Volunteering Opportunities
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How to Volunteer
Volunteers, working on behalf of the WRA, play a vital part in both the operation and development of the railway. Specific "situations vacant" are listed on the Volunteer Vacancies Page but new volunteers are welcome at all times; opportunities exist for those who live locally and can provide a regular commitment but work can also be offered to volunteers whose availability is more limited or seasonal.
If you wish to volunteer please email David Elliott (Volunteer Co-ordinator) or telephone him via the Leeming Bar Office on 01677 425805 and he will be pleased to have chat with you about the various opportunities on offer.
You will then be asked to complete a Volunteer Registration Form in accordance with the Explanatory Note. (Forms updated 15 June 2011)
If you cannot commit to regular volunteering or if you are a friend of a regular volunteer and want to help at a particular event (eg Santa Specials) then there is now a temporary volunteer category. You do not need to be a WRA member for temporary volunteering.
If you are interested in volunteering on an ad-hoc or temporary basis then please read the Temporary Volunteer section at the bottom of this page.
All new volunteers are offered an induction session and contact with the Induction Coordinator will be maintained until a position can be found with the appropriate Team Leader who will then take responsibility for the volunteer. New volunteers who offer general help but do not want to be assigned to a particular team will be listed separately and contact details circulated to Team Leaders from time to time.
Application packs are also available at Leeming Bar office and Leyburn Station shop.
Compliance with the terms of the Volunteer Agreement (which will be signed at the Induction Session) ensures that individuals are covered by the WR plc insurance while engaged in volunteer activity on WR premises or land.
WR Staff Meetings
Meetings are normally held on the first Tuesday of each month starting at 7.15pm. See Staff Newsletter (RailLink) for further details.
The meetings provide a forum for discussion and communication of latest news and forthcoming events. Presentations are frequently included. All WR paid staff and volunteers are encouraged to attend.
Periodically extra curricular events are arranged to encourage volunteers to meet and participate in social activities. See Diary of Events Page.
Rail Link
With effect from the July 2010 issue Rail Link is now a "Staff Newsletter".
It will not be made available on the website but will only be distributed direct to individual staff and volunteers. If you wish to receive a copy please contact Timothy Edwards.
Where Volunteers are Needed
The general scope of volunteering work is described below on a departmental basis. Work programme dates can be found within each department.
Operations
This department includes Train Crew (Drivers and Guards) and Level Crossing Keepers. Formal training is provided for these jobs. The entry point into Operations is normally as a Level Crossing Keeper with the option of progressing to Train Guard and then to Train Driver. You would work, according to your availability, to an agreed roster which includes volunteer and paid staff.
Contact WR Operations Manager on 01677 425805.
Rolling Stock Group
All aspects of maintenance and restoration are carried on our fleet of locos, Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs), coaches and the Works Train.
 Working on lighting in the Mk 1 Mini-buffet coach (RMB 1879). (Barry Wetherell) | Not all of this work requires special skills or strong muscles! Enthusiasm and a willingness to learn is all we need. The work is varied to suit all tastes and capabilities. We would welcome more volunteers in this department to speed up the restoration to traffic of rolling stock that has been purchased for expansion of the train service. The current Railway Rolling Stock list can be found on the Notice Board |
Scraping and rubbing down the south roof on a Mk 2a coach (Barry Wetherell)
Infrastructure
This department incorporates a wide range of duties related to the vital task of maintaining 22 miles of railway. Tasks include track work, track patrolling (essential to the continued safe operation and running of trains) and maintaining ditches, fences, bridges, buildings and level crossings. This work is done throughout the year. A wide range of skills can be learned "on the job" and Personal Track Safety (PTS) training is given before you start. The PTS Course is a pre-requisite for working on the line and in Operations. The qualification has a two year validity.
The department meets bi-monthly to address specific infrastructure matters. Work Parties are every weekend and every Wednesday evening. Contact Volunteer Work Party Coordinator (Angus Maude) on 01677 423046 (after 6pm) or General Training Enquiries.
Copies of forms used by the Infrastructure Team (Production Report and Track Patrol Report) can be downloaded and printed from the Forms Centre on the Notice Board Page.
Catering and Ticketing
 The ex-Southern Region Class 422 TRBS carriage at Leeming Bar | Catering is provided at Leeming Bar Station (static buffet coach), Leyburn Station (Arthur's Teabar) and on the trains. Staff at these locations also sell the full range of train tickets. This work involves direct contact with our customers and provides a vital service. Training is provided in all aspects of Customer Care including cash handling procedures. Contact Amanda Pearson (Catering Manager). |
 Arthur's Teabar at Leyburn Station |  On Train Buffet |
Northallerton (ECML) Station Kiosk
The Wensleydale Railway operates this Station Kiosk selling hot and cold drinks, snacks, papers and magazines and a small range of WR related merchandise, inlcuding Relay magazine.
The kiosk is open from 6am to 6pm Monday to Saturday. In addition to providing a valued service to rail passengers at Northallerton it is an excellent means of publicising the Wensleydale Railway. Volunteers are needed to maintain this "shop window" for our railway.
Contact Audrey Heathcote.
