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| How can we get teenagers interested and involved in Steam? | ||
| by Hayes Smith, Jr. | ||
| You know, every generation of youth seems to have a smaller appreciation for the work that goes into maintaining and restoring steam locomotives. However, some teens are interested in this “art” that we call the maintenance and restoration of Steam Locomotives, but don’t want to get involved. What we need is some that will carry on this tradition of steam. | ||
| Some that will put their heart and soul into it. So, here’s my theory. Get them interested when they’re young, teach them some important facts later, and then get them involved in a volunteer program early on. Unfortunately, all kids aren’t as compliant as we’d like them to be, so we have to take other steps to “hook” them. | ||
| #1. Start some kind of volunteer program. Someone suggested to me that he use to be in the fire department, and they started a volunteer program that got kids interested in fire safety early on by means of telling them the benefits of being a volunteer fireman. | ||
| #2. Try teaching them some interesting facts of being a volunteer. Tell them the good things, as well as the bad, but tell the good things with a wide outlook. This I have found really helps. | ||
| #3. Most teenage boys like metalworking and machinery. So tell them there might be some light machinery involved, but also tell them that there will be some things that you just can’t do unless you are older. | ||
| #4. Make sure they feel comfortable asking questions. Also, if they would like to do something, such as ride the cab, or blow the whistle, try to give them a chance to do so. I had my first cab ride at age 12, and I have never forgotten it. | ||
| #5. Over the years, they will grow stronger, and older, a combination of things that makes for a better volunteer. When they do, they should be able to “graduate” to a higher level of learning, and a higher level of work. Remember, with age comes responsibility, and this will be a great test of that. | ||
| #6. Give them the opportunity to learn from “the old-timers”, as in the people who regularly worked on them back in the golden age of steam. Let them also learn from a expert on the subject, who might stop into your restoration effort at times. This will help also. | ||
| Hopefully, this will give you somewhat of an idea of what teens want in a learning experience, and what they don’t, straight from the mouth of one. Of course, the outcome of these results will vary, but hopefully, this will work. One day, someone will be needed to service a steam locomotive in 2043. Who will be there to do so? Hopefully, if you begin to get Generation-X interested and involved, there will be plenty to do so. | ||
| Hayes Smith, Jr., 14, lives in Spencer, North Carolina, and is a regular at the North Carolina Transportation Museum. | ||
| What's your reaction? Send your comments to mail@steamcentral.com. | ||
| From Justin Strickland: | ||
| "When reading Smith's article and everyone else's response, I felt a sense of pride of being one of the proud and few teenage rail enthusiast...but that's the problem, I'm one of the FEW. Personally, I've been volunteering and working for a few railroads since i was 15. I started with the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway as a volunteer in the commissary car before i even had my learners permit. Even though this railroad isn't run by steam, it still gave me a chance at working on a real railroad. Then I joined the Tennessee Valley Railroad and Museum, and trained as Conductor and dabbled in steam locomotive firing on TVRM #610, soon after I went to RailCamp in Scranton, PA at Steamtown, which expanded my knowledge even more. My current job is working at Six Flags Over Georgia as a locomotive fireman on both engines. It's a small railroad, 36" gauge, little over a mile and one quarter long track. I'm telling my background here so as to have some credit for what I'm about to say. I agree with everything Smith's article says, but there are a few things that need to be mentioned by a teenager that has spent 4 years in volunteer and paid positions. 1. The biggest problem is the LACK of places to have volunteer programs involving trains for young people. I live 30 miles north of Atlanta, GA and both of my volunteer jobs are almost 2 hours away...how can a 15 year old be able to make that? I consider myself lucky I live so close! I also have the Atlanta NRHS museum about an hour away...but what about these teens and kids who live in Macon? The fact is, there's not even access for most teens and kids to even experience anything to do with railroads, much less steam. 