Volunteer Train Crew

Loco Crew

As we mainly operate steam trains, we are always in need of engine drivers, firemen and guards so are always in need of additional suitable candidates. 

If you have always wanted to be an engine driver or a fireman, here is your chance.  Training  is provided free.

So if are you interested - please get in contact  and/or download and print out the the Volunteers Handout. Fill in the details and send it, or hand it in, to the station! Don’t forget to also check out our handy hints & tips!

Other Areas of Work

Front of House

Train Operation - This work involves train guards (who are responsible for the safety of trains and dealing with passengers), checking tickets etc

Shop/Booking Office - This is the main commercial front to the railway and of course our main source of income, so is very important to us. Skills required or that you can learn include shelf-stocking, money handling, offering general advice and dealing with ticket sales. We also occasionally need people to help represent the railway on sales and publicity stands and selected events around the country.

Here is a selection of possible areas of work on the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway (it is definitely not an exhaustive list!).  You do not have to restrict yourself to any singular job or function.

Engineering, Maintenance & Marketing

Machine tool skills - Skilled and willing volunteers are required to help throughout the year with ongoing maintenance and construction. There is a wide variety skills needed including carriage maintenance, welding, fabricating, painting, routine repair, maintenance and refurbishment, electrical skills, specialist draftsman and more.

Joinery and carpentry - We often require specialists in this field to help with the repair and restoration work being carried out around the station and on rolling stock. Such opportunities also exist within some local area groups where small rolling stock and other projects have been taken on.

Painting - This can cover everything from sign writing, to interior decoration and vehicle repaints. We always need skilled painters to help with lettering work and interior paint finishes. Other opportunities also exist for those who want to get dirty and help apply protective paint to rolling stock underframes and external surfaces.

Electrical - This can cover everything from changing a light bulb through to Installation of new lighting, maintenance of existing systems, or rewiring of outdated systems.

Civil engineering and track maintenance - Civil Engineering and permanent way is another major area of work on the railway and is what provides us with a safe track on which we can run our trains. Existing track requires maintenance and there are often small jobs like ballast packing on the existing line. We also have quite a significant number of miles of additional new railway to build in future years! - this requires design work, construction, machine operation, management track laying.

Signals and telecommunications - Long term projects currently in progress including the setting up of electronic token systems, full interlocking of points and signalling, railway telephone communications, and radio communications. We have a number of experienced specialists already helping, but their time remains limited. The more people who can volunteer to help, who possess skills in these areas, the quicker we can implement these projects. All the existing S&T then also needs ongoing maintenance.

Gardening - This is a job that almost anyone can usually help out with! There is a lot of grass that needs cutting regularly throughout the season. We also have to maintain fences, trim hedges and look after flowerbeds in order to keep the station’s appearance up to a high standard.

Marketing -  Encouraging people both locally and nationally to visit the railway, is done through our leaflets and other materials. We are also regularly featured in the media and have a constantly evolving website. If you find the North Devon guesthouse you stay in doesn’t have our leaflets, why not make sure they do!