programme for working on the steam engines that seems to be paying off.”
Lisa Adair, the General Manager of the RPSI, said volunteers are the lifeblood of the Society and they are always keen to welcome new recruits.
“This Volunteers Day will provide the opportunity for prospective new team members to meet current volunteers, explore the facilities and discover what is involved to become a volunteer. There is a real camaraderie amongst the team and several of our volunteers have been with us for decades.
“Recruits are required to be 18 plus and we encourage everyone to pop along for a cuppa to find out more,” she added.
The Volunteers Day will take place on Saturday 28 September, with two sessions held at 11am and 2pm in The Stables Gallery building at the museum. To register your interest and for more information, visit, https://www.steamtrainsireland.com.
Photo Credit: Charles P Friel.
