Hi everyboby
On the AMTP volunteers are a tricky issue since there are only 18 of them.. A regular operation day requires 6 volunteers, an engineer, a fireman, a conductor, a station agent in Pithiviers a bar tender at the buffet car in Bellébat and a sales person in charge of the souvenir booth in the museum. There are 54 or so operation days a year and of course most of the volunteers are not all purpose dare I say it. Only 5 of them are trained steam locomotive engineers. So do the maths! Ever and again it's tough on the guy in charge of the operating volunteers to make the ends meet but until now he has always make it. This situation isn't new out here even in the heyday of the association there were 30 of them at the most. Fortunately the volunteer average age has been a bit on the rise for a couple of years like the association leadership as well. When a big event is held on the railroad or in case of important track works a few volunteers from other scenic railroads come give a hand since the association has for long fostered good relationship with a few other scenic two- footers in France. For that matter we have also exchanged steam locomotives when a Steam Festival is held on one of them. In the early March the AMTP has launched a campaign on fb and its website to enlist new members and volunteers let's hope it gets any. By the way my favorite quote about volunteers generally speaking is " a volunteer is only paid by the pleasure it takes " . Do you agree with me ?
Next time I'll tell you about the buffet car and the souvenir booth for a change. CU.