■ Tyseley to stage its next open day entirely online

MORE than 100 volunteers have responded to Vintage Trains' (VT) call to arms to help out in their hour of need.

As highlighted last issue, with many of Tyseley's staff furloughed, company secretary Robin Coombes issued an appeal for volunteers to take over a variety of roles during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Volunteer officer Matthew Self was recently unfurloughed to both assist existing staff with home working and the induction of the potential new volunteers.

The company has drawn up plans for the volunteers to help develop projects from home, starting with the development of the North Warwickshire Line under its new banner of the Shakespeare Line and embedding the 'Shakespeare Express' within the anticipated national timetable developments which will upgrade services in the West Midlands.

Projects

Secondly, volunteers are needed for the regeneration of the GWR staff club next to Tyseley depot. Finally, a third group will be directed to fundraising and establishing a social media team.

VT chairman Michael Whitehouse said:" We're in good shape because we have a war chest of money. We do not owe anyone a halfpenny:'

As reported in Main Line News ( pages 50- 51), VT has cancelled its entire railtour programme for 2020, but vowed to return with a vengeance once lockdown is over. "The Shakespeare Line will be like the Severn Valley or North Yorkshire Moors railways but running at 60mph:' said Michael.

Anyone who would like to volunteer for VT, working from home, is invited to email robin. coombes@ vintagetrains. co. uk