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Bridgnorth station with superb hanging baskets

Volunteer roles at Bridgnorth

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Bridgnorth. Where it all started in 1965, with the discovery of an open pub on a closed station, and a landlord with a shotgun. There was a pig in one of the offices too!

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Now we are not as mad as all that, but we still have a very wide range of activities that need to be done and it helps to have a bit of fun doing them.

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We're a friendly bunch and have a very wide variety of backgrounds and ages - men and women -  so you are bound to fit in somewhere, whether it's around the station or in the busy loco shed.

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Give us a try - you will be made welcome.

Station staff

Station staff cover a wide range of jobs -platform staff who despatch trains and assist passengers as well as ensuring their safety; booking office - another public facing role selling tickets and assisting passengers; maintenance where painting, joinery and other tasks keep the station presentable and safe; and gardens where floral displays are much appreciated by our visitors.

Platform staff standing by a train in Platform 1

Catering

Our volunteer staff in the buffet at Bridgnorth provide breakfast, lunch, cakes and drinks to passengers and the volunteer workforce. On-train buffet  staff may start their day at this end of the line.

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Volunteers also work as bar staff in the Railwayman's Arms pub.

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Volunteers running the buffet at Bridgnorth station

Retail

Bridgnorth has a large shop selling books, games, souvenirs and model railway kits.

One of the Bridgnorth sales assistants working in the shop during the 40s weekend

Guard

The guard is responsible for the safety of the train and its passengers, and a train can only leave the station with the permission of the guard. Guards therefore start their turn wherever their coaches or wagons are - usually at Kidderminster or Bridgnorth, although trains may start from Bewdley during special events such as galas.

The guard removing the tail lamp from the rear of her train on arrival at Bridgnorth station

Locomotive crew

Many of our locomotive drivers start their volunteer days as a Cleaner at Bridgnorth MPD, and work their way up to Fireman before finally  qualifying as a Driver. Crews from here usually operate any train movements originating from Bridgnorth.

The fireman of the Pannier looking out from the footplate

Signalling

Signalmen/Lady signalmen operate the signals and points from a signal box in order to control the movement of trains.

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New signalmen are unlikely to start their signalling training at Bridgnorth because we prefer trainees to start at the smaller country boxes. However, you may progress to Bridgnorth signal box once you've gained some experience elsewhere.

The lady signalman running an engine round its train

Travelling Ticket Inspector

Travelling Ticket Inspectors (TTIs) are on board to check and sell tickets, and provide assistance and information to passengers during the journey. As with guards, they start at the station where their train is stabled.

The travelling ticket inspector looking from the window of the train at Hampton Loade

Carriage restoration

The carriage group at Bridgnorth is converting a corridor brake van  to enable wheelchair passengers to travel more comfortably with their family. The carriage will have 4 standard compartments in one half, and an open coach and a disabled toilet in the other half.

Volunteers doing some measuring up in the ope section of the carriage conversion

Steam engineering

The steam engineering department maintains our operational steam locomotives and undertakes restoration work to bring non-operational locomotives back into steam.

Engineering staff having their breakfast before starting work

Track maintenance

The Bridgnorth Permanent Way gang inspects the line, carries out track maintenance, and manages vegetation, hedges and fences alongside the track.

Bridgnorth permanent way gang barring the running rail back in at Highley
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