As the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) prepares for its 2022 season, which starts in April, it has launched a major recruitment campaign for volunteers to fill hundreds of varied roles across the Railway.

The NYMR is a registered charity and requires between 300-500 hours of volunteer support every day to bring its story to life.

Volunteers are needed in all areas to keep the railway’s wheels turning.

As well as on the locomotive footplate, they are needed in the Infrastructure and Motive Power departments, to assist with the full breadth of civil engineering, building, electrical and mechanical work, and to help maintain, repair, and overhaul the railway’s fleet of steam and diesel locomotives.

Other volunteer roles available include travelling ticket inspectors, signalling and telecommunications, and helping with customer service, retail, catering, fundraising, and education.

In 2020 the railway recognised the important role that volunteers play and created a new role, Head of Volunteer Development.

Funding received from the Heritage Lottery Fund has allowed this role to be specifically designed with longevity in mind as part of the Yorkshire’s Magnificent Journey project, to focus on the future of volunteers, and the whole volunteer journey.

Marcus Aldrich, Head of Volunteer Development for the NYMR, commented: “Volunteers are the lifeblood of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway; it’s a challenging but hugely rewarding opportunity – with the offer of experiences that money just can’t buy.

“You don’t need to be a train enthusiast or know all the lingo, and we’d love a whole cross-section of people to apply. We’re particularly eager to recruit more female volunteers across every department.”

Phil Akester, Steam and Diesel Driver at the NYMR, has been a volunteer for over 13 years. He explained: “I’ve been at NYMR since I was 11 years old – I’m now 24. It’s my life – I live and breathe it; even the bad days are good. I’d pay to do it if I had to. It gives me an immense feeling of enjoyment, pride, and gratitude to drive, and be responsible for, our steam locomotives, the trains and our passengers.”

To join one of the most popular heritage railways in the UK and an accredited museum, helping to deliver the aims of the Charitable Trust, providing education for all ages, volunteers should apply at http://nymr.co.uk/volunteer