Kevin Bartolf
article by: Ian Crowder
Here is number three in our new series, 'Five minutes
with'. Today our subject is Kevin Bartolf, the railway's
Senior Guard and he will be a familiar figure to most regular
visitors. Always ready with a joke and a laugh, he
nevertheless takes his voluntary roles on the railway very
seriously. Given that being the guard on our trains is one of
the most public functions - the person who people come to if they
have a request or want information; or have a grumble to if they
have a concern, being cheerful, polite, patient and unflappable are
essential qualities! Also, he is the second person to keep
'mum' with our last question: but there are no prizes if you do
manage to find out what it is that is so 'top secret'!
My railway business card, if I had one, would say:
…
It will need small writing to fit! Senior Guard, Guard,
Travelling Ticket |Inspector (TTI), Duty Operations Officer and
Roster Clerk
I first got interested in railways because:
My Dad used to take me on a Sunday morning to see the
trains at our local station, Banbury. This was a busy station
with a wide variety of locomotives and trains to spot!
A typical run-down of what I do for the railway
is:
I look after nearly 70 volunteers in the Guards/TTI dept.
I also have four inspectors who do the training and
assessments. There's lots of paperwork too! I complete the
roster for our department, from start to finish this can be a
nightmare of a job, taking up to six weeks, That's especially so
when there aren't enough staff to cover, so that's when I then send
out plenty of pleading e mails or should that be grovelling ones!
I am a Duty Operations Officer also, which when on duty means
ensuring that everything on the railway runs smoothly,
co-ordinating all operational departments and staff and being
available when problems crop up. Between all that I do Guard
duties!
I was prompted to get involved with the Honeybourne Line
by what or who - and when:
I read about the progress of the railway in a magazine and
thought I would come along and see for myself. That was in
1988 and it was so friendly I came back and I'm still here!
The thing I like most about our railway is:
The way we all come together to make sure services keep
running
And the thing I like least:
When people promise to help but at the last minute let you down
I think the greatest achievement of our railway
is:
We have not reached it yet - but Honeybourne will be it
with a mainline connection.
My 'real job' is, or was:
I work for the Ministry of Defence
I always read (newspapers and/or magazines):
I always read a couple of railway magazines a month to
keep up with what is happening.
The headline I would most like to see in the newspapers
about our railway is:
'The first mainline trains to the Cheltenham Gold cup run
over GWR metals non-stop'.
My favourite railway company / operator is:
Great Western Railway - of course
…because:
Where I live is GWR territory
My favourite locomotive class is:
Manor class 4-6-0
…because:
They look so elegant with Chocolate and cream coaches
If I was lucky enough, I would invest a
£1 million windfall on:
I would set up my own railway museum, with miniature
railways, garden railways and '00' railways.
If I wasn't involved with the Honeybourne Line I would
probably:
Be very bored
In other spare time I also enjoy:
Model railways '00' gauge; and garden railways
My greatest achievement is:
Passing my driving test. Then I had freedom to go
to other railways without relying on my Dad all the time.
My biggest regret is:
We all regret something.
This is what my family thinks about my involvement with
the Railway:
Some think I am mad/crazy others just say good for
you! We all need a hobby.
In 10 years time I think the railway:
Difficult - I am hoping the railway will be going with an
all volunteer workforce but if the younger generation does not
volunteer we could end up either with no railway or paid staff.
No-one knows this about me, but:
Top Secret.