Volunteering

Looking for a rewarding way to give back to your community, learn new skills, and meet like-minded people? Volunteering with the Mid-Norfolk Railway is your chance to be part of something truly special.

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Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. Whether you can offer a few hours a month or want to become deeply involved, you’ll be helping to preserve a unique heritage railway while creating memorable experiences for thousands of visitors each year.

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A Railway of Opportunities

We offer an incredibly wide range of volunteer roles, covering almost every aspect of railway life. You don’t need prior railway experience – enthusiasm is far more important. From customer-facing roles to behind-the-scenes work, from practical outdoor jobs to skilled trades, there’s something for everyone.

Volunteering is a fantastic way to make friends, build confidence, gain experience, and enjoy a genuine sense of achievement. Many of our volunteers started with no experience at all – full training is provided.

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Where You Could Get Involved

Volunteers are needed across the railway, including:​

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Customer & Visitor Services

• Selling tickets in our booking offices at Dereham and Wymondham Abbey

• Platform duties: welcoming visitors, answering questions, and assisting passengers

• Working with our shop, refreshment, and museum teams

• Catering in the Dereham and County School tea rooms, and on board our dining and afternoon tea trains

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Events & Experiences

• Helping organise and run special events

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Railway Operations

• Working with our Operations team as signallers, drivers, secondmen, firemen, guards, crossing keepers, shunters, cleaners, and more

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Engineering, Maintenance & Restoration

• Keeping our rolling stock clean, maintained, and operational

• Signal maintenance and development

• Track, drainage, bridge, and structural maintenance

• Station maintenance, restoration, and gardening

• Vegetation management and environmental care along the line

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Skilled Trades

• Welcoming people with skills such as welding, building, plumbing, electrical work, carpentry, and related trades

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... and so much more.

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With such a wide variety of tasks, our railway often resembles a small town. Every role matters, and every volunteer contributes to keeping the railway running and our visitors smiling.

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Training & Support

​All volunteers receive training appropriate to their role. Some positions require only a few hours of instruction, while operational and safety-critical roles involve structured training over longer periods.

​To volunteer, you must be a member of the Mid-Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust. This ensures you are fully covered by the railway’s insurance while volunteering. Full membership details can be found here.

​Don’t feel apprehensive about joining – everyone starts somewhere, and you’ll be supported every step of the way.

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Interested in Joining Our Volunteer Team?

We’d love to hear from you.

📧 Email our Volunteer Co-ordinator at volunteer@mnr.org.uk
📍 Or visit Dereham Station, Monday to Friday, 9am–3pm, and a member of our team will be happy to help.

 

Come and be part of the team that keeps the Mid-Norfolk Railway alive.