The Talyllyn Railway has marked International Women's Day with a historic moment in railway preservation.
A footplate crew formed of a mother and her daughter have made history by driving and firing a steam train from Tywyn to Abergynolwyn!
This is believed to be the first time an all-female crew of the same family from two generations have crewed a steam engine in preservation.
Driver Sarah Freeman, started volunteering as a trainee Guard in 1993.
During her time at the Talyllyn railway, she met her husband Mark.
With an ambition to become a driver, Sarah also went on to volunteer on the footplate alongside her husband in the loco department before she became a driver herself in 2017, she also has an interest and volunteers with sign writing and painting.
“The Talyllyn is such a real family, it's always been accepting of ladies and it's great that the number of women in the locomotive, engineering and outdoor departments has been going up over the past few years. It's been such an honour that my daughter is able to fire to me today – and maybe one day my second daughter will join her!” Sarah said.
Sarah's eldest daughter Ffion has been a regular visitor to the Talyllyn since she was born, including helping her mum in the ticket office at 6 months old!
Having been about at the Talyllyn from such a young age, this naturally lead to an interest in the railway, and in 2018 she followed her mum and dad's footsteps and also joined the loco department as a cleaner.
Ffion is also involved in setting up and planning working parties for the railways younger members as she is a sitting committee member of the Railways' Young Members Group.
Ffion became passed out to fire steam locomotives on the line recently, so the opportunity was taken to have a mother and daughter crew drive and fire a steam engine on International Women's Day.
Ffion said “I've been a volunteer since I was a baby so I've never really known a time without the Railway. It's great that the place is so accepting of people from all backgrounds, I've made so many friends my age. It's been so nice to be the first ever Mother & Daughter crew, we've been out on the footplate before but always with Dad as the driver or fireman – so to be the Fireman to my Mum has been really special.”
The train they crewed was free, taking approximately 90 women and children to Abergynolwyn, where a “Platform Pilates” event was undertaken before they all received a cream tea.
General Manager Commercial Lorraine Simkiss said “The 2024 International Women's Day Campaign is to inspire inclusion. When we come together as a Community we are included. We forge a better World, this in turn gives us a sense of belonging and empowerment. Women of all ages & all abilities are the epitome of strength and resilience. From the Women who run the home & bring up their children to those that are Doctors, Lawyers, Surgeons and more. We are all brave, determined, strong women. Here at The Talyllyn Railway we are inclusive, not exclusive.”
Since the 1950s when the Talyllyn Railway was set up, several women have volunteered at the railway, originally they were the wives of the men that were already volunteers, and they undertook roles as buffet staff and guards on the trains.
In 1957 Anne Hatherill made history and became the first female fireman in the UK, which has started a trail brazing legacy of inclusivity and diversity not just across the Talyllyn but the UK preservation movement, across all grades.
It is hoped that this historic event will be the first of many Mother & Daughter crews across the country on heritage railways.
Bit sexist having an all women day? Does that not exclude men? How can it therefore be inclusive?
wonderful, lovely railway, lovely family.