Opportunities From: VolunteerME Mid Coast Maine

The Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway Museum is seeking new volunteers!

Everything at the WW&F happens through the efforts of our team of volunteers. You may not realize it, but the WW&F is staffed entirely by volunteers. Volunteering on the railway is one of the greatest contributions you can make towards the success of the WW&F, and is essential to keeping the Railway running safely and growing.  Over the years, we've been fortunate to attract a skilled, diverse, and enthusiastic volunteer workforce.

As the WW&F has grown, we've identified areas of critical volunteer need and have created a program that enables new volunteers to get involved easily. We are highlighting volunteer positions which we seek to fill and hope that you'll join us.

Currently, WW&F Master Carpenter Eric Schade is seeking volunteers to expand our woodworking crew. The needs are described below:
"The Carpentry department is responsible for maintaining the wooden car fleet of the WW&F. We build new cars, rebuild the old stuff and maintain the operating fleet. We work on the wooden car bodies, and the associated metal work including hand rails, steps, roofs. If you are skilled or interested in work that will help us out let us know.

We need:

Rough carpenters Folks skilled in trim and cabinetry Painters Blacksmiths Tin roof workers Anyone who wants to develop their carpentry skills

We work together and share skills, so if you do not feel accomplished but want to learn, we are your people."

Additionally, we are seeking volunteers in... The track department track laborers to maintain and extend the existing railway. The shop for: skilled machinists for locomotive construction, maintenance and associated work; general laborers for other shop projects. The operating department agents car hosts. The building department framing carpenters other building trades.

If you'd like to volunteer with us please either email us at info@wwfry.org (put 'volunteering' in the subject line) or call us at (207) 882-4193 extension 1. Your information will then be passed along to the manager of the department you are interested in. They will contact you to set up a time to get you acquainted with other members and begin volunteering.

Learn more at www.wwfry.org/volunteer

The Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway Museum is seeking new volunteers!

Everything at the WW&F happens through the efforts of our team of volunteers. You may not realize it, but the WW&F is staffed entirely by volunteers. Volunteering on the railway is one of the greatest contributions you can make towards the success of the WW&F, and is essential to keeping the Railway running safely and growing. Over the years, we've been fortunate to attract a skilled, diverse, and enthusiastic volunteer workforce.

As the WW&F has grown, we've identified areas of critical volunteer need and have created a program that enables new volunteers to get involved easily. We are highlighting volunteer positions which we seek to fill and hope that you'll join us.

Currently, WW&F Roadmaster Steve Lennox is seeking volunteer track laborers to expand our track crew. The position is described below:
"The Track Laborer(s) are the force who maintain and repair
existing railroad track. Further, they are involved in the building of new track, replacement of worn materials including old ties, damaged or worn rail, helping install switches,  lining track and ballasting the track wherever needed.

Physical work includes hand spiking rail, shoveling stone ballast and lifting/placing wooden ties on the road bed. Jobs involve multiple levels of physical ability. Track Laborer(s) frequently work in crews of various sizes depending on the task at hand."

 

Additionally, we are seeking volunteers in: The carpentry department for building and maintaining our fleet of wooden cars. The shop for skilled machinists for locomotive construction, maintenance and associated work; General laborers for other shop projects. The operating department, for agents and car hosts.

If you'd like to volunteer with us please either email us at info@wwfry.org (put 'volunteering' in the subject line) or call us at (207) 882-4193 extension 1. Your information will then be passed along to the manager of the department you are interested in. They will contact you to set up a time to get you acquainted with other members and begin volunteering.

Learn more at www.wwfry.org/volunteer

Volunteers are a critical part of the WW&F Railway's mission to rebuild Maine history. It is the volunteers that work on our projects, that meet and greet our visitors, and that operate our trains. We have no paid staff. 

We encourage new volunteers to come and find a place with us. Because of the variety of things we do, and the potential dangers of working around railroad equipment, we require that new volunteers only do work at the railroad when there are longer-term volunteers around, at least for the first couple of months, so that we can “show you the ropes”.

To volunteer, just show up. All ages, abilities, and interests are welcome. There is something for everyone - and we do our best to match volunteer capabilities and interests with our needs. Of particular note, we always can use additional laborers, skilled metal and wood workers, equipment operators, painters, carpenters and general workers. We also need help to staff our gift shop, prepare meals for the volunteers, clean the campus, act as docents and guides, and manage the day to day operations of one of Mid Coast Maine's premier historic sites. 

For those volunteers interested in train crew service, we have an initial waiting period as well as a training program. We ask that new volunteers accumulate at least 150 hours over no less than 6 months, before formal train crew service begins. This helps everyone to get to know everyone else better, and gives time for the new volunteer to decide if the museum is a right fit for them.

Volunteers are always present on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Typically, work begins by 8 am on Saturdays (9am on weekdays) while “closing time” is after 4 PM. (During the late autumn and early winter months, when it gets dark early, we leave early.) Activities are usually rain or shine, but may move indoors during inclement weather.

Our volunteer corps is like a family. Many meet for breakfast before the day begins or for supper after it ends. Others keep in touch with each other throughout the week.

Learn more at www.wwfry.org/volunteer