The West Somerset Railway (WSR) is inviting potential new volunteers to take a ride on Saturday 15 April to learn about opportunities to help out. The train will run this Saturday (15 April), with one service leaving Minehead Station at 10:00am and another leaving Bishops Lydeard Station at 12:30pm. Ticket will be free of charge and include a return journey for the same day.

WSR, which recently appointed two new directors, is the Steam Heritage Railway that runs from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard. It is a popular tourist attraction that is busy throughout the year. In 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.

All year round, its the stations, line, engines and other equipment also have to be maintained. The Railway is run by a very small team of permanent staff and over 800 regular volunteers, with new volunteers always welcome. Last month, the Heritage Railway Association awarded it the Rising Star Award.

Volunteers do everything including running the trains (drivers, stokers, guards and ticket inspectors), running the buffets and cafés, managing and maintaining the stations, working the signal boxes, and helping to maintain the track, locomotives and coaches. The Railway points out that while some of the jobs are highly skilled and require training, in 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 are equally welcome regardless of gender. Applicants can choose what they are interested in doing, and where.

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, then sign up for the potential volunteers train.