2. The "old timers" generally aren't so friendly. One example of an exception to that rule: I worked with one gentleman on the TVRM that went by the nick-name of "Hunk". He taught me everything I know about #610 and much about steam locomotives in general. I thought of him as the grandfather I never had. When he passed away I mourned like any grandson would when his grandpa passed. He was an exception though, most "old timers" want nothing to do with "kids". Those railroaders don't even have to be old either! There are people in their thirties who shun me because I could possibly know more or be better at what i do than they are. I also have had more railroaders at the museums and railroads shun me because of my age then, and even my age now (19). I would be rich if I had a nickel for everytime I heard, "sorry, you're not old enough", "let someone who knows what they are doing take care of it", "quit asking so many questions", "you figure it out, but if you get your leg cut off, it's not my fault". And this was mainly from the volunteer organizations who's top purpose was carrying on the legacy of steam and railroads. Now how are you supposed to do that when young people who are interested are turned off by rude volunteers. I know lack of access to railroad museums and volunteer organizations cannot be helped, but the attitude toward young people who are interested in trains can be. Every teenager and kid when asking a question should be treated like they will grow up to be another Steve Lee or Bill Purdie, and it's your job to make sure they are informed. I ask that tourist railroads and museums have a Jr. Engineer/Fireman/Conductor programs, where kids or early teens can be "assistants" for a day. Invite that 10 year old into the cab while sitting at the station, tell him why your up there, what you do, and that they too can be up there someday. Tell that teenager an amazing mind-boggling fact of that beautiful piece of machinery that's letting out a whistle that they will always have on their mind. Or just be like me, step off a Six Flags steam locomotive, kneel on the platform, loo! k that kid straight in the eye, and say "It's pretty cool huh?". | ||
| From Jonathan Lee: | ||
| "I heartily agree with Mr. Smith. I'm 13 and am obsessed with railroads, especially steam trains. Not to brag, but many people I know say I have an "encyclopedic knowledge" of trains and railroads. Since I live in Seattle, I am going to join the Northwest Railway Museum at Snoqualmie, WA. The way that I see it is that if teens don't get involved with steam, they will not be able to carry on that knowledge to further generations to come. Many people nowadays think that the railroads are dying, but really they are thriving. I hope to help in restoring a steam locomotive someday soon. Also, I agree with Jock that funding for steam engines could be a problem. Therefore, more teens need to know about steam because that way, more money could be raised if they could find a means of doing so. An example of what adults think about kids or teens and trains is the following, "Hey! Look at the choo-choo!" or something weird like that. Adults need to support teens that are involved in steam, because the steam locomotive is a decent-sized chunk of Americana and history. I also agree with John. Railcamp is a very good means of helping teens learn about steam trains. It can teach them that steam trains are not just relegated to toddler's toys and cute little picture-books. This summer I am traveling to Skagway, Alaska to see the White Pass & Yukon Route, and I will get to work on their 2-8-2 Mikado or the 2-8-0, #40. I have been to Portland, OR and seen SP #4449, SP&S #700, and OR&N #197. I realize that running and restoring a steam locomotive is very difficult and precise work, but with teen's more know-how and support from adults and help from older people who were around in the steam era, teens can carry on the spirit of steam for a long time to come!" | ||
| From Jock Ellis: | ||
| "Master Smith is quite correct in the need for educational assistance in restoring the awe and love for the steam locomotive. It might be pointed out that (steam) railroads played important parts in history, geography, science, English and were heavily indebted to math to build both train and track. When you put together a program integrating all those aspects of education, it is called "whole language" and is a method used by many schools to teach the normal three Rs. A well polished program should be an easy sell to school administrators, especially if free. Funds are relatively scarce for costly trips so if a group of volunteers offered to teach history, science, etc., for free, and showed their well thought-out plan, they would probably be welcomed with open arms, especially at some special time which recalls the early days of the railroad and the United States. How does railroading each English? Well, in writing this piece, I was just blowing off some steam and got sidetracked from what I needed to do. So many expressions we use are railroad related. Also, railroads required clear writing. The result of bad writing can be a cornfield meet." | ||
| From Bob Ristow: | ||
| "Amen to Hayes Smith's comments. Each year it seems that fewer and fewer people, young and old, are becoming involved in the steam fraternity. I have been a member of a volunteer railroad museum for many years and the number of truly interested new members is alarmingly low even after 30 years! It is especially difficult to lure and keep young folks actively involved in steam because of the legal difficulties encountered with state and federal laws. Add to this the difficulty of attracting the parents of the youth to "be there" on site with the youth, and it becomes next to impossible to increase the ranks of the steam family. Tourist Railroad Association, Inc., and the Association of RR Museums, may be able to help along with the various railroad museums to put together a program outline for increasing the ranks of the steam family with regard to new youth members. At a recent meeting in Boone, Iowa, the following question was asked: "At what age is a member able to operate equipment? The answers offered were based on the legal age for operating automobiles etc. Well, we all know that some youth are more responsible than others so age is somewhat relative. But it was clear that there is no source for information and guidance in attracting younger people into the steam ranks. Much more needs to be done in this area...what can we do?" | ||
