Swanage Railway Operations Department
Our biggest department in terms of volunteer numbers, Operations (simply known as Ops) manages the day-to-day running of the railway and offers the chance to work with and operate heritage rolling stock and equipment
Footplate
Being a train driver features in many a childhood dream, and this is your chance to make that dream come true! Starting on the path to driving our fleet of heritage steam locos is hard work, but the rewards are massive.
Signalling
A vital part of our steam operations, joining our signalling department allows you to step back in time to work in a period signal box using authentic 19th and 20th century equipment to ensure our trains run safely and to time.
Porter
Our porters are often the first volunteers that our travelling public encounter, so a cheerful and helpful attitude is necessary to join the team! Working at our four main stations, portering is an interesting and social role and a great introduction to the world of running a heritage steam railway.
Guard
Responsible for ensuring the safety and timely running of our train services, as well as welcoming the travelling public on board, our team of guards work hard to keep everything we do on track (pun intended!).
Useful Information
All of the 3 footplate grades are based at our engine shed in Swanage and turns, which generally start at 6:30AM (and can be long days) are rostered on a monthly basis. To keep competencies current, we ask that our footplate volunteers carry out a minimum of 15 turns a year. We estimate that based on an average of 2-3 turns a month, the progress from starting as a cleaner to passing out as a driver takes around 8-10 years.
Is this role for me? The work can be physically demanding and progression in this responsible job depends on a regular and substantial time commitment over several years