HOBBY TO HERITAGE PROFESSIONAL
Turning your hobby into your day job is not everybody’s idea of fun – but for some of us, it means that essential passion for what we do for a living is already firmly embedded in our psyche.
As reported last issue, lifelong Tanfield Railway volunteer David Watchman became general manager of the County Durham standard gauge heritage line in November. Starting as a young volunteer at the tender age of seven, when he would accompany his father, he went on to gain experience across the various disciplines.
He’s now using his wealth of knowledge, skills and experience gained as a volunteer at Tanfield – as well as those obtained while employed by the renowned open air museum at Beamish – to help develop the railway’s offering.
Heritage Railway (HR): Tell us about your recent professional experience.
David Watchman (DW): For the last 10 years, I’ve been working at Beamish. Tanfield and Beamish have had a strong relationship for most of the time I’ve known the organisations.
I started out as a steam team demonstrator/ engager at Beamish. I was mainly on the waggonway; not just operationally but engaging with the public and being involved in all of
