Fancy volunteering?

Volunteering without a car is possible but usually not easy, as preserved lines tend to be in places without enough demand to support frequent public transport (if there were, the line wouldn't have closed in the first place); it can be done, but only you can decide if you want it enough to justify the inconvenience. Bus and train journey planner An overnight stay is often essential to make the early starts required of steam crew (especially on Sundays, though you don't have to do these if you choose a line with a reasonable number of other running days), and also lets you do more than one day's volunteering per trip.

 

Hi i've heard no news and thats the closest railway to me, how long does it take for a railway to reply back to volunteer messages?

 

If they really want you i would expect a reply fairly instantly to at least acknowledge your interest.

 

i know but with me been a girl interested in the engineering part of things, they will just laugh in my face, but thats something i wanted to do and couldnt do it in college, but i want to get involved in the loco shed as thats what i love doing, and i'm a good cleaner too

 

I'll tell you now NYMR aren't like that. They have a few female fireman and drivers (or did when I last volunteered there) and a fair few cleaners too. They don't care of who / what you are too much, so long as you can do the job they are grateful for the help, as are most railways up and down the country.

 

thanks for that.... i have sent them an e-mail asking about volunteering as an engineer and i want to gain the experience that i didnt get in college, but i dont know how long it will take as i am keen to start.

 

Could take a couple of days, depends how busy they are. If you need help, Bean-Counter, 61264 and Steve are frequent visitors to this forum who are NYMR volunteers. You could always pm them and ask for assistance.

 

Hi yes thank you, i will keep that in mind, this is the first time i've done this as the last railway i went down with someone and asked about volunteering and did the forms there and then and started the same weekend.

 

Amy, look at www.tanfield-railway.co.uk there are some bursaries available which looks like what you are looking for

 

Hi i will, i had an e-mail from NYMR and they are sending some forms out for me, but i will have a look

 

If your interested Amy there's also an NYMR forum here which might be useful for talking to vols etc.

 

Cheers i will thank you

 

thanks for the NYMR forum site, still trying to find my way round, but i like it thank you

 

If there is anyone out there who is still undecided about volunteering at a preserved railway, my advice would be give it a try , go down and chat to someone who volunteers at that line and if they are rude, or ignore you ask someone else, or speek to the information person, who will be able to at least put you in touch with the right person, thing is, dont get put off by first appearances , you get all type from all backgrounds when you volunteer , thats one of the attractions just as much as the work, you will make new friends who will always be your friend and believe me once you can view a railway from the other side of the fence , its so much better , how much better is it to see an engine in steam, or a coach you worked on back in traffic, you can walk inside a restored coach and think, wow, but how much more satisfying is it when you helped to restore that engine or coach in the first place and be able to say, "i did that"

 

Now that a few strangling egos have left my local line, I'm tempted to rejoin but I am moving so I am best volunteering at Bo'ness. I am lucky in having two relatively close by but the official stances bug me no end. One ego was so bad, a number of visitors told me they were volunteers but he really f****d them off. Bo'ness seem to have a lot going on in the rolling stock department which is my favourite department.

 

Shameless plug for the latest Swanage Railway news item...

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/news752.htm

 

Another plug, but this time for the Northampton & Lamport Railway

www.nlr.org.uk or PM me as a new membership form is just out but hasn't got on to the web site yet.

 

Shameless plug for the Swindon and Cricklade Railway!

"Ever fancied volunteering on a heritage railway? Well now you can! Hop over to our members page and see if there's a place where you could lend a hand or show us some skills - or even learn some new ones!

From Train Crews, Loco maintenance and restoration, Signal and Telegraph, Permanent Way and even helping out in our member run cafe! Everyone can have a place at the Swindon And Cricklade Railway!

What are you waiting for? Come along and help out!"

http://swindon-cricklade-railway.org/members2.php#top

 

And another for the Dean Forest Railway! Join us, we have biscuits! (and trains of course....)

 

And a plug for the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland...... http://www.festrail.co.uk/volunteer.htm?mn=21