Yorkshire apprentices' pride at keeping famous railway on track

A teenage apprentice who helps preserve steam locomotives at a heritage railway in North Yorkshire has spoken of his pride in the work he does.

Charlie Bauckham, 17, who is based at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR), said he felt "a real sense of achievement" as an apprentice.

His comments came at the start of National Apprenticeship Week.

Luke Hudman, from NYMR, said bringing the next generation through to keep the locos going was "really vital".

"It's teaching people those heritage skills to make sure we can maintain the locomotives," Mr Hudman added.

Mr Bauckham, who currently works in the railway's boiler shop, said: "I don't really know why I chose to work on a heritage railway. None of my family have a similar interest."

However, he said the "bug bit" following a visit to the railway as a young child.

"I saw the steam engine on the platform and we went for a ride and seeing the scenery rushing past and the sound of the engine, something about it all just got me," he said.

He added: "Working in the boiler shop you're working on the heart of the engines.

"So when you see them fired up for the first time and you see them go past on the line, everything working as it should, there's a real sense of achievement in that."

The 188-year-old NYMR operates along a 24-mile (39km) route between Pickering and Grosmont, and is run with the support of over 600 volunteers.

Aleisha Bell, 37, is also an apprentice at the railway who is retraining after working for 10 years at a primary school.

She said she mainly worked outside, maintaining the railway line and its surrounding area.

"I absolutely love it," Ms Bell said.

"I had no idea how big the conservation group was and how much work they do. It's such a beautiful area and we get to see so many different habitats."

She said that working on the NYMR was "a little bit daunting" at first.

"But, I've been doing it five months now and I've learned so much already and I just want to keep going," she said.

Mr Hudman said some of the tasks the apprentices on the NYMR carried out today were "actually what they would have done 60 years ago, when they were running on the network full time".

He added that there were always "lots of applicants" whenever apprenticeships were advertised on the railway.

"So, those who end up in the apprenticeships are really proud of what they've achieved and what they're doing."

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