The West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust WSRHT

Volunteering at Gauge Museum

Posted on April 21, 2019

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.