Volunteer Stories: Andrew Anderson
What is a Civil Engineer Volunteer and what sorts of things do they get up to?
We caught up with Andrew, a volunteer at The Scottish Railway Preservation Society, about his volunteering role.
Q: What is your volunteer role?
I lead the Civil Engineering team on the Boness and Kinneil Railway. We inspect and maintain track, bridges and fencing on the branch line. We also do some of the specialist work associated with the bigger projects at Boness, such as laying the track to connect the new engineering shed to the rest of the yard sidings.
Q: What is your favourite part of volunteering?
Our particular group of volunteers come from a range of backgrounds, with only a few having had careers in the mainline rail industry. Watching and helping people learn new skills and delivering results they thought were unachievable is very satisfying.
Q: How has volunteering impacted your life?
Volunteering has given me a chance to learn new skills, make new friends and spend time constructively in retirement.
Explore volunteer opportunities
Are you interested in volunteering with museums, galleries, archives, zoos, parks, historic sites and other history, culture and nature organisations in Scotland?
Check out the Make Your Mark in Volunteering portal to see what’s available in your area.