LIVE FROM BISHOPS LYDEARD STATION

 ARE YOU AN ACTIVE VOLUNTEER THEN

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THIS GROUP IS ONLY FOR ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS ONLY

The West Somerset Railway relies 100% on volunteer staff t0 keep;-

The trains running,

The locomotives cleaned and maintained,

The passengers fed and watered,

The stations clean and tidy

The embankments trimmed

The signals working

and so on……..

Don Spencer the Guard of the very first public service train after reopening stands beside 6412

No matter who you are, or what age you are, the WSR will find a suitable position for you. The WSR is divided into the following departments;-

Operations -responsible for the locomotive crew, the train crew, signalmen (women) and the overall running of the railway.

Signals and telegraph -responsible for the upkeep of all the equipment associated with signalling and communications

Permanent way -responsible for the upkeep of the track and its surroundings, the vegetation along the line and the renewal of vital track work and points.

Station staff -responsible for the selling of tickets, helping passengers on and off the trains and keeping the station looking clean and tidy.

Catering- responsible for providing light refreshments to our passengers whilst our trains are on the move. No food preparation involved, just serve and sell!

Checking the signal before the right of way is given

If you have any experience in any of the above fields then we would like to hear from you, if you would like to work in any of the above positions, we would like to hear from you as well.

If you have any skills, we would appreciate them and make use of them, if you have no skills we can teach you!

So who are we? The WSR is the longest preserved standard gauge railway in the United Kingdom . The line runs from Norton fitzwarren to minehead through some stunning scenery.

Next please?

What do we do? The WSR runs a fully timetabled train service (steam and diesel hauled) in authentic ex-British railways coaches throughout the year which provides a fantastic day out for families and groups alike.

How do we do it? by relying on volunteers, some who are ex-railway personnel, we all join in together to keep the track-work, the locomotives, the coaches, the wagons, the signal boxes and the stations functioning correctly.

Why do we do it? apart from keeping the WSR running, many of us have an interest in railways-we are not train spotters or anoraks but we all enjoy our time spent on the railway, no matter what we do or how often we attend.

What can you do for the WSR? Absolutely anything you may wish to turn your hand to!

A guard makes sure that the safety checks are done

What can the WSR do for you? It can educate you in everything you ever wanted to know about railways. You will be given ‘hands on' training, you will meet new friends, and you will enjoy every minute you spend with us!

How often do you have to attend? As much or as little as you wish. some of our younger volunteers are still at college so they can only attend in the holidays; some older volunteers have full time employment so that means they can only attend at weekends; other volunteers are retired but can only manage an occasional midweek visit to the railway.

How much do I have to know about railways? It really doesn't matter how vast (or not) your railway knowledge may be. Some volunteers are ex-railwaymen who willingly pass on their skills and know-how; some volunteers always wanted to be an engine driver but their career path took them elsewhere; others have gained knowledge from working on the WSR.