EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

VOLUNTEERING

M&GNJR SOCIETY

Volunteering at the Poppy Line

Make new friends, learn new skills and contribute to preserving East Anglia’s railway heritage for generations to come. We welcome volunteers of all ages and backgrounds, whatever your experience to join our friendly and enthusiastic team.

Our volunteers get involved for a multitude of reasons, some are enthusiasts who wish to preserve Railway heritage, some are looking to fill their spare time, some to keep active, while others are looking to learn new skills.

Whether you are a railway enthusiast or just looking for an exciting opportunity to get involved in something different we welcome volunteers of all ages and backgrounds, so come join us and you will receive a warm welcome in our community.

Call in to one of our Stations or the General Office at Sheringham, email us at enquiries@nnrailway.co.uk or call us on 01263 820800 and we look forward to welcoming you!

What skills do I need to have?

We offer so many different roles from operating and maintaining our trains and infrastructure to working with our customers on our stations, in our shops and catering facilities, on our dining trains and helping with our Youth Development Club.

Some positions in our operating department will require time and involve a training commitment; other roles are more ‘light touch’ and your personality and customer service skills are what counts.

What’s in it for me?

The North Norfolk Railway is a big community of interesting, knowledgeable, friendly people who come from all manner of walks of life and as a volunteer you will be at the centre of this community. You will make lots of new friends, have the opportunity to learn new and develop existing skills, be part of a team as well as feel part of the wider organisation.

In return for your commitment as a volunteer we offer the following:

  • Free travel for self and another on our standard services
  • Free Tea and Coffee plus light refreshments whilst on duty
  • Discounts on purchase of items from our shops and buffet whilst on duty
  • Periodic invitations to social events

What’s the next step?

Drop us an e-mail at enquiries@nnrailway.co.uk, ring the Office on 01263 820800, or call in at Sheringham Station for full details.

Commercial Team

Enjoy working with people and helping customers? There are so many roles available, from working in our shops and buffets, assisting customers on our Stations, selling and checking tickets and more.

With a focus on safety and customer service you will be the front line contact looking after our passengers on our Stations and ensuring the safe arrival and dispatch of our trains.

Become a steward in our Museum or Cottage, showing visitors around and explaining the history of East Anglian railways, also more ‘backroom’ roles cataloguing the many artefacts from East Anglian railway history.

We have a large model railway covering 300 square feet at Holt and a smaller layout at Weybourne.

We are always on the lookout for responsible volunteers to run these exhibits and to answer queries from customers.

Our Cream Tea and Dining Trains are very popular so bring your smiles and enthusiasm and enjoy being part of a unique team offering excellent face to face customer service.

We receive plaudits on how delightful our station gardens are kept. If you are green–fingered and enjoy the outdoors this is for you!

If you are looking for something more ‘heavy duty’ our lineside gang meets regularly to cut back lineside growth and keep everything trackside in order by managing vegetation and encouraging biodiversity.

Engineering Team

For the technically minded, and those who don’t mind getting their hands dirty!

Engineering experience is a distinct asset but painters and general helpers are every bit as much in demands as fitters, turners etc.

This team works with both steam and diesel traction.

This area maintains and restores our coaches and vans.

Make use of your skills, or learn new ones, in carpentry, metalworking, upholstery, plumbing, varnishing, painting, sign writing, trimming.

We have a large number of buildings and structures all of which need ‘keen handyman’ skills to keep them in good order!

Operations Team

These roles do require a greater level of long term commitment due to the significant training requirements involved  – please contact us to find out more.

This team helps look after the installation and maintenance of signalling and telephone systems; a very important area!

A vital role in the safe operation of the railway working in each of our 3 signal boxes at Sheringham, Weybourne and Holt.

In charge of the safe operation of our trains and the safety of our passengers.

The Guard contrary to popular belief is in charge of the train – just don’t tell the Driver!

Newcomers to the steam department will begin as Cleaners and progress to become Fireman and Drivers.

To operate our diesels, you will progress through being a Diesel Cleaner, Second Man and finally Driver.

If you’d like more information about what each voluntary role involves, please download our “Roles & Responsibilities” pack.

Youth Development Club

The Railway is mainly run by volunteers from all walks of life and age groups, including those in our Youth Development Club who have an active role in helping us maintain the line for the future. Over the years many club members have continued to volunteer beyond their teens and gone on to have careers on the mainline railways, with many adult helpers also joining the volunteer ranks in other activities on the railway.

At the North Norfolk Railway Youth Development Club our main objective is to get young people involved in the activities that keep a busy heritage railway going. We aim to provide young people with an interest in railways to get “hands on” developing new skills and making friends with like minded people.

Members of the Youth Development Club get involved in working in as many areas of the railways as possible, with a focus being made on Health and Safety.

Regular activities include:

  • Locomotive Cleaning – Hands on and up close with the Locos in the Shed, helping to keep them looking spick and span.
  • Vegetation Clearing – Working line side as the trains steam past clearing the cuttings and embankments, this is where your trackside safety is vital!
  • Trackside Maintenance – Assisting with the maintenance around the railway as required.
  • Weybourne Model Railway – Running the model railway that is housed in a wagon at Weybourne Station teach our youngsters the art of running a Railway.
  • Loco Driving – The highlight of the calendar is the opportunity to be on the footplate and in control , or as the fireman shovelling the coal into the firebox. Full Steam Ahead!!

The club focuses on young people aged between 10 to 16 years old.

The club is part of North Norfolk Railway Volunteers and has team that will guide new members through the membership process. The team are always on hand to answer any questions or queries.

The club holds meetings on the 3rd Saturday of every month, and also gets involved in other activities and events on North Norfolk Railway throughout the year. The club makes use of Email and messaging Apps to organise its events.

Meeting days are busy with activities and work around the railway. The team usually meet at Holt Station, before travelling by train to the activity sites. A pack lunch and drink is required for the day as you may be on an embankment or in the worksheds. At the end of the day the group returns to Holt where we finish with a well deserved cuppa and to write our workbooks for the day.

All members of the club are required to have Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). This includes overalls, workboots, bump cap and gloves etc. Full details on what is required is provided by the North Norfolk Railway Youth Development Club Team once you have applied to join the Club.

To join the North Norfolk Railway Youth Development Club please email the team directly at nnrydc@gmail.com. (Please note that the team will only respond to enquiries from adults).

All potential members are invited to visit the Club and see what we do before completing any application forms. Once you have met us the team will then email you the application forms. The club has an annual membership donation to help cover the cost of running the Club. This membership donation also includes an Apprentice Membership to the Friends of Black Prince.

Once your application is completed the young person will be provided with a Membership pack that includes:

  • A Workbook
  • Membership Card
  • Name Badge
  • Sew on Club Badge for their new overalls
  • Access to the chat groups to keep in touch

We look forward to hearing from you.

There are also plenty of opportunities for young volunteers to help outside of the monthly club meetings, where individual members can get involved in many tasks. For more details on how to join, please e-mail: nnrydc@gmail.com