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Dirty but Happy, The Cleaning Gang Information for volunteers - Motive Power Locomotive Department. We would like to welcome you to the West Somerset Railway, to its volunteer body The West Somerset Railway Association and in particular the Locomotive Department. The W.S.R.A. exists to support the company the W.S.R. plc. The Locomotive Department is under the control of the Chief Mechanical Engineer [C.M.E] We assist him with cleaning engines and supply the crews (Drivers and Firemen) to operate the locomotives. Any engineering skills are also in great demand assisting with the restoration or overhaul of the locomotive fleet. If any of the above roles interests you at all then please join the Locomotive Department!. What is required? You must be physically fit. Locomotive footplate work is extremely hard, very hot, and dirty work for most of the time. You will need strength and stamina and be prepared to do some real physical work. Firemen and Drivers also need to start work very early at 06.30 am to light up the loco and prepare it and raise steam for the day's work. We can, depending where you are rostered, also start at either Minehead or Bishops Lydeard, so your own transport is essential and you must be a reliable timekeeper as we do not carry spare staff! . You will be required to undergo regular medicals and have good colour vision and eyesight. Footplate crews are required to be medically fit in order to operate passenger or any type of train. Practical and theoretical training will be given, written examinations, including oral and practical examinations must be taken and passed before each authorisation to become a Passed Cleaner, Fireman, or Driver. Age limits do apply. Realistically it will take seven to ten years to become a Driver, so do start early; don't leave it too late. Drivers retire currently at 65 years, or 70 years at the Company board's discretion and subject to a yearly medical. Firemen retire at 70 years again subject to yearly medicals. Are you still able and willing to join us? You will start as an Engine Cleaner; we meet throughout the year at Minehead every other Saturday where we clean engines from 08.30 until 16.30. Note that this is an extremely dirty job so please wear old clothes and bring a pair of overalls and a pair of steel toecap safety boots. Cleaning is essential on a steam engine and we try and maintain our locomotives to a high standard on the West Somerset Railway. When cleaning you will learn all the various parts of an engine and railway knowledge will slowly build up. Firing School is held once a month on one of the Saturday cleaning days and the afternoon is spent in the classroom where theory sessions and exams take place. Having attended four cleaning sessions this then earns you a Footplate Knowledge Trip, when you will travel on the footplate with a Driver and Fireman to start learning the practical side of the process. Subject to satisfactory progress being made, both practical and theoretical, selection for formal training as a Fireman takes place; this then becomes one training turn for each cleaning session attended. When the training standard is achieved you will be selected to take an examination which if successful then promotes you to a “Passed Cleaner” A “Passed Cleaner” is still a Cleaner who is qualified and can act as a Fireman when required to do so. Again after becoming proficient when acting as a Fireman you are selected and examined to become a “Fireman”. The grade of Fireman is an important one and it is here that you will gain experience in all aspects of firing and footplate work. If you are able to perform and carry out these duties in a professional manner and have the right attitude you may then be selected for Driver training. After sufficient training turns have been completed and when the standard for Driver is achieved you will again be examined and if successful will be promoted to a “Passed Fireman” who is qualified and can act as a Driver when required to do so. Eventually, subject to satisfactory performance and suitability, selection and promotion to Driver takes place. Note: All promotion is subject to ability, selection, examination, and vacancy, in any particular grade. If, after all this, you are sure the footplate is for you, then please contact me for further details and Cleaning dates at Minehead. Merv Hebditch Firing Instructor Telephone 01823 284347 21, Comeytrowe Lane , Taunton , Somerset. TA1 5PA |
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