Want to help run the highest standard gauge railway in Wales? Become a volunteer with us.

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Blaenavon’s Heritage Railway is very proud to be an entirely volunteer-run organisation. Whether it be the engine driver, ticket inspector, catering staff or track worker, everybody that you see during your visit is giving up their free time to keep our railway running for future generations to enjoy.  

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Opportunities:

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We are always looking for new people to volunteer with us. Our railway is home to various departments that all play a key role in supporting our railway. (minimum age 14yrs)

These include:

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• Carriage and Wagon – restore and maintain carriages and wagons dating from the 1890s through to the 1970s.

• Catering – provide cover on our RMB (Buffet Car) on days it is in service, providing hot and cold drinks, serving alcohol, snacks etc. (18 years plus due to the sale of alcohol).

• Civil Engineering – maintain and develop structures on and around our railway.

• Diesel Traction – restore, maintain and operate our heritage diesel locomotives

• Operations – responsible for operating services during running days and events.

• Permanent Way – maintain, relay and expand our track in all weather.

• Stations: Meet and greet our passengers and help us recreate the golden days of rail travel.

• Steam Traction – restore, maintain and overhaul our steam locomotives.

• Events Planning - be part of the team that programmes and presents our special events calendar

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Although you may join one department, you are by no means limited solely to it. 

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BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING 

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There are three key benefits of becoming a volunteer with us.

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1. You will be joining a passionate and friendly bunch who enjoy what they do, and who love to share that enthusiasm with others.

2. You have the chance to develop new skills. Many of our volunteers have developed and honed abilities that they have then gone on to use professionally. 

3. You will make new friends! In addition to those from within your own department, the small size of our organisation means you are certain to meet many others from across the entire railway. Many of our volunteers say that the opportunity to make new friends is one of the best things about volunteering with us.

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HOW TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER

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To express your interest in volunteering with us, simply fill out the form below. One of our friendly volunteers will be in touch shortly.

For insurance purposes, you must first become a member of either the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway Company or its supporting society. New volunteers will go through an approval process, and for certain roles, we may also carry out DBS checks.

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Full training will be provided by the department you wish to volunteer with. Due to limited resources, we very kindly ask that prospective volunteers provide to their own personal protective equipment (e.g. overalls, high visibility clothing, steel toe capped boots etc.) for relevant roles.