| From Lee Brown: | ||
| "Good commentary on getting young people involved. I was very much surprised to find that the lad is only 14 years of age, his writing is very mature. I volunteer at a small park in Colorado, outside of Denver, called Tiny Town and finding people to get involved is difficult. We use young people to take tickets and in the process they watch us service the 15" gauge steam locomotive and learn about steam. We have been known, after the park is closed and with constant supervision, to allow them to try the throttle. With the age of computers and the need for instant gratification it is difficult to find young people interested in Steam, but when you hook one you usually have a keeper." | ||
| From Taylor Rush: | ||
| "Nowadays there just aren't a lot of kids around that have the drive to work with steam engines. I'm 16 and am a volunteer for the Sumpter Valley Ry. As long as a parent or something is around I can do a ton of stuff. I've layed track, worked trains, climbed in the boiler, and done generally all kinds of stuff. The main point to getting people in a restoration, I think, is letting people do things that they would never be able to do in real life. Let them ride in the cab, tell them about everything, and don't just pass them off as some stupid little kid." | ||
| From John Beutel: | ||
| "Hayes raises some very good points, especially that steps must be taken now to keep steam alive for future generations. In 1999 and 2000 I had the opportunity to participate in a one-of-a-kind program that addresses some of the points he raises: NRHS-NPS RailCamp at Steamtown NHS in Scranton, PA. Started in 1998 by the National Railway Historical Society and NPS officials at Steamtown, it gives teenagers such as myself (I'm 19 years old) and Hayes an opportunity to learn about steam locomotive restoration, maintenance, operations, as well as rail preservation in general, as well as railroad career opportunities. Based on my experiences, here's a point-by-point explanation of RailCamp contributing to the effort Hayes is promoting: 1) This doesn't necessarily deal with the week-long program itself, but with some of the effects it has had on participants. Two Scranton-area participants, at least as of Fall 1999, were volunteers at Steamtown. Another particpant recently started working at the Strasburg rail shop. In general terms, one works for CR in the northern NJ shared-assets area, one is the editor the The Teen Track column in Railpace Newsmagazine, at least are pursuing transportation/railroad related college programs, and others like myself are active in NRHS chapters. 2) Spending several days around Steamtown rangers, backshop workers, and volunteers give RailCampers a chance to talk with them about their jobs, responsibilites, as well as the actual RailCamp curriculumn activities. 3) Two days are spent in the backshop/restoration area. In 1999 I got to help remove staybolts from the 3713, and get to use a plasma cutter, grinder, hot rivet, and arc welding equipment on a project. In 2000 I had the chance to use an air reamer, drill, working on a car under repair. My fellow participants got to do some other activities involving tools. I would also like to point out that from 1998-2000, FOUR young women participated in RailCamp. This year alone, four MORE young women are signed-up. 4) In 1999 I had the opportunity to take a cab ride in ex-Baldwin plant switcher #26 (now undergoing its five-year boiler inspection, though after this it should be on the 15-year or 1431 service day standard), plus was able to try putting a shovelful of coal into the firebox. In addition, we were able to go into the inspection pit under a steam locomotive, and climb on the locomotive learning about the inspection procedure). 5) There are two versions of RailCamp: Basic (started in 1998) and Advanced (called "Intermediate" in 2000, the first year it was held), with the type of activities in Advanced RailCamp a step-up from the Basic RailCamp activities. 6) As indicated in #3, we had the chance to get to talk to the roundhouse, backshop, and engine crew throughout the week during both version of RailCamp. RailCamp is an excellent tool, I think, to get teens interested and introduced to some of the aspect Hayes touches on. As far as post-RailCamp opportunites, he has some good suggestions that I would hope steam operators consider adopting. I would encourage any teenage railfan, whether their interest is steam, diesel, modelling, passenger/transit, live steam to consider attending RailCamp in the future." | ||
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