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West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust WSRHT

Volunteering at Gauge Museum

Are you perhaps a young railway modeller who is looking forward to enjoying the hobby with others? If so, why not come and join our operating team at Gauge Junction.

Operator training

Our medium sized 00-gauge analogue controlled model railway can be located on the upper floor of the Gauge Museum on platform 1 at Bishops Lydeard railway station. During the West Somerset Railway’s operating size, we provide part of the visitor attractions as part of the Steam Trust Gauge museum educational resources, and are visited by around 12,000 visitors a year. In the winter we carry on developing our layout and carry out essential maintenance tasks, a good chance to learn modelling skills.

There are no membership fees, we do expect a commitment in attendance of at least once per month and all operators are inducted as West Somerset Railway volunteer staff and work under the rules and policies of the company. Gauge Junction is being built and is operated mainly by the WSR young volunteers known as ‘Trackers’ and volunteers need to be aged 14 and upwards. No previous experience is needed as we have a full training programme for those who join us under the guidance of experienced operators.

Gauge Junction provides many opportunities to make friends, gain work experience as a team member and provide public service experience for other activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme.

If you are interested in joining us, do call in to Gauge Junction and have a chat with our operators and we are open Sundays, Bank holidays, special events and sometimes Saturdays and school holiday periods when operators are available.

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My name is Seth, I am 7 years old and am very excited about the “Young Engineers Day” on the West Somerset Railway. I am glad my Mummy and Daddy reserved a space early for me because both days are now sold out and I love trains. 

I have two favourite locomotives on the WSR, they are 9351 the Mogul and 7822, Foxcote Manor, and I would like to be a train driver one day.

I am also looking forward to meeting Mr. Chris Vine as I have some of the Peters Railways books, I bought one from the WSRHT and I had 3 for Christmas from Grandma. My favourite story is “The Surprise Goods”.

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I will tell you all about the day when I get back, but I am really looking forward to it.

Seth, aged-seven.

Parental permission was saught to publish this photo for use online via this website and on our Facebook page. For more information please email info@wsrht.co.uk.

© Railway200
© Railway200