Whether you are looking for the perfect venue to say I do or somewhere to learn new skills and make friends this weekend is for you.
Wedding Fair
Throughout the day our staff will be on hand at Consall and Cheddleton Stations to discuss your big day and how the railway could be the ideal setting for a wedding. Both stations will be decorated to display some of the options available for your wedding and also to discuss any specific enquires you might have.
We are working with local suppliers who will also be in-attendance to talk to about what they can offer you to further help your towards your dream wedding. This will include but is not limited to: caterers, photographers, entertainment providers, venue dressing and celebrants. Trains are running from 1030 – 1530 and with three departures from Froghall stopping at Consall and Cheddleton there is plenty of time to visit both stations during your visit.
Volunteer Open Weekend
Running alongside our Wedding Fair we have Volunteer Open Weekend. This is a rare opportunity to get behind the scenes of the railway and see the key goings on as well as meet our dedicated team of volunteers who help keep the railway on track.
At Froghall we will have multiple station staff on hand to meet and greet you, you can talk to them about working at the busiest station on the railway as well as any other queries you may have. Once aboard the train the guard's' will be passing through the train offering information about how the railways Operations Department works and the other operating roles we have within the railway. The guard is ultimately in charge of the train, its passengers and is the key person to ensure the safety of our passengers was there to ever be an emergency on our train. The team will happily show you the guard's compartment and explain further their role if you feel this is something you might like to pursue following your visit with us.
Consall will be staffed by its wonderful volunteers at our most tranquil station. Located at the edge of the RSPB nature reserve Consall is the smallest station on the railway receiving a handful of visitors each day. There are lawns and flower beds to maintain along with the station building to help keep you busy in between trains. This makes Consall Station no-less important than our other stations as during selected special events it transforms from a tranquil station to the busy heart of the railway.
The Civils department will also be on hand to show off their hard work as Consall "Up" platform is currently being refurbished. In 2022 the platform was found to be rotten and in need of replacement over many of its sections. The Civils team have responded quickly to the task and have be working on it in all weathers to help get the project well under way. They have sourced new sustainable materials to replace the existing ones before removing the old platform to assess the supporting timbers and other items that make up the structure of the platform. They will be on hand to talk to anyone interested in joining this skilled team. As with all areas of the railway you don't have to have any prior experience just a willing to learn and a "can do" attitude.
Cheddleton is the “engineering hub" of the railway where our locomotive and carriage workshops are located. As with all our stations the station staff will be on hand to guide you towards the various departments that are on site as well as discuss the 150 year history of our Grade 2 listed station. We have the Motive Power Department (locomotives ), Carriage and Wagon Department, Permanent Way Department (Track) and Bridges and Structures teams on hand to discuss the various volunteering options available to you.
In the locomotive workshops we will have volunteers on hand to show you around and discuss the various projects that are currently being undertaken by the department as well as the operational roles we have on our locomotives for those with the ambition to one day become a train driver.
In the carriage and wagon workshop you will be able to view “Diana” our first class dining coach and be able to see the hard work as it nears completion after its restoration and refurbishment. Volunteers will be on hand to explain some of the jobs that have been undertaken on the coach and explain the other tasks they undertake to help keep the wheels turning on our rolling stock.
In the yard area we will have our Permanent Way Department and Bridges and Structures team who are working together in a joint effort to show prospective volunteers the work taking place to keep us "On Track" and how you can help us keep the railway moving.
If you wish to find out about any of the departments mentioned above please follow the link -Volunteering Departments