Volunteer Accomodation

[jrail1992]

Coming back from a stay in volunteer accommodation for the railway I guard at and the current rate is £15.00 per night. For that you get a bed (bring your own bedding), access to cooking/bathroom facilities and WiFi.

Just wondering which other heritage railways offer accommodation for volunteers, what the current rates are at these places and what do you get for your money.

Thanks for your time.

 

[Alanko]

Any railway that bought up former Sleeper mk3s? These seem to be commonly retained as accommodation on heritage lines.

 

[MichaelWells]

Coming back from a stay in volunteer accommodation for the railway I guard at and the current rate is £15.00 per night. For that you get a bed (bring your own bedding), access to cooking/bathroom facilities and WiFi.

Just wondering which other heritage railways offer accommodation for volunteers, what the current rates are at these places and what do you get for your money.

Thanks for your time.

£15 a night!

The Railway I volunteer at is normally £5 for the first night and then £2 for each night after that.

 

[StephenHunter]

The Bluebell had one of the CIWL Type F "Night Ferry" vehicles for this purpose, but they've put it up for sale. Not sure if anyone has bought it.

 

[STINT47]

We have an ex Caledonian Sleeper MK3 SLEP.

It costs £7.50 per night and gives you a bed (two actually as they're bunks) a sink with hot and cold water and an air conditioned berth with an adjustable temperature control.

We can also use the pantry at the end of the coach which contains a fridge with freezer compartment, boiler/urn for hot water drinks and microwave with plates and utensils etc.

Only downsides are no bedding so it's bring a sleeping bag and pillow and no on board toilets. There is however acces to a toilet and shower close by.

Overall it's pretty decent and I can sleep well enough in it. The cost is also reasonable considering the electricity used to power the coach overnight.

It also reminds me each time I use it how much of a superior design the mk3 is over a mk5 sleeper but that's a conversation for another thread.

 

[steamybrian]

Many years ago I worked on the Llangollen Railway and stayed in one of the volunteers accommodation coaches- a converted GWR Hawksworth 3rd class compartment brake coach.

I understand that the Strathspey Railway have an excellent volunteers accommodation "hostel" at Aviemore.

 

[778]

The Severn Valley uses four old green Mark 1 carriages (southern region?) as overnight accommodation at Bridgnorth. They are compartment coaches with seats taken out and replaced by bunks. Some compartments are reserved for regular volunteers and some compartments can be used by occasional volunteers or contractors. It costs £3 per night to stay in. There is a toilet at one end of the carriage.

There are plans to replace the carriages with a new volunenteer hostel, but this will probably not happen for quite a while.

 

[YorkshireBear]

The KWVR has an excellent accomodation block attached to their sheds. Free to use for all volunteers... Can't believe places charge to be honest!

 

[kje7812]

The Severn Valley uses four old green Mark 1 carriages (southern region?) as overnight accommodation at Bridgnorth. They are compartment coaches with seats taken out and replaced by bunks. Some compartments are reserved for regular volunteers and some compartments can be used by occasional volunteers or contractors. It costs £3 per night to stay in. There is a toilet at one end of the carriage.

There are plans to replace the carriages with a new volunenteer hostel, but this will probably not happen for quite a while.

Before a recent repaint, you could make out W prefixed numbers under the paint. The colour is just so they blend in somewhat with the surroundings.

The BR(W) first class sleeper at Kidderminster is also £3 a night, though no onboard toilet. There's a toilet and shower in the Porter's, which has a fridge and microwave. There's free WiFi on the site anyway.

 

[55002]

Be cheaper using these than staying in your own house after October

 

[jrail1992]

The KWVR has an excellent accomodation block attached to their sheds. Free to use for all volunteers... Can't believe places charge to be honest!

Free? Golly that's interesting to know. Thanks for the reply.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Aug 2022 ==

£15 a night!

The Railway I volunteer at is normally £5 for the first night and then £2 for each night after that.

That's more of the price range I'd expect for working volunteers. Thanks for the reply.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Aug 2022 ==

Many years ago I worked on the Llangollen Railway and stayed in one of the volunteers accommodation coaches- a converted GWR Hawksworth 3rd class compartment brake coach.

I understand that the Strathspey Railway have an excellent volunteers accommodation "hostel" at Aviemore.

Any ideas what Strathspey charge for their accommodation?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Aug 2022 ==

Thanks for all the responses. It would seem my railway is quite expensive compared to other organisations.

 

[TRXsouth]

“Any railway that bought up former Sleeper mk3s?”

The Bluebell Railway received three Mk3 sleepers in January 2020. They currently reside in the long siding north of the ’new’ signal box at Kingscote station. Its website indicates that at some time they will move to Sheffield Park - no details of charges as the railway is seeking a ‘Volunteer Sleeping Accomodation Co-ordinator.’

 

[StephenHunter]

“Any railway that bought up former Sleeper mk3s?”

The Bluebell Railway received three Mk3 sleepers in January 2020. They currently reside in the long siding north of the ’new’ signal box at Kingscote station. Its website indicates that at some time they will move to Sheffield Park - no details of charges as the railway is seeking a ‘Volunteer Sleeping Accomodation Co-ordinator.’

Four Mark 3s in total:

Carriage Stock List - The Bluebell Railway in Sussex

www.bluebell-railway.com

 

[greyman42]

What does the NYMR have in terms of accommodation?

 

[D6968]

The ca

What does the NYMR have in terms of accommodation?

The camping coaches at Aidensfield/Hogwarts/Goathland I’m not sure about staff accommodation.

 

[TRXsouth]

“Four Mark 3s in total:”
Thanks for clarifying that the Bluebell Railway has four, not three, Mk3s.

 

[paul1609]

What does the NYMR have in terms of accommodation?

Some years since Ive been there but the NYMR volunteer accommodation used to be the Old Post Office building next to Grosmount Station.

The Kent & East Sussex charge £5 per night for volunteer accommodation btw.