Moorsline needs 200,000 volunteer hours per season
THE North Yorkshire Moors Railway needs its volunteer team to cover 200,000 hours during a normal operating season – an average of 22 hours per person every month.
Figures released by Britain's most popular heritage line in terms of passenger numbers revealed that 14% of volunteers have given service for more than 20 years, and 15% travel more than 160 miles to get there.
More than 50% support the operating department, while the biggest department is the footplate department with a team of more than 210 volunteer engine cleaners, firemen and drivers. The second biggest volunteer department is the motive power depot, with 73 regular volunteers.
Also, a team of 15 work strategically with the North Yorkshire Moors National Park to conserve and manage wildlife, as highlighted in our special feature in issue 278.
The figures were released at the start of the June 1-7 national volunteers' week.
The line's head of volunteer development Marcus Aldrich said: “Our volunteers are the life and soul of the railway, without whom we simply wouldn't be able to run.”
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer on the line is invited to visit nymr.co.uk/volunteer or alternatively become a virtual fundraiser: see nymr. co.uk/virtual-volunteers