Volunteering...

Volunteering your time to help the Railway...

There are hundreds of active volunteers helping to run the West Somerset Railway.

Of course, new volunteers are needed and welcomed.

Lots of different skills are required...

The West Somerset Railway encourages people with or without railway skills or background to join in the volunteer work and activities of the Railway.

There are opportunities in railway operations, operating procedures and restoration, maintenance and customer care, all on one of Britain's longest heritage steam railways.

The next steps...

The Railway has an excellent procedure for welcoming new volunteers, Step one is an 'open day' which provides lots of information, chats with departmental representatives, visits and safety aspects; later comes step two which includes induction, placement and training; and then step three - becoming a fully fledged and competent volunteer on the West Somerset Railway.

The official WSR website has all the details, help notes, contact information, induction dates and forms - please click here.

Something for everyone

Signalman
Station duties
Booking clerks
Draw ticket sellers
Retail
Guard
Travelling Ticket Inspector (TTI)
Trackers - youth volunteers (age 13-18)
Trackside
Steam locomotive crew
Diesel locomotive crew
Locomotive restoration
Carriage Restoration
Catering - on train
Catering - at stations
Publicity
Permanent Way Gang
Quantock Belle Dining Train
Restoration & Maintenance Squad
Signal & Telegraph (S&T)
Gauge Museum Model Railway
and lots more...

Browse this gallery to get an idea of what being a West Somerset Railway volunteer is all about.