WSR - Volunteer Train Event

The West Somerset Railway – the Steam Heritage Railway that runs from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead - is always looking for new volunteers. This tourist attraction is busy throughout the year. In the spring, summer and autumn it carries visitors and local people on an exciting day alongside the Quantocks, down to the sea at Watchet and along the coast to Minehead. At Christmas it carries adults and children on its popular Santa trains. Throughout the year all the stations, line, engines and other equipment also have to be maintained. The railway is mainly run by over 800 regular volunteers, with a very small team of permanent staff.

Our volunteers do everything including running the trains (drivers, firemen, guards and ticket inspectors), running the buffets and cafes, managing and maintaining the stations, working the signalboxes, helping maintain the track, the locomotives and the coaches. Some of the jobs are highly skilled and require training, whilst other roles, you can start pretty much from scratch, as long as you are enthusiastic and happy to work as part of a team. 

Many of our volunteers have worked on the line for several years, but there is always work to do and we are always looking for new volunteers to join our friendly team. People can be of any age (16 or older), and both men and women are equally welcome. Our application process allows you to choose what you are interested in doing, and where, and subject to availability we will work with you to get you started.

If you, or someone you know, are interested in volunteering with the West Somerset Railway and would like a better understanding of the possibilities available, we would like to invite you to join us on our potential volunteers train. The train will be running on Sunday 2nd July, with one service leaving Bishops Lydeard Station at 10:15am and another from Minehead Station at 12:20pm. Your ticket will be free of charge and includes a return journey for the same day.

We would be grateful if you could book a place on the one of the journeys at Minehead or Bishops Lydeard stations, by contacting our volunteer team. If you have any questions concerning the event, please contact the organiser directly.