Becoming a volunteer on the Bluebell Railway

Why not join us on a Find out more day - now held monthly.

The successful running of the railway depends largely on the voluntary efforts of the society's members in a wide variety of duties. Whether you are male or female - an active senior citizen - found time on your hands through early retirement - or a younger member, if you can attend regularly, now and then or just for a week's holiday, a welcome awaits you.

You will meet plenty of new people and perhaps learn new skills and widen your experience. Obviously some jobs are more popular than others, some you cannot walk straight into such as engine drivers, which can take some training. We all started from scratch and the more you learn about, and work on, the railway the more likely your chances of eventually finding your niche. Most departments accept people from 16 years of age and our oldest working members are in their 80's. Working members only can enjoy travel benefits on other selected private railways.

We need YOU to help us. By joining the Society, your subscription helps the railway financially. You also have the opportunity to be a volunteer working member in any of the many departments. Details on some of these departments are shown below, including links to some departmental recruiting pages.

• CARRIAGE PRESENTATION - A thorough cleaning before or after the day's running is supplemented by extra work during the day to keep the carriages in good condition for the public. Contact Chris Cooper at the Railway.
• CARRIAGE AND WAGON - skills in metalworking, carpentry, plumbing, wiring, trimming, painting, varnishing and sign writing are among those deployed in maintenance and restoration. While previous experience is useful but not necessary, enthusiasm is vital. Contact: phone or e-mail Richard Salmon (01737 772811 evenings), or phone the Carriage Works Manager, on 01825 790374.
• PERMANENT WAY - details of the 4 volunteer teams. Outdoor exercise on the track itself.
  Contact individual teams via the web page, or email the team
• BUFFET STEWARDS - The train buffets and bars are well patronised by the public, and assistance would be most welcome. Contact: Margaret Marriott (01883 713849).
• EXTENSION - Help push the railway through to East Grinstead. Trackbed clearance, drainage and track laying. Contact Nigel Longdon via the railway, or by E-mail (remove .NOSPAM from address before sending). We welcome all keen volunteers able to help mid-week or on Saturdays; skills are not essential, just a commitment to help complete the Railway's top project.
• MUSICIANS - Join the Bluebell Railway Band. Contact David Holland by phone, 01342 822427, or by E-mail (remove NOSPAMHERE from address before sending).
• CIVIL ENGINEERING - Bridge repairs, installation of drains and reinforcement of embankments and cutting back of lineside growth are just some of the variety of important jobs we do. The work can be strenuous, but will be adjusted to suit individual capabilities. Contact Chris White via the railway.
• ELECTRICAL - Responsible for all electrical equipment (including fire alarms) and wiring for the whole railway, from mains distribution to extension leads and work at special events. We also undertake testing that is required to comply with Electricity at Work Regulations, etc. If you are interested in getting involved contact David Abbott by e-mail (remove .NOSPAM before sending) or phone: 07803 611992
• FENCING - A gang meet on the third Sunday in each month to repair and rebuild fences, mostly along the lineside providing constructive outdoor exercise in all seasons. Contact: Geoffrey Snow by e-mail(remove the .NOSPAM from the address before e-mailing).
• GUARDS - Training can be arranged, but volunteers without previous experience are advised to spend some time on station duties to obtain necessary operating knowledge before applying. Contact: Bob John via the railway.
• LOCOMOTIVE RUNNING - New members begin as cleaners with opportunities for promotion to firemen and driver in due course. Contact the Roster Clerks: phone Ruth Groome on 07989 823172 or Mike by e-mail (remove the .NOSPAM from the address before e-mailing).
• LOCOMOTIVE WORKS - fitters, turners, painters, and general helpers are required and training can be given. Assistance to the permanent staff would be particularly useful. Apart from major and minor repairs, several important restoration projects are in progress. Contacts: e-mail Lewis Nodes or, for the Maunsell Locomotive Society: e-mail Peter Jessup.
  We also have a Locomotive Workshop working group set up by David Pratt and Stephen Lacey, which is a good way into working in the department. E-mail them for more information.
• SHOP - The shop at Sheffield Park is popular with the public and a very useful source of income for the railway. Counter staff are needed. Staff may be requested to submit references. Contact the Shop Manager: 01825 720803 daytime.
• SIGNAL AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS - Electrical and mechanical work on signalling equipment, and maintenance of the internal telephone system. Some experience in any of those fields is desirable. Contact Charles Hudson via the railway.
• SIGNALMEN - Full theoretical and practical training will be given, but volunteers without previous experience are required to spend some time on station duties to obtain necessary operating knowledge before applying.
• TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT - STATION STAFF - duties include greeting the public at the ticket barrier, answering the many questions they may have regarding the railway, collecting supplementary fares on the observation car when it is running. Platform duties include the prompt and safe departure of trains, the cleaning of the station towards the end of each day, and also during the day, if it is not busy. Opportunities for training in the booking office, and also for signalman and guards are given subject to suitability. The three stations are organised individually:
  • For Sheffield Park contact the Station Master's office on Platform 1, at Sheffield Park Station or by e-mail - replace (dot) and (at) in address as appropriate.
  • For Horsted Keynes contact Tim Baker or Chris Parnell c/o Horsted Keynes Station (01825 790185).
  • For Kingscote contact Roy Watts via the railway.
• TRAVELLING TICKET INSPECTORS - it is desirable to have a TTI on all trains, not only to check tickets, but to help our passengers with the many questions they may have about the railway. Contact Barry Coward or Ted Goodman via the railway.
  TTIs are a great help on the bus service connecting East Grinstead and Kingscote. Contact David Neale via the railway.
• OTHER VACANCIES - Vacancies also exist at all stations for painters, gardeners, general maintenance and handymen.

The Volunteering at the Bluebell coordinator, Clive Soper, will be pleased to make arrangements for anyone wishing to get involved in any way at all. Phone the General Office on 01825 720800 or e-mail Volunteer Recruitment to reserve a place on a tour behind the scenes, which will show the variety of roles for which we are looking for new volunteers across the various departments of the Railway, or to discuss what you might be interested in doing.

There are some basic requirements which must be fulfilled before you become a volunteer, such as being a BRPS member, and drinking copious quantities of tea (while on duty) or occasionally something stronger afterwards! Common to all the engineering departments is the issue of safety.

For younger members (aged between 9 and 16) The 9F Club provides an opportunity to get involved with the railway.

For more information about membership, please see the Membership Details Webpage.