penny whistle

So it was inevitable! Digging for the 'pennies' that form the foundation of who I am was always going to lead something railway related. As hinted at in a previous post, my earliest days were spent just a few feet from the East Coast Mainline. The steam and diesel fumes literally the air that I breathed.

Just as we arrived in Scarborough I spotted an advert asking for volunteers to work on the historic Scarborough North Bay Railway. The bit of me that had resolved not to take on new things for a little while as I adjusted to a new way of life started fighting with the part of me which knew this was an opportunity made for me. So a few weeks ago I started my training as a guard on what is dubbed 'Britain's biggest miniature railway'. Opened in 1931 the line runs for a little under a mile from the former Northstead Manor Gardens (now the site of Scarborough Open Air Theatre), along North Bay to Scalby Mills. The 20 inch gauge line operates with the original locomotives and rolling stock, with two additional locos which have seen life in parts of Britain. Built to resemble the iconic Gresley A3 Pacifics the two original engines are in fact among the world's oldest diesel hydraulic locomotives. They have never been steam powered, coming with their own special history. Built in Leeds they embody the glorious era of pre-war rail travel. Passengers and passers-by are fascinated when they see the trains waiting at Peasholm station. . 

The sheer joy and excitement shown by the young children is exhilarating, and so are the smiles of the older children who come to relive journeys taken 20, 30 and more years ago. One of the most moving moments I have experienced so far came when an elderly gentleman arrived with his family. He told the story of his last ride on the line, aged 10. He revealed that it had been in the equivalent week in 1939 - the very week that the Second World War began!

The last few weeks have sped by as I have learned the routines, the safety regulations and the history. A constant series of practical and written assessments, a reminder that for its diminutive size, this is a real heritage railway where safety and customer service are paramount. But, I have discovered so much more than I expected:

From the screaming of the kids as we go through the tunnel, to dealing with the constant flow of pushchairs, wheelchairs, walking frames, bikes and assorted wheeled devices completely new to me, to the life stories which spill out in moments of conversation with passengers, there has been so much of seeing the best in humanity. So many families with children and adults with additional needs remind me of the love and dedication that overcomes all difficulty. The lone passengers who are reminiscing about partners who are no longer alive, or about happy childhoods which are briefly regained as they travel, tell their stories with ease, the old wooden carriages becoming a safe space to share the joy and sadness of life, 

The 9 or 10 return trips up and down the line each day have had a personal effect too. Standing in the open guard's compartment at the back of the train as it rattles along at a stately 10 miles per hour has proved to be therapy. The rhythmic 'clackety-clack' of wheels on track, the gentle swaying and the ever-changing vista of North Bay, add up to a peace and calm not easily found in other areas of life.

 Then there is the whistle. The one I use was last blown by dad when dispatching much bigger trains. It is a connection and very much the tangible 'penny in the foundations' of this story. A physical link with a past that is still very much alive.