An award plaque has been officially unveiled at Tywyn Wharf station to recognise the dedication by the Talyllyn Railway‘s volunteer working group for families known as Tracksiders.

In 1996, the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society’s late Vice-President Winston McCanna founded Tracksiders along with volunteer Ian Evans who led the concept.

Since 1997, the railway has held working weeks dedicated to engaging with young people under 14 and their families.

In February this year, the Tracksiders’ hard work was rewarded at the Heritage Railway Association‘s Annual Awards ceremony when they received the “Team of the Year” award.

The official unveiling of the Award plaque took place last Sunday, 26th May at the railway’s first-ever Tracksiders Day, when most of the operating roles were undertaken by volunteers who had been a Tracksider.

After Ian Evans had described the history of the Tracksiders group, he gave the honour of unveiling the plaque to the two youngest members of Tracksiders – Adam and Ollie. The award plaque now has pride of place alongside other awards on a brand-new awards wall at Tywyn Wharf station.

After the awards ceremony, the Tracksiders went straight back to working on odd jobs in and around Tywyn Wharf yard in full view of the public. During the day, a new family signed up to join Tracksiders.

The families work in supervised groups on projects to maintain the railway, such as painting, fencing, clearing undergrowth, restoring slate fencing, and building footpaths.

Up to 30 youngsters and their parents take part in the working groups, which take place for up to a week several times a year, including during the Spring Bank Holiday and half-term weeks in May and October.

Since its inception, many Tracksiders have continued a relationship with the Talyllyn Railway by becoming volunteer guards, blockmen, firemen, and drivers.

Junior members of Tracksiders always work with parental or guardian supervision, are not involved in operating any trains, and are not allowed in the Pendre workshops or the locomotive sheds.

The main emphasis with Tracksiders is that it is for families to become involved. It also has a social side, with an annual putting competition; picnics; barbeques, and beach parties.

Members find they have fun while learning new skills and making friends, and many members of the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society have developed life-long friendships from their earliest days on the railway.

Further information about Tracksiders and how to become involved can be found by clicking here.
https://www.talyllyn.co.uk/support/young-volunteers/

Earlier this month, Lord Hendy, chair of Network Rail, unveiled a heritage plaque on the walkway next to Barmouth Viaduct, then rode in a Class 97 locomotive from Barmouth to Tywyn where he unveiled cast nameplates in the style of the Talyllyn Railway logo.

In March a footplate crew formed of a mother and her daughter became the first all-female crew of the same family from two generations to have crewed a steam engine in preservation.