Two new apprentices will join the railway as part of its Yorkshire’s Magnificent Journey Project which is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a registered charity as well as an extremely popular heritage attraction and this year sees Cameron Ross and Jacob Swinburn who are both 19, join the team as mechanical engineering apprentices.

The railway’s new apprenticeship scheme has been running for three years now and saw Cameron and Jacob chosen from 25 other applicants due to their passion and enthusiasm for heritage rail.

The apprenticeship scheme includes a wonderful mix of hands-on experience and theory as well as one day at college each week leaving four days at the railway working with its teams who provide on-the-ground learning.

Finn Allen has been a Junior Volunteer with the railway since being 13 years old and was the very first Yorkshire’s Magnificent Journey apprentice and is almost ready to finish the programme. Having shown excellent potential, Finn will now work with the diesel department at the railway.

Nick Simpson, Motive Power Department Manager at the NYMR said: “We’re really excited about this new intake of apprentices. This is an incredible opportunity for anyone willing to get stuck in. With the right enthusiasm and willingness to learn, you can really progress into a fantastic career here. 

“I’m proof of that, having started out as an apprentice myself and now 17 years later I manage the whole shed. I know how beneficial this opportunity can be for young people which is why I’ve worked with over 20 apprentices at the NYMR and try to take on at least two new apprentices each year. 

“During this program, Cameron and Jacob will learn heritage skills you can’t pick up in the outside world, such as Imperial measurements. As per the YMJ brief, they’ll start by visiting and learning from all of the departments at the NYMR and get to work on everything from the diesels to the boiler shop and steam engines and eventually go onto fabrication, carriages, wagons and everything in between. It’s a proper apprenticeship. We celebrate getting mucky and teaching them how to swing spanners.”

As part of the Yorkshire’s Magnificent Journey project, apprenticeships have been undertaken in engineering, administration as well as countryside management of the lineside.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s £10 million Yorkshires Magnificent Journey project aims to both transform and secure the railway’s future using grants from the European Union, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Department of Environment Farming and Rural Affairs, the Local Enterprise Partnership alongside donations from the charity’s members and supporters. 

For further information about apprenticeships with the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, please visit: www.nymr.co.uk/apprenticeship-schemes