Swanage Railway Guard
All of our trains, whether they are carrying passengers or not, need a guard. Working closely with the footplate and the platform staff, guarding is a fun, but responsible, role on our railway.
Guard
There are few more iconic sounds on a steam railway than the guard blowing their whistle to let the world know that the journey is about to start.
There’s a lot more to being a guard on the Swanage Railway however! A vital part of the on-train team, the guard prepares the coaches before service starts, and makes sure everything is shut down at the end of the day.
During operation the guard is responsible for making sure that the train is ready & safe to depart, and this is done with the help of the porters on the platform.
Guarding is an important role in our day-to-day operations and it’s also a fun and social way to contribute to the safe and efficient running of the railway.
We ask that all of our guards qualify as Porters before starting their training.
Useful Information
Training to be a guard is a combination of practical experience along with learning and applying the rules and regulations of the railway. You will learn the role “on-the-job”, with each training turn shadowing a trainer who will show you the ropes, taking on more and more responsibility as you progress.
Is this role for me? Signalling requires an ability to solve problems and to follow rules and regulations in a calm and logical manner. There is a physical element to the role, but it is generally not very strenuous.h