Leighton Buzzard Railway appeals for volunteers

The Leighton Buzzard Railway is calling for volunteers who wish to learn a new skill, or put to good use skills they already have.

As the railway depends entirely on volunteers, it is always on the lookout for anyone with time to spare and would like to help. Volunteers have the satisfaction that they are helping to preserve an important part of Britain's industrial history while providing a train ride that thousands of people enjoy every year.

As a volunteer, there is no need to know everything about trains, but enthusiasm is especially important. Anyone working as a volunteer must be insured, which is done by becoming a member of the Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway Society.

Membership of the society offers many advantages, including three free return journeys during the main season (except on gala days and visits from special characters), insurance when working on the railway, a regular newsletter and an award-winning magazine, and a sense of achievement.

On the operational side, there are vacancies for train crew and guards, while on the non-operational side, there is a range of volunteer jobs available, including:

• Administration;
• Booking Office;
• Building Maintenance, looking after buildings and other structures, and planning new ones;
• Coaches, for people with carpentry, painting, or mechanical skills to keep the passenger coaches in good shape, as well as building some new ones;
• Gardening, including hedge cutting and landscaping;
• Diesel Locomotive Maintenance;
• Steam Locomotive Engineering;
• Marketing;
• Parking Marshalls, to manage the car parks at Page's Park on Bank Holidays and special event days;
• Radio Signalling, to ensure that only one train is on any stretch of line at the same time on days when more than one train is in service;
• Shop Staff;
• Track Maintenance;
• Wagon Maintenance.

Society membership costs £26 for Adults, £18 for over 65s, and £12 for under 18s. Full details about becoming a member, a downloadable membership form, and details of how to contact the society can be found online at https://www.buzzrail.uk/help-us/membership/

As well as adult volunteers, the railway also has a Buzzrail Juniors section so that under-16s can also get involved.