How You Can Help

Volunteers' Diary

We usually have working parties every Saturday and Sunday, doing a wide variety of jobs in Dereham Station and along the line. There are also mid-week gangs who do jobs such as drainage, fencing and vegetation clearance. If you are interested in any of these, then please get in touch with our Volunteer Coordinator, who will be delighted to hear from you. To advertise a work party that you are organising, e-mail the web maintainer.

Safety Note

You are reminded that railways can be dangerous places, and that you should never venture out onto the line unless you have a current Personal Track Safety Certificate. For insurance purposes, all our volunteers must be members.

Jobs for the Next Few Weeks

Volunteers taking a break while a train passes.
30th April 2011. Photo: Toby Rawlings

Saturdays 14 January - 24th March: Fishplate Greasing

Every joint on the line needs to be greased to ensure that the rails can expand in the summer heat. The works train leaves Dereham at 9, or you can try to find us. Alternative work will be taking place if it is raining or the temperature drops below 4°C, as we cannot carry out greasing under those conditions.

Contingency Plan: Changing Sleepers

In the event that is is too cold or wet to grease fishplates, we intend to spend the day changing sleepers near Garvestone. Works train leaves Dereham at 9 or join us on site.

Regular Events

Saturdays: Southern Section

The Southern Section permanent way team meet at Dereham at 9 to carry out general maintenance tasks on the railway, including vegetation clearance and track upgrades.

Sundays: Northern Section

While the group is based at County School on the final Sunday every month, the remainder are spent reopening the line north from Dereham, initially to Hoe. Meeting at 9:30 tasks include general permanent way work, changing rotten sleepers, drainage repairs, fencing renewals and vegetation clearance.

Wednesdays: Drains and Fences

This team have a vital role in keeping the line in good condition. They focus on maintaining the lineside, rather than the track. As well as looking after the drains and fences, they undertake vegetation clearance and mowing the banks.

Tuesdays and Thursdays: Coach Maintenance

The mid-week team are painting and maintaining the coaches. All are welcome to come and help, but we'd particularly like people who can do painting, woodwork, plumbing and welding. Training can be provided where necessary.