Fancy volunteering?

Details of the find out more days for anyone interested in volunteering at the Bluebell Railway. First event this year is 11 February, and thereafter the second Sunday of every month through to November.

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/vol/vbbb01.htm

Tom

 

So this is a very tentative post, just wondering what people's thoughts and suggestions might be on somewhere to volunteer within reach of public transport from Sheffield. I'm definitely a carriage and wagon person at heart, and especially as it's non-rostered that's what I'd be interested in. I know I've been very lucky so far with some of the best C+W facilities in the country on my doorstep but I can be (and have been) equally happy wielding a brush at -2°C in the snow! I'm still not sure if I'd be able to commit as I'm on a very full time course, hence only asking here first and not emailing various railways just yet. But I do miss my Saturdays on the GWSR whilst I'm at uni, and especially next year and beyond holidays will be few and far between, so interested in what's out there.

 

Alex, have you looked to see whats available with in Sheffield, for instance do they have any transport related museum groups, trams buses etc, the skills needed are very similar to what you would have gained, then theres the sign writing side, that can open doors to you also, as i would imagine any museum group would love someone that can sign write , not many people can.

 

I'll put in a plug for the Middleton Railway in Leeds although I think getting there by public transport won't be the easiest. The buses will go straight over the Railway but getting them to stop on the motorway to let you off isn't going to happen so you'd have to go into Leeds and catch a bus back out. It's also very much an industrial railway so no mk.1's for you to play with. Nearer Sheffield there is the Elsecar Railway. Again an industrial line but they do have mk.1's for you to play with. No real undercover accommodation for it, though. There's also Barrow Hill to the south of Sheffield. No idea what public transport is like to either of these places, though. Your best bet is to go on a visit to each one and have a look, see.

 

Absolutely no requirement for Mk1s! I'm just as happy working on any sort of carriages and wagons, indeed there's more liklihood of signwriting with wagons! Just had a quick look at public transport to Middleton and it's surprisingly doable for at least a visit, the website is most helpful regarding buses from the station. Possibly a bit too much for regular volunteering, but I'll definitely bear it in mind, thanks. I note the volunteering page on the website says there's no departments, you can do what you like, but is there always/usually some work on rolling stock available?

Barrow Hill is quite easy for transport but from what I can gather not much rolling stock restoration goes on. I read a few of their sample newsletters and it sounds like they have a general gang that do lots of things around the site, and occasionally that's work on some rolling stock. I hadn't realised Elsecar was so close! £3 on the train and 20 mins, definitely worth investigating. Might even pop up this weekend, just as a visitor and have a nosey round.

I'm still reluctant to call it proper sign-writing, I'm still nowhere near This yet! Nothing really in Sheffield, and I can't say that buses hold much interest with me, but thanks for the thought.

 

We can always find plenty of work on wagons. They are a neglected part of the whole and any volunteer to that end will soon be given needle gun, scraper and paint brush plus any other tools and equipment that they can successfully and safely operate.

 

In which case I will very definitely bear you in mind! At the very least a visit is certainly on the cards soon-ish, if anything to figure out if the train/bus route is as easy as your website makes it sound!

 

That's our own LMS NCC no 68, based at RPSI Whitehead. The same signwriters recently did the lettering on the Irish Shell oil tanker (also at Whitehead).


Keith

 

It's absolutely superb, I aspire to that one day, maybe!

 

Well given that Barrow hill was by far the easiest place to get to, (along with Elsecar, but they seem more interested in just running a train rather than any railway heritage on the face of it, I don't mean that unkindly at all) I thought I'd drop them an email to see if my impressions were mistaken, and it seems like they might have been, as I've been told I'll be most welcome. So filled in a couple of forms and will see what happens.

 

Just a quick note to say that the Thursday Gang at Oswestry on the Cambrian Heritage Railway is growing, it started out with handful and last Thursday 18 people turned up.
Meeting is at 10 am in Buffers on the station.
There is a good mixture of people and plenty to be getting on with. Anyone wishing to join will be made welcome.

There are the usual working parties and departments at weekends at both main sites and things are starting at other locations as well.

 

Opportunities to meet the GWSR volunteer recruitment team are 19th January, and 16th of both February and March. Details can be found at https://www.gwrt.org.uk/Volunteering.html

 

Details of the find out more days for anyone interested in volunteering at the Bluebell Railway. First event this year is 10 February, and thereafter the second Sunday of every month through to November.

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/vol/vbbb01.htm

Tom

 

OAPWay at CVR will always welcome new volunteers and as we have some track to lay south of Froghall in the next few weeks some younger hands would be welcome. Wednesday is our main work day.

 

Volunteers in attendance at Newbridge 6 days a week.
Some working with the full time PW Staff and others working on the On Track Machines (Tampers etc) and others working on the Civils wagon fleet.

3/4 of a mile of track to relay this winter between now and March.

 

Also in Oswestry we have track to lay and opportunities in all areas. There is a station to build at Weston.

 

The Northampton and Lamport Railway is always looking out for new volunteers. Why not come and join the friendly team at our growing railway? Many opportunities available in all areas.

At the moment we are particularly appealing for anyone with bricklaying experience who might be able to lend some time to help build our new station platform at Boughton, just north of Northampton (at the end of our southern extension).

For more information, please check our website here: https://www.nlr.org.uk/volunteering-and-memberships/volunteering-nlr/

If you would like to help out please either:

• visit us any Sunday
• email societysecretary@nlr.org.uk or enquiries@nlr.org.uk
• phone 01604 820 327 (Telephone manned on operating days – recorded message at other times)

Thanks

 

This coming Saturday 2nd March is new volunteers day at Llangollen Railway. We need additional volunteers in all departments, especially with the opening of our new station at Corwen this year. Details of the day can be seen on the Llangollen Railway Facebook page.

Bob.

 

NVR will be holding an open weekend on 23rd/24th March with behind the scenes tours, displays from various departments and chance to meet the volunteers:

Go behind the scenes and see how the NVR operates from day to day.
Steam Services (ticket required)
Free Shuttle service from Wansford to Yarwell
Free admission to Wansford to include one complimentary return trip to Yarwell on the shuttle service
Shed tours see our locomotives close up and the restoration process
Signalbox tours
Complimentary admission to Overton station and yard,
Trade stands and meet our volunteers
Wansford Café open and Buffet car services
Visit our shop and second handbook shop at Wansford
See Thomas in the yard (not in steam)
Free Car parking at Wansford and Orton Mere
Tours of Locomotive sheds
Take a Peek Behind the Scenes Shed Tours: Guided Tours are available of the NVR Locomotive Sheds at Wansford and these will commence from the outside the Station Masters Office on Platform 2. These will take about one hour and are limited to 12 persons and will commence every 30 mins (A walking route will be followed although the Loco yard will be out of bounds). There is no charge but donations would be most welcome.


https://www.facebook.com/events/218708799084586/

 

I live on the Isle of Man . Anyone traveling between here and the West Somerset Railway ?