Setting the course for the future

Sandra Rothe

Spring also marks the start of the park railway season in Chemnitz Küchwald. Boys and girls in blue uniforms get ready to run the railway. The engine shed is already crowded on the weekend before the opening of the season. 17-year-old Sandra Rothe briefly reminds her charges to be quiet. The blonde schoolgirl has been with the park railway for seven years and is one of the most dedicated park railway workers.

Why did you become a park railway enthusiast?
Sandra Rothe: I've known the park railway for a long time, through my grandad, who used to go here with me a lot. My whole family is a member of the park railway association, so the park railway has always been a part of my life. I became a park railway enthusiast myself in 2007.

What are your tasks at the park railway?
I now do quite a lot - from train conductor to the station manager's right-hand man, I do everything. I have fought my way through every training programme over the seven years. I'm currently training as a stoker for the steam locomotive.

Not everyone is allowed to ride in the locomotive?
No.

How does training work at the park railway?
We have a specific training system. Everyone starts with basic training in the areas of train conductor, entrance control, loudspeaker announcer and souvenir sales. This is followed by training in supervision, ticket sales and train driving. That is more demanding. Then it builds up further. You need basic knowledge of the railway to become a block attendant. Finally, you can become a train dispatcher and do special training.

Can anyone become a park railwayman?
You can become a park railwayman from the age of ten if you are really interested.

"Here, children and young people can operate the railway on their own responsibility. In which leisure centre is that possible?" asks Matthias Dietel, Technical Director. Regulations, signalling technology, operating licence - everything would be just like a real railway, except the tracks are a little smaller, he adds. The park railway has been making its rounds in Chemnitz Küchwald since 13 June 1954. Back then, it was conceived as a pioneer railway. Today, it focuses on the extracurricular promotion of children and young people on the subject of railways. The park railway has a 600 mm track gauge and runs on a 2.3 km circuit. 90 children and young people regularly come to the leisure facility and help shape the day-to-day operations themselves. The park railway association has 170 members.

What does a good park railway operator need?
Discipline!

That came out of the blue. Why is that so important?
It's the be-all and end-all for us. Otherwise our railway operations won't work. You also have to deal with passengers in a caring yet consistent manner. And you have to get used to being in the spotlight.

What is your favourite thing to do?
I like doing everything. I'm not like that (laughs). My favourite thing is being a shift leader because I enjoy talking to the children.

What does it mean to be a shift leader?
It's kind of like being the boss of the group that's on duty. I give around 15 to 20 children tasks to do and make sure that everything works.

And how do you cope with such a large group of small children?
The children are really nice with me. I have a good rapport with the little ones.

That still sounds like a strenuous job. How much time do you invest in the park railway?
I'm really here a lot. I'm on duty on Saturday from 1 pm to 6 pm, on Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm and from Tuesday to Friday from 2 pm to 5.30 pm. During the school holidays it's different again, as I start at 9.45 am. I'm mainly there at weekends and during the holidays. It's not so good for me during the week because of school.

"School of life" is what Managing Director Matthias Dietel calls what the children actually learn here. "They are proud to run the business here and be part of the whole. Discipline, a sense of responsibility, the ability to work in a team and social skills - these are skills that the children and young people can put to good use later on," Dietel is certain. Approximately 30 to 40 per cent of the Parkbahner actually take the path to the railway. A further 20 per cent find a career in transport.

What do your friends say about your hobby?
It's unusual for them, they're not used to it. (laughs)

Do you have to listen to jokes about it?
Yes, sometimes. But that doesn't bother me.

Can you also imagine working for the railway?
I don't necessarily want to work for the railway. I want to be a nursery school teacher. I like working with children and young people and I can imagine that as a career.

What do you do in Chemnitz when you're not at the park railway?
Then I'm at home, at school or on the football pitch with my brother.

What is special about the park railway for you?
The special thing is the variety. You get to enjoy many different things. And you learn a lot for the future.

Do you have to encourage the people of Chemnitz?
That's difficult. Of course there are people who need to be encouraged, but there are also many who stand by the city.

Which group did the Parkbahner belong to?
We say quite clearly that we like coming from Chemnitz. The park railway has become a real figurehead, even in comparison with other cities.