Jess
Growing up, Jess had cousins that lived near Puffing Billy that she would visit regularly. On her way to their house Jess would go through the train crossings over the Puffing Billy tracks. Thinking they were quite interesting, Jess decided to register as a volunteer. She is now a qualified Signalman, Trolley Driver, Chainsaw Operator and Fireman. Jess has enjoyed so many things about being a volunteer with Puffing Billy. She loves that no two days are ever the same, and every journey is different from the last. It brings a smile to her face seeing the kids’ faces light up as they approach the loco and see the fire and the driving levers. One day when Jess was firing, a small girl aged about 4 came over to Jess and told her she was a rock star for working on the engine. It has been the absolute highlight of Jess’s volunteer journey so far.