Join Our Volunteer Team

We need you! We need people in all departments in order to run a safe and successful railway, whether you can come along every weekend, some days, one day or occasionally, your help is needed and without volunteers the railway and heritage would simply not survive. 

Getting started is very easy! Every volunteer must first be a member of ARPG and on the membership role. The railway runs an induction session for all new volunteers, usually on a Saturday morning between 10am and 12pm. Once we process your membership we will contact you in order to arrange a suitable date and time for you to get started. Please contact the volunteer coordinator at info@doonvalleyrailway.co.uk for more information.  

If you want to have a role which involves working and walking along the track or which is classed as a safety critical role, you must have a Personal Track Safety (PTS) certificate. There is a minimum age of 16 or 18 for operations crew. The PTS course and test are on Saturday afternoons following the morning induction for new volunteers. Once you have your PTS you can go trackside by yourself and beyond the PTS, the training you will receive will depend on the department(s), you wish, you want to do or best suited to join. 

This is the term used for track: the rails, sleepers and points which is essential work if the railway is to stay running safely and successfully. Looking after these components suit those with a fondness for the outdoors. Its not all about heavily lifting and shovelling, we utilise plant to do much of the work but still have to use a shove time to time. Though can be hard going at times, this role is critical our operation but extremely rewarding and satisfying work for our railway!

Starting in a Steam Support role you can assist the driver and fireman in the preparation and cleaning of the locomotive(s), then look after the coaling and watering through the day of operation and assist with the disposal of the locomotive when operations finish. Whilst receiving such on job training, you will naturally learn and acquire the skillset of the workings of the locomotive. You will also require to learn and complete the necessary training to be a Shunter prior to progressing to either driver or  fireman of a steam locomotive due to the responsibility carried with such roles. 

Our diesels are always double crewed. You will need to learn and complete training as a Shunter before you start on the footplate, this will give you the necessary safety background and training on the Operating Rules which are taken extremely seriously. As a secondman you will assist the Driver as required in the preparation and operation of the locomotive and when coupling etc. You will also have to demonstrate an aspect of safety as secondman, in that you could safely bring the locomotive under control if the driver was to be incapacitated, that you understand the Operating Rules and that you have route knowledge of the line.   

Every train is controlled by a Guard who is responsible for its preparation (watering the carriage tanks, compressor checks, testing its brakes and couplings etc). All Guards have to have the skills of a Shunter, as they might have to shunt vehicles into or out of their train during the day. They also receive training in emergency procedures such as train evacuation(s) or dealing with brake faults.

ARPG runs on tea and coffee, much like many of the heritage railways around the UK! We are 'always' recruiting for Sales and Catering Staff to join a very friendly, inviting and proactive team. We have both a very inviting Gift Shop and Tea Room which displays a wide variety of railway related items and gifts reflecting the true nature of heritage steam, diesel and heritage nostalgia, including books new, vintage and second hand, clothing, ceramics and souvenirs. Our Tea Room is known as our front of house and beating heart of our establishment and serves a very generous helping of light lunches, sandwiches, cakes and various hot and cold drinks. Training is provided to all who wish to embrace both these roles.

The Doon Valley Railway covers a fair bit of ground. It has various buildings and outbuilding where we host visitors on Open Days and conduct our maintenance upon locomotives, rolling stock and other assets. The Site and Grounds team maintain the various lawns, paths, picnic areas, flower beds and plant pots to ensure our site internally and externally looks presentable to our visitors on Open Days. They also tackle tasks such as general building caretakership, painting and decorating (if required) and ensuring defects are rectified in a timely and prompt manner. If you like working outdoors or indoors and this type of role appeals to you get in touch, it is extremely rewarding work, as the first thing the public see is a clean and tidy site. We have a joiners shop,  metal shop and various tools and equipment to assist and no experience is necessary but desirable. Get in touch and show your interest!