Welcome to the volunteering and donation page. We seek both !
Find out more about the opportunities here.
What is Volunteering?
Volunteering means contributing your time without expecting payment to help others or support a cause. It can take many forms, including helping people, supporting charities, assisting in hospitals, or contributing to community projects. Volunteering can be flexible, allowing you to volunteer occasionally, regularly, in person, or remotely, depending on your availability and interests
Benefits of Volunteering
Personal wellbeing: A majority of volunteers report improved mental health, increased sense of purpose, and happiness through helping others
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Skill development: Volunteering enhances real-world skills that are attractive to employers, particularly in healthcare, education, administration, and event organisation
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Community connection: It helps you feel more connected to your community and meet new people
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Career opportunities: Experience gained from volunteering can support career changes or development by building confidence and expanding networks
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Volunteering at MPMR
There are many types of role that keep a railway running. These are listed below, based around the need of that role for normal basic daily operations.
The aim of the railway is to build a pool of volunteers local to Glossop. To become interested in volunteering, please speak to a member of the team on the day. From there, you could be asked to show your interest formally by contacting the railway management team by email. Basic running is around weekends and School Holidays, but other event operations may be looked at going forward - for weekdays or evenings. Being of a chatty disposition is always welcome, as good rapport with customers is a good thing. However, this is not important depending on the role. The inner enthusiast must however shine into the role you wish to participate in ! Most roles need a certain amount of physical capability, as described in each role listing below :
TRAIN DRIVER
ROLE - to operate train safely, on the mainline and during shunting movements. Trains normally run without a guard, so you will be totally responsible for the safe passage of the train, and your passengers/load.
To understand the layout and operation of the railway, with special attention around points and crossings, public crossing points and the areas around the station and depot.
If you are the sole staff member on the day, you will also be required to take fares for the railway.
Your work will require coupling/uncoupling the locomotive from it`s train, and the use of a turntable. The work is relatively easy but will require physical effort, the ability to bend and work in areas with limited space.
YOUR TRAINING DAY - It is advisable to start at the depot, where you can be shown the infrastructure on a walk round check. You will also get a brief introduction to the staff, and vehicles in use on the day. You can then have the option to travel passenger along the line to the station.
Most work is done at the station, so you will be shown the station layout and how the infrastructure works. From there, you will be shown the loco runaround procedure and given experience gained guidance. When you feel confident, you will be asked to uncouple the loco, turn on the turntable, and re-couple the train. The scheduled driver stays with the loco at this stage. You will be asked to repeat this procedure until the training staff feel happy that you are confident & showing competancy.
The next stage will involve driving the loco around the station whilst the scheduled driver does the coupling/uncoupling/turning. You will be shown the controls beforehand and will be walked around the station until again the training staff can see that you are confident and competant at taking control of the loco.
Part 3 is you will be asked to perform all those roles yourself within the station, and by yourself, taking over from and handing back to the scheduled driver. If this goes well you will then be asked to take a ride on a mainline train to learn the route of the train, and learn more about controlling the train through the twists and bends, and understand control through the wooded area, which may drive differently in different weather conditions.
Part 4 is to drive a train for yourself ! Although an empty train is preferred, this is not always possible on an operating day. The trainer will be sat behind the loco until you both reach an agreement that you can drive for yourself. A pass-out may run over 2 volunteering days at the railway, dependant on the speed of passing through the training course.
You may need to be re trained on each of the loco`s used at the railway, as they all operate and handle slightly differently.
GUARD/SHUNTER