Volunteer Accommodation

Hi Folks,

I'm doing a study into Volunteer Recruitment and Retention and I'm really interested to know which UK Railways have accommodation facilities for their volunteers and how successful they've been?

If you volunteer on a Railway and it provides accommodation I'd be grateful if you could just drop me a quick reply with the name of the Railway, the type of accommodation provided and whether it is regularly used and if so who by (eg. young members, older members, all ages etc)

Many thanks,

Nic

 

the GWSR has what they call "pods" for volunteers at Toddington, no idea how much they are used though...

 

Might be worthwhile contacting the Heritage Railway Association - most UK preserved railways belong to this, and the HRA collect a wide range of data from their members. See http://www.heritagerailways.com for contact details.

 

Welshpool and Llanfair has purpose built accomodation (just refurbished) as does the Festiniog. I have stayed in both and they are used by all ages.

The Isle of Wight Steam Railway also has accomodation of a decent standard although I have not stayed there.

PH

 

The NYMR has some accomodation for "volunteers" in buildings at Grosmont and Levisham and Train Coach/s at Pickering MK3 and Goathland 2xMK1, standards are basic, bunks 2 or 3, but do have cooking facilities and lounge with TV/DVD area, WiFi and washing/shower facility, Washing Machine (not for oily or coal dust), rooms are shared generally at Grosmont with 2/3 beds in a room, a few with Singles, no additional furnishings like wardrobe etc, but all well used by a wide age group of people. Take your own sleeping bag or Quilt/Pillows etc. You must book accomodation well in advance as it quickly fills.

This arrangement has been under review for a number of years now, and is meant to become improved with possibility of more rooms/space. They are successfully used, as often volunteers can't afford to rent b&b etc, but quality is defineately not keeping up with what most would expect as a minimum. The Coach beds in original compartment coaches off of the corridor are narrow in width and short length. No insulation. Heater in rooms for winter. Donations welcome for use.

If you need a bit of room, comfort, full size bed etc. Then use local B&Bs but these are not at all cheap.

Ffestiniog Railway has very good accomodation, and a purpose built block with a good Social side for Volunteers, which is missing from some railways.

I think most Heritage Railways lack the money or space to have proper purpose built accommodation, but their are grants and Loans etc available, and some have made good use of Lottery/EU monies (FR) but more thought must be given to this area, to keep the volunteers returning and a proper organised Social club like side should be tried, as looking at places like the FR it makes huge difference to Volunteers coming/returning etc. People have much more options where to volunteer and give their time now days, so this must be looked at if they wish to survive into the future, accomodation for Volunteers is essential IMHO.

 

WSR has a cabin at Minehead which I'm told is very nice by those who have used it. Showers, bedrooms, lounge area etc.
At Bishops Lydeard we have a converted coach. The bedrooms are in the original compartments and have mostly bunk beds. There is a kitchen and a loo as well as a lounge( but no terrestrial TV. You can watch DVD's though). Shower is in the loco department next door.
Minehead is well used. Bishops Lydeard less so.
I tend to use a B&B in preference to either.

 

The Telford Steam Railway has a Mk3 sleeper coach and it's used regularly by our members who live further afield from Telford.

 

Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway has a building in Ravenglass village, a couple of hundred yards from the railway. Used to be a detached annex to the local hotel. Living/dining/kitchen room, showers, several multi-bed rooms. Good quality. No single rooms or guarantee of single occupancy, so I still choose to pay for a local B&B instead (which kindly offers a discount for working volunteers, but I can still only afford as I'm in full time work.)

EDIT - more info: The building is owned and operated by the Preservation Society (= supporters club) not the railway operating company. +/- 20 years ago the previous volunteer accommodation (a wooden bodied compartment coach) was condemned and a number of replacement options was considered. Fortuitously the hotel wanted to divest itself of the annex during a downturn at that time, and a wealthy volunteer made up the financial shortfall for the preservation society by a generous loan at a favourable rate (possibly zero?). When he died, I believe in his will he wrote off the loan.

The building is not as well used as it could be - not sure why. Most popular with student-age volunteers though older ones use it too.

Rob

 

Are the Blue Anchor coaches still used?

 

The KWVR has a purpose built accommodation block at Haworth. It is as far as I know well used by all ages. (No under 18 afaik).

I think the E&BAR still has a sleeper coach.

 

Yes, some people do still use them though not that handy for loco crew at MD or BL!

 

Swanage has a Mk3 sleeping car too.

 

So did the WSR. Until...


Ex-BR Sleeper Car no 10521 - demolition begins at Dunster Yard on 12 March 2012.
http://www.wsr.org.uk/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?h=Snapshot&p=2012/03/150312_2_gro

Steve

 

Why was it cut up? Too poor condition to use, nobody using it, no interest in Sale? I would have thought WSR - like all Railways not on the door-step of major conurbations (i.e. most of us!) would have had a need for volunteer accommodation. Was it replaced by something in brick?

Steven

 

Very poor condition, apparently. Replaced by this...








New beds being made!

Steve

 

Looks much better, but wondering about insulation to keep the rooms warm without excessive use of heating?

 

Whilst Mk 3 sleepers are comfortable enough they suffer from the drawback of sealed windows leading to the need to keep the air conditioning functioning (or near suffocation in warm weather!). The air conditioning uses electricity, is not particularly effective, gives rise to maintenance issues & can be noisy.
Has anybody modified the windows on these to allow some form of natural ventilation?

 

Look at the third photo and you will see the insulation sheets stacked up outside.

 

Thanks, silly me, I thought they were mattresses ready to go in. ☺️