FROM pulling the lever in an old signal box to changing sleepers in the tracks, Hunter high school students got to experience a taste of the rail industry.
Through the Department of Education's Regional Industry Education Partnerships (RIEP) program, 40 students from across 17 schools connected with employers Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) and The Instruction Company (TicRail) this week at Lake Macquarie Light Rail.
Callaghan College Jesmond student Ashley Black has had a long interest in trains and was thrilled with getting up close and personal with the locomotives.
"Legend has it I was inhaling steam trains since before I was born," he said.
The group rotated between three interactive stations; locomotive operations on one-and-a-half kilometres of track, signals operations and track maintenance with a sleeper replacement activity.
The idea is to help them make informed decisions about their future training and career opportunities.
Ashley said a highlight of the day was riding in a 060 plantation diesel loco.
"It's very nice looking, but my favourite was signalling, that's something that really tickled my fancy," he said.
His dream job is do locomotive driving and being involved in the rail industry.
"Being here and getting to see and do this rare stuff at a young age in school is pretty amazing, it's a good first step into the railway world," he said.
Lake Macquarie Light Rail owner Grahame Swanson said it was a delight to have the students at his property for an educational purpose.
"This is just brilliant to see the young kids come and realise that there's another dimension and plenty of career opportunities for them," he said.
ARTC national training manager Jenna Chandler said the company currently has 91 positions filled by apprentices, trainees and school-based trainees.
"We're here to showcase to the kids all the different options that rail has to offer for a long-term career," she said.
"ARTC managed eight-and-a-half thousand kilometres of rail across Australia, so many opportunities to live and work in different locations," she said.