Retail
Retail outlets are located at the stations in Leyburn (shop in station building) and Leeming Bar (static shop coach).
They sell a wide range of Wensleydale Railway branded items, other rail and transport-related goods, videos, DVDs, books, magazines and memorabilia; and local interest items. The shops represent another important interface with the public. Contact Leyburn Shop on 01969 625182 or email Geoff Clarke. |  A member of the retail team in the converted Mark 2a shop carriage at Leeming Bar |
Working as a Station "Friend"
Opportunities exist to work on specific station projects currently being undertaken by the Friends of Leyburn Station (Contact Betty Ackrill on 01969 625182).
The Leeming Bar Station Support Group (LBSSG) is a volunteer group responsible for management and improvement of the station facilities. There is a variety of work and regular attendance at the station is not necessary for some tasks. Contact Nigel Park.
Bedale Station Group (BSG) supports Wensleydale Railway plc by looking after and developingBedale Station The station is owned by Hambleton District Council and leased to the Railway. Part of it has recently become a Bakery run by a community group with several similarities to the Station Group.
We have now completed work on the station toilets and opened them to the public. Currently we are converting the former conservatory into a Waiting Room. Our longer-term ambition is to improve the exterior of the station, including recreating a garden on the embankment facing the platform. We offer a small scale catering and sales service to passengers on busier operating days.
The Group works in an informal and friendly manner and new members are always welcome. We particularly need people who have DIY and gardening skills and/or are willing to offer customer service on certain days. If you would like to help with practical work or fundraising please email the Group or call Peter Harbord on 01609 761059 or Marilyn Milner on 01677 426868.
The "Friends of Aysgarth Station (FOAS)" has been set up to raise funds, acquire appropriate equipment and undertake practical projects. Work achieved to date has been refurbishment of the kitchen, including fitting a new cooker , a new heating boiler and some of the furnishing has been replaced. Externally part of the roofing has been renewed and painting of the woodwork is ongoing.
We have a prioritised work plan which is delivered through our team of volunteers. Significant sums of money have already been raised through sales of donated items on eBay, so if you have something of which you have no further need, please email David Gibson and he can give you a view based on condition, size and location.
If you would like to help or receive more information, please register your interest by email or write to FOAS c/o Handsel House, Walden Close, Great Totham, CM9 8UJ.
As well as the holiday cottage which is looked after by FOAS, there are several other buildings on site – the Goods Shed, two Linesman’s Huts, Weighbridge Office, Signal Box, Waiting Room and Station House (the latter currently occupied), plus 2-3 platforms.The station site is not currently open to the public, WRA members should only visit the site with prior agreement from the General Manager's office at Leeming Bar Station.
Direct Works Team
The Team is responsible for the maintenance, preservation, and general upkeep of the Railway’s buildings. Some examples include:
• The complete rebuilding of a 108 year Norfolk signal box brought to Leeming Bar
• The total rebuild of Scruton Station
• The preservation of Bedale Signal Box
• Building a water tower (for steam trains in the summer) at Leyburn Station
• The refurbishment of the Dairy at Redmire Station
• The general maintenance of the buildings at Aysgarth Station
Building skills are not required of new volunteers but they would help, and every volunteer is required to take a half-day Personal Track Safety course.
Aysgarth Station. The Team has worked at Aysgarth under the supervision of Paul Markie (01969 663811). Ensuring the integrity of the buildings has been a priority and the first building to be tackled was the Weighbridge Office (WBO) where the roof had started to fall in and was in danger of collapsing entirely into the building and in so doing demolishing some of the walls. To date, the WBO roof has been removed, the stonework repointed and new roof structure put in place including retiling. The Waiting Room has also been completely redecorated inside and outside ready to receive a large, scale model of the railway from Aysgarth to Castle Bolton.
Redmire Station. Planning permission has been applied for to convert the Dairy into a café and visitor centre; there will be a full public consultation in due course.
Scruton Station. We have been working here throughout most of 2010 and now have the roof off and the floor up. The signal box has had the roof replaced and the outside painted. See before and after photos (by John Tong) below.
(November 2010)
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Marketing and Administration
Will you help us to increase awareness of the Wensleydale Railway and travel opportunities ?
 Taking bookings | There is a need to advertise and promote our presence at every
opportunity. We host and organise special events (including Santa
Specials and Days Out with Thomas) and promote the Railway at external
events such as the Great Yorkshire Show. We also mount displays at local libraries. |
We need to distribute our timetables and leaflets to Tourist Information Offices, hotels and other tourist locations. Help with this and routine activities such as addressing and filling envelopes with publicity material and the packing of "Relay" magazine is always welcome. Contact Nigel Park on 01609 776518.
Cleaning Group
Daytime volunteers are needed to act as mobile cleaners while the trains are running. If you have some time to spare please talk to Maureen Stockbridge on 01748 822267.
Temporary Volunteers
If you cannot commit to regular volunteering or if you are friend of a regular volunteer and want to help at a particular event then there is now a temporary volunteer category. You do not need to be a WRA member and can simply sign up using the Volunteer Registration Form. Please also note the Temporary Volunteer Conditions. (Forms updated 15 June 2011)
(Photo: Tom Clift)