NEW BRANCH AT NORTH YORKSHIRE RAILWAY

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: february 2009 :: RMTnews 19 RMT has been recognised with the North Yorkshire Moors Railway heritage line for negotiating staff wages and conditions since 1991. But members have now inaugurated their very own branch with some 50 members, representing around half the total company workforce. “The branch has just been established although, in fact, the union has been active on the railway for 20 years,” Chris says. This is a considerable achievement when you take into account the fact that there are also a significant number of temporary seasonal workers who don’t make it into the union’s ranks. Previously, RMT members on the railway were in the Scarborough branch, but having such a large membership in one place it made sense to organise a local branch. There is certainly a demand for the union: “We recruited eight members over the Christmas period alone,” says Chris. One of the factors that Chris believes has helped get the branch off the ground is the “strong social element and use of the local Crossing Club for branch meetings and social events”. The next branch meeting, due to take place at the end of this month, will elect the first branch committee. Bob Crow is the guest speaker. NEW RMT BRANCH FORMED AT NORTH YORKSHIRE RAILWAY Acting branch secretary for the newly-formed North Yorkshire Moors Railway branch 1146 Chris Parrish talks to RMT News light signals was not fully re- commissioned until 1986. Levisham and Goathland were re-commissioned in 1975 and 1973 respectively and control NER lower quadrant signals. Grosmont station only had a ground frame outside the gate box, which was superseded, by a new box in 1996. The absence of a locomotive shed was partially solved in 1973 when a repair shed was built near the tunnel at Grosmont. The Motive Power Depot now has a boiler or fabrication shop, running shed, wheel drop and lathe, machine shop and the only working coaling stage in the country. Initially the locomotives were coaled by hand from sacks delivered by the coal man that later improved with the purchase of a digger. The North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group also has a restoration shed. The coaching stock is based at the Carriage and Wagon Depot, Pickering. Repair and maintenance work was done in the open air until the shed came into operation in 1984. There is now a paint shop and further repair shed for the London and North Eastern Railway Coach Association. Much of the single track is now laid with concrete sleepers and re-aligned over bridges and viaducts. The permanent way department have a shed near Pickering paid for by the York Area Group. The expansion off the line has included longer platforms, which aids coach washing. The NYMR is more a tourist attraction than a passenger railway. It currently employs approximately 85 permanent staff and over 50 seasonal workers. There are shops, tea- rooms and booking offices at most of the stations as well as a dining train based at Grosmont which operates up to four days a week during the season. The NYMR was started by volunteers, with many later gaining employment, and owes much of its existence to the huge amount of enthusiasm that these people bring to all areas. Most of the footplate crews are here for the love of it as well as many within the operating, MPD, P-Way, C & W and S & T departments not to mention the station and area groups. The NYMR first enlisted the NUR’s help in 1981 and now all pay and conditions are negotiated through RMT. There are over 50 members and now we operate on the mainline many volunteers are also seeking protection. The NYMR is now a commercial business with all the concerns that go with it. GROSMONT: Southern Engine 825 leavES Grosmont with the Pullman Diner RMT members accepting long service awards, receiving thier badges from Peter Skelly RMT Relief Organiser at the Gosmont Crossing Club . AWARD: RMT member Adam Dalguiesh, the NYMR chief boilersmith, receives his ten- year RMT badge from RMT Relief Organiser Peter Skelly at the Crossing Club.