How the Talyllyn Railway served up the perfect job for one of its long-time volunteers

For the first time in her life, Jennifer Lolley is really enjoying her job - working in the kitchen at the Talyllyn Railway's King's Cafe at Wharf Station in Tywyn. She's always loved cooking, she says. So, what's her favourite dish to prepare at home? "To be honest, because I'm in the kitchen all day at work, I'm more likely to heat up a Co-op ready meal than cook when I get home," she says with a laugh. "But when I cook for friends and family, I like making Italian and French dishes, as well as flavoursome comfort food like stews."

Jennifer is one of only a handful of people who are employed by and also volunteer on the historic narrow-gauge railway. Although she's only worked for the Talyllyn for 18 months, she's been volunteering for 29 years - since she was four!

She fell in love with the world's first preserved railway through Thomas the Tank Engine books - which are based on the Talyllyn - and her mother's job working for British Rail.

"We first came to the Talyllyn Railway in 1998 and joined the family volunteer working group, called Tracksiders, which has been going for 30 years this year," explains Jennifer.

Week-long working visits twice or three times a year see more than 30 youngsters and their parents getting involved in projects such as painting, fencing, clearing undergrowth and maintaining footpaths.

"I have only vague memories of the first few years of Tracksiders, but as I got older I was able to do more - and work closer to the line! The children's play area at Abergynolwyn Station was built by us, and when it opened we put on a production of The Railway Children, which was attended by (the Labour peer) Lord Faulkner of Worcester."

A big part of Talyllyn Tracksiders is its social side: families get together for a range of activities including an annual putting competition, barbecues, games and film nights and trips to the beach. Jennifer is still good friends with, and volunteers alongside, many people she met nearly three decades ago.

At the age of 14, Jennifer was able to join the railway's Young Members Group (YMG) "and get involved on the operations side. I started in the engine sheds at 14 (the lower age limit is now 16) and that developed my interest further and kept me coming back. The Talyllyn stopped being the 'Thomas the Tank Engine railway' and instead became an active hobby. It's also, in multiple ways, provided me with good life lessons."

At 16, Jennifer started coming to Tywyn without her parents, staying at the railway's volunteer hostel, Llechfan, at Wharf Station. Now, 15 years on, Jennifer is part of the warden team that runs the hostel. "I have fond memories of staying there, so it's really nice that I'm helping to run it for new generations of Young Members.

"There's a real emphasis on building strong bonds, not least because most of the Young Members have grown up together. The social side really cements those bonds."

Jennifer has volunteered on many other railways, all of which have their own "unique charm", but there is something special about the Talyllyn, she says. "I think it's because the Talyllyn is so focused on getting and keeping Young Members, and for volunteers of all ages to interact with each other. There's an emphasis, too, on the 'TR family'. Yes, it's a business, but there's more focus on members and volunteers than I've encountered on other railways. That's what makes it feel more like family."

And, just like any loving family, the Talyllyn was supportive and accepting when Jennifer came out as transgender 12 years ago.

"To begin with, I shied away from doing much volunteering, because at the time there weren't many volunteers who were (openly) trans and I was scared about how people would react, but then a family friend said, 'don't be silly; why don't you come back and volunteer properly'? So I did, and I found that nothing had really changed in terms of fitting in. Everyone who already knew me took time to adjust, but were fine. There are still a few people who aren't able to understand or who just don't deal with it, but for the most part it's been a wonderful experience. In the last five years or so, I've noticed an influx of visibly queer people on the railway, which is lovely to see. In fact, I don't know another railway that has such a visibly diverse group of volunteers. We also have a high proportion of women volunteers compared to other railways."

The Talyllyn has done "its utmost" to ensure the railway is a safe space for all volunteers following the recent changes to transgender rights in the UK, says Jennifer. "They've tried to make sure we are treated with dignity, so we don't feel like we're being 'othered'. For example, the rooms in the hostel have been made unisex, but if someone wants a single-sex space, they'll be given one. You really feel the railway cares about all its volunteers. In an awful situation (of trans rights being eroded), there are glimmers of light: the railway reflects the goodness in society still."

Reassuringly, Jennifer has encountered very little hostility in Tywyn. "I spend quite a lot of time at the Magic Lantern and I feel safe there; similarly at the Tredegar Arms, where a lot of Talyllyn YMG volunteers go. There's actually a lot of support, and that's uplifting."

Away from the Talyllyn and Tywyn, however, it's a different story: the current anti-trans rhetoric means she and her partner, Bella, are careful where they go when they're out together in Leeds, where Bella is studying at university. "We make sure we only go to places we know are safe."

Jennifer grew up on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border, studying music at the University of Derby. She then went to work for Bombardier Transportation before going into engineering. "I stayed in engineering for about six years, but although I was good at it, I didn't really enjoy it. I loved cooking and toyed with the idea of going to catering college, but I didn't think I'd be able to cope with the pressures of working in a kitchen."

By then, Jennifer was living with Bella in Derby, but when Bella moved to Leeds, Jennifer decided to relocate to Tywyn, initially on a temporary basis. After a couple of jobs didn't work out, she became a kitchen assistant at the Victorian Slipway pub on the seafront - and quickly realised she could work in catering after all. 

"Because I kept asking to do more in the kitchen, the head chef offered me an apprenticeship, and that's how I started studying catering."

When a job in the kitchen at the Talyllyn came up, Jennifer was finally able to bring her two main interests - the railway and cooking - under one roof. And she's thriving on it, she says. 

"The railway has encouraged me to carry on studying - I'm doing my Level 3 catering qualification at the moment - which is wonderful. I don't enjoy the best of health, and they've been very supportive. Because of the job, the move to Tywyn has become more of a permanent one, even though at the moment it means having to maintain a long-distance relationship. But it's the best decision I ever made: rather than just being good at my job, I really enjoy it."

Jennifer with fellow TR volunteers

The TR's Wharf Station

King's Cafe at Wharf Station