Young Tracksiders are back and paving the way for Talyllyn Railway’s future
YOUNG volunteers who undertake projects at the Talyllyn Railway have returned to action after a year’s absence through lockdown.
Tracksiders, the pioneer heritage railway’s club for junior members and their families, held the annual activities week during the spring bank holiday.
In previous years there had been two week-long programmes of activities in May and October organised for young members, accompanied by at least one adult, usually from their own family.
Maintenance work
The programme involves working on various projects, often alongside the 7½-mile line. Tasks include weeding and gardening, footpath maintenance, and occasional maintenance of the railway’s remaining sections of historic lineside slate fencing.
One such project was the construction of the playground alongside Abergynolwyn’s station car park several years ago. It needs ongoing maintenance from time to time to ensure its continuing safety.
This year a maintenance project was also undertaken on necessary work on the steps and lineside footpath above Abergynolwyn station at Forestry Crossing. A second project in the week was extending the new discovery trail in the woodland below the station.
Social activities for the members have included a beach event with swimming, a barbeque, a rounders match, and an annual putting competition.
Tracksiders grew out of Trackside, a junior members newsletter originally edited by railway vice president Christopher Awdry.
Training opportunities
In response to a growing concern among members to encourage the recruitment of younger volunteers, the first Tracksiders working party was set up in 1997 and until 2020 had met each year. The number of volunteer days given to the railway is now well in excess of 4000.
Tracksiders is run by Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society member Ian Evans, who is assisted by several fellow and sometimes a number of former Tracksiders who enjoy returning as young adults to encourage and occasionally to lend a hand. One such young adults is now editor of the Trackside newsletter.
Tracksiders provides a first introduction to volunteering on the railway, and is considered to be an important part of the Talyllyn’s commitment to engaging with and encouraging young members to work towards becoming active volunteers.
The group’s young volunteers are not allowed to be involved in the running of trains or to go on site at Pendre workshops due to age restrictions and for health and safety reasons, but there is an opportunity to go on to join the society’s pioneer training and development scheme, an award-winning two-year programme for students aged 14 and 15 who might wish to begin a pathway to eventual volunteering at 16 years old.
Operating roles
A significant number of regular TR volunteers, now aged in their 20s, began as Tracksiders and the group now has a distinguished track record; two former Tracksiders are already qualified volunteer locomotive drivers, several more are guards and firemen, and more still are working towards eventual qualification.
Society chairman Jonathan Mann said: “We are extremely proud of our Tracksiders and our 14 and 15-yearold trainees.
“The Tracksiders carry out carefully supervised work alongside the railway with huge enthusiasm, and for many this is the start of many years of volunteering and friendship on the Talyllyn.
“The work they do really enhances the railway, and they learn useful, practical skills.
“As they become older, they can join the training and development scheme, so that when they are aged 16 and able to volunteer on the operating side, they have a head start.
“With such enthusiasm from so many young people, I am confident that the future of the railway is in safe hands.
“I would like to record my thanks to all those who work tirelessly to enable these activities to take place.”
Find out more at www.talyllyn. co.uk/support-us/young-volunteers