‘The adrenaline and the risks play a part in why I love it’.

When he’s not supporting BGS staff as an IT Network Technician, Ryan Hills can be found firing the steam engines at one of Yorkshire’s most famous railways – including that of the Flying Scotsman.

I started at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway in 2016 for the volunteering part of my Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. Some of my friends from Scouts were there and said it’s a great place to be. I used to go to the railway as a child with mum and dad for day trips out as I could see the line from my bedroom window. I think it played a big part of growing up and I had Thomas the Tank Engine and Hornby train sets!

I started my volunteering at weekends in stations working with the foreman (person in charge of the station for the day) as a platform assistant. It involved helping to get trains away on time, selling tickets to customers and keeping the station tidy. I also helped in catering, making food for train parties such as cream teas, Haworth haddocks, birthday parties and weddings.

When I completed my DofE Bronze, I continued volunteering at the railway. From the age of 16 I trained for various roles, including a guard, which involved preparing coaches, shunting with wagons and various rolling stock, performing checks before signalling that the train was ready to depart to the driver and looking after passengers’ safety. Subsequently I also got my qualification as a station foreman.

At the age of 18, I joined the Locomotive Department to become a cleaner within Haworth Yard. That role included cleaning different locomotives, learning the different styles of boilers, different valve gear and identifying problems and faults.

Next, I wanted to be a fireman and I learnt to fire all the different locomotives, how to manage the water level in the boiler, how to be economical and not waste steam. Keeping the locomotive clean and tidy throughout the day was also important – it’s your office and you can’t work in a mess!

I love the engineering aspect of how steam can push all the innerworkings of the valve gear to rotate the wheels and how they connect so it can all operate smoothly. The speed the rods are moving between the frames would be lethal if it came apart. I think adrenaline and the risks play a part in why I love it.  You’re on what is known as a ‘bomb on wheels’ – any wrong moves and it can all go downhill very quickly. There’s the fact you stand on the footplate staring at the back head of the boiler with no protection. There’s a lot of responsibility as a fireman.

I finally qualified as a fireman in January which allowed me to go out firing without a trainer. I’ve been out on many different locos, both steam and diesel, and I’ve also had the chance to drive as part of qualifying. To drive is a lot of responsibility when you are in control of a train full of passengers and having to concentrate on what your fireman is doing, making sure they have enough steam pressure and water in the boiler, whether signals are green or red and managing the stopping distance for platforms (without overshooting or undershooting). You must not be too harsh with accelerating and braking or it can be uncomfortable for passengers and risk spilling their drinks! On my first go I was nervous, but you soon get the hang of it as you go up the line.

One of the highlights was when the Flying Scotsman visited the railway earlier this year. I got to fire it from Haworth to Ingrow West and back to Haworth for an event. I already knew some of the team that came with the Flying Scotsman. I formed a good relationship with them after I gave a talk to 300 local Scouts, about the working of it and its history.

The driver takes full responsibility over the whole engine. The teamwork is amazing to get engines prepared and ready for the day. It involves cleaning, equipping, fault finding and testing all mechanical workings, ensuring the locomotive is safe.

We also overhaul locomotives every 10 years, taking apart, inspecting, and replacing old worn-out parts with new. Re-building the locomotive can be challenging but good fun, everyone pulls together to keep the railway and its engines running. It amazes me that so many do this all for free with a range of ages from 13-80. There are roughly 650 people working and volunteering at the railway, so it’s a big organisation!

I don’t think I would have made it as far as I have if it wasn’t for the support of friends and family encouraging me to continue. My neighbour Ian, known as Budgie on the railway (everyone has nicknames!) helped me start on the railway. He was a steam driver and civils engineer. He sadly passed away in 2021 and it made me even more determined to follow in his footsteps and achieve my firing ticket. When I started, I only thought I would be there for the duration of the volunteering for DofE, but eight years later, the family-like friends and atmosphere keep me there.