B Van Appeal for Swanage Youth Group

[Rumpole]

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/news622.htm

An appeal has been launched for the restoration of the ex-Brighton B Van S259 for use as a headquarters by the Sygnets, the Swanage Railway youth group. We're all aware of how important it is to get the younger generation involved, so I hope no-one minds the blatant plug!

[bhallett]

No problem with the plug. It is good to see that the Swanage is valuing the youngsters of today and allowing them their own space and vehicle in which to develop their passion for railways.

[Rumpole]

They really are an excellent group, willing to put their hand to anything. So far they have assisted with wagon overhauls, done work on stations, helped with a project to improve facilities for crews at Swanage shed, and they have an overhaul of the railways first passenger loco to get on with when I get on with organising it.

They have also brought through a number of first class railwaymen; several members of our full-time staff have come up through their ranks.

[joe_issitt]

I'm all for youth groups on heritage railways or within organisation. Probably without the North Norfolks Junior Club I wouldnt have kept my interest in trains and I probably wouldnt have my job now!

Do most railways have a junior club of some sorts?

[Avonside1563]

Our Junior section at Foxfield have raised funds for, and are building, a ground level miniature line. A great way to learn at a scale they can easily manage!

[Ross]

Like joe I'm all for these junior groups. Unfortunatly my local didn't have one but many were young anyway so it was pretty easy to enjoy learning the jobs. With it I doubt I'd be the same today really!

I like to try and get others involved where I can. When I'm guarding, I usually try and show the TTI a few things but it really struck me when a father was talking to me whilst I was on the footplate alone cooking bacon sarnies. He was talking about how there was a lack of steam engineers coming through and he asked me to show his sons the food I was cooking! That really struck me.

Its got to be remebered how much an impact you can have on youth. I remeber having a birthday party at the railway I now work on at the age of about 5. I spoke to the fireman that day who was about 16. In true youth essence I asked him how old he was to get on the loco...16. I doubt said fireman remebers this but I do, and 10 years on I came back.

Good luck to Swanage, they seem to have done very well for themselves and I hope they continue to grow.