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Fancy volunteering?

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Woof, May 16, 2007.

  1. laplace

    laplace New Member

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    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.
     
  2. amy_prisk

    amy_prisk New Member

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    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?
     
  3. thegrimeater

    thegrimeater Member

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    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    If they really want you i would expect a reply fairly instantly to at least acknowledge your interest.
     
  4. amy_prisk

    amy_prisk New Member

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    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
     
  5. lil Bear

    lil Bear Part of the furniture

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    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    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.
     
  6. amy_prisk

    amy_prisk New Member

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    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.
     
  7. lil Bear

    lil Bear Part of the furniture

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    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    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.
     
  8. amy_prisk

    amy_prisk New Member

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    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.
     
  9. osprey

    osprey Resident of Nat Pres

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  10. amy_prisk

    amy_prisk New Member

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    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
     
  11. Christopher125

    Christopher125 Part of the furniture

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

    amy_prisk New Member

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    Cheers i will thank you
     
  13. amy_prisk

    amy_prisk New Member

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

    martin butler Part of the furniture

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    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"
     
  15. Paul Grant

    Paul Grant Well-Known Member

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    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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.
     
  16. Rumpole

    Rumpole Part of the furniture

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    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
  17. David Millard

    David Millard New Member

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    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.
     
  18. Azrall

    Azrall Member

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    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    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
     
  19. Forest Rail

    Forest Rail New Member

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    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    And another for the Dean Forest Railway! Join us, we have biscuits! (and trains of course....)
     
  20. ian king

    ian king New Member

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    lil Bear likes this.

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