DARTMOOR Railway has a new operations manager. He is Ian Potter, 43, who for the past nine years has been with Heathrow Express. Mr Potter, who was the service delivery implementation manager, was influential in both the creation and establishment of Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect, both of which are recognised as the UK?s leading airport link services. His principal new roles will be to focus on the Dartmoor Railway?s safety systems and the recruitment and development of new operational staff. Starting with British Rail in the early 80s, Ian worked his way up from the position of guard. This has given him a wide range of rail experience, including starting a new training school while working for EWS in the mid 90s. His traction experience includes a diverse range of units from DMUs through to diesel and electric main line locomotives, as well as being an approved instructor on seven of the classes. And the Dartmoor Railway is also looking to recruit a number of new volunteer guards to work on the line?s growing passenger and dining services. As the 15-mile line is running more trains than ever this year, it desperately needs to recruit more new experienced volunteer guards, ideally with PTS certification but training and PTS will be given to suitable candidates. And, with more stone trains running too, the Dartmoor Railway is also looking to recruit more duty managers to help control and run the line?s passenger and freight workings. A new volunteers recruitment day is being held at Okehampton Station on Saturday June 16 when budding railway workers can find out about the many volunteer jobs on offer. Starting at 10.30am, potential recruits will not only enjoy a train ride on the line but also be provided with hot drinks and a snack lunch, plus the day will be run by current volunteers on the Dartmoor Railway. Volunteer coordinator Jim Rider said: ?The Dartmoor Railway desperately needs more guards, ticket office staff, dining train stewards, engine cleaners and firemen, plus rolling stock renovators and cleaners, as well as a host of other interesting jobs.? A brief outline of the 15-mile railway will be given, including a short railway safety talk while potential volunteers are having coffee and tea. This will be followed by descriptions of the various jobs where help is needed in running the railway, plus the training required and which will be given. Following a snack lunch there will be a return train ride to Meldon station, including a talk about the quarry and its workings. When those attending have decided the particular area in which they wish to help out and have their suitability assessed, their names will be given to the manager of that department for action. Next year, with support from Devon County Council, the Dartmoor Railway is hoping to expand its passenger services to and from Okehampton via a new station at Yeoford, near Crediton, which will link with the Tarka line trains running from Exeter to Barnstaple. This year marks the tenth anniversary of passenger trains returning to the West Devon town via the Sunday Dartmoor Rover rail-link between Exeter and Okehampton.
