Crich Tramway Village, Home of the National Tramway Museum is launching a nationwide search to find volunteers to train as tram conductors on its fleet of operational vintage trams.
The traditional art of conducting on public service road vehicles is now rarely experienced in Britain. With the end of the London Routemaster buses, conductors on conventional buses have now almost disappeared. Exceptions are the local modern tram systems in Sheffield and Nottingham, and also in Blackpool.
The Tramway Village needs a large team of volunteers with up to 10 conductors on duty on the different trams on busy event days during the summer season. Volunteers come from all over the country and even from overseas.
The job involves conducting traditional British tramcars, of varying types on one mile of running track, including taking the tram to and from the depot. Conductors are responsible for the safe boarding, seating and alighting of passengers, the correct signalling to the driver, collecting fares and issuing tickets. Conductors also assist with setting points, turning trolley poles and handling single line tokens.
Volunteer conductor Roy Stone says, “The job is very enjoyable and you get to meet visitors from all over the world who come to ride the vintage trams. The job I do now is the same as it would have been a hundred years ago. We even collect the fare of one old penny from passengers, given to them on arrival at the entrance, and issue old style tickets.”
The Museum is renowned for it world-class designated collection of vintage tramcars many of which have been painstakingly restored to pristine condition and carry passengers through a recreated village street along a mile of track and out into the open countryside.
Conductors are required to present a smart appearance and be reasonably fit, aged between 16 and 75 years old, and be capable of stopping a tram in an emergency. No experience is needed and full training will be given to suitable candidates.
If you are interested in helping to keep this traditional art of conducting alive please contact Roy Stone at Crich Tramway Village, Crich, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 5DP. Telephone 01773 854357, or click here to email us.
