In the first week of June, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway will join the 40th anniversary celebrations of Volunteer Week, which this year has the theme of ‘Every moment matters’.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a registered charity with a dedicated team of 1,050 volunteers working in all departments from firing and driving trains to maintaining the track and lineside.

For over 50 years their efforts have brought the award-winning attraction to life and put smiles on visitors’ faces.

Volunteer Week is from the 3rd to the 9th of June, and as part of the railway’s ‘Put Yourself in the Picture’ volunteer recruitment campaign, drop-in sessions will take place at Grosmont and Pickering for prospective volunteers.

At Grosmont station, the drop-in session will be on 3rd June from 10 am to 1 pm, and at Pickering station on 4th June from 10 am to 1 pm. Anyone interested in volunteering on the railway can meet staff and other volunteers to learn how to become involved, what it means to be a volunteer at the railway, and the lifelong rewards that come with the role.

There are currently volunteer opportunities in many areas including catering on the Pullman cars and in Goathland and Grosmont tearooms, station staff at Goathland and Grosmont, signalling & telecommunications, and the permanent way.

The Motive Power Depot is always looking for support for those who don’t mind getting their hands dirty.

To find out more and ‘Put Yourself in the Picture’ or to apply to be a volunteer, further details are online at nymr.co.uk/volunteer/.

I’ve been at the NYMR for seven years, and I love every moment of it. I like meeting people and talking with them – the passengers like a bit of banter, and I often do the door and greet people onto the train, that’s a nice part of it. It’s a real experience, you meet some lovely people, and I have wonderful colleagues, who I’m affectionately known to as ‘The Gravy Queen’. I wish I’d started volunteering years ago!

Chris Kettlewell, steward volunteer on the ailway’s Pullman Dining Train

I’ve been volunteering at the NYMR since I was 11 years old. 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. Whilst here, I’ve been surrounded by lots of different people, of all ages, backgrounds, personalities, and learned how to communicate and work with different abilities and attitudes. It gives you confidence and reality checks when things don’t go how you thought they would – as is life!

Phil Akester, steam and diesel driver

Over the fifty years I’ve been at the NYMR, I have made some long-lasting friendships, which wouldn’t have happened otherwise – and that includes my wife! I’ve also had the opportunity to drive and fire a wide variety of different steam and diesel locomotives and learn so much in the process. No two days are the same, whether it be driving or firing a steam locomotive, or walking the line for photography. Volunteering is a challenge but it’s enjoyable and rewarding too.

John Hunt, long-standing volunteer

Volunteering on the NYMR is a superb way of beginning my retirement in a positive and life-enhancing way. I have so many opportunities to interact with our passengers to help them get the most out of their visit to our wonderful heritage railway; it’s a real privilege to be able to enhance their experience through the good care and attention, kindness and warmth that is at the heart of our professional approach. Volunteering here is deeply satisfying and I am so glad that I took the opportunity as soon as I could.

Rev Dr David W Perry, travelling ticket inspector