.jpg)
PERMANENT WAY
The Permanent Way Department (“P-Way”) is responsible for managing the fixed track infrastructure assets of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, to ensure our trains and visitors enjoy a safe and enjoyable ride along our 14+ mile railway.
We have two teams – a Wednesday team and a Saturday team and by joining us you will have the chance to play a hands-on role in keeping our historic railway alive and running safely. Our team work directly on the track itself, maintaining and improving the line that allows steam and diesel trains to operate through the beautiful Cotswold countryside.
There’s a real sense of pride in knowing that every sleeper replaced, every rail aligned and every joint levelled contributes directly to the future survival of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway.
It’s also an incredibly rewarding way to learn practical, transferable skills. From traditional track-laying techniques to the safe use of modern tools and machinery, the P-Way team offers structured training and the opportunity to gain experience you simply can’t get anywhere else. Whether you’re interested in civil engineering, railway operations, or just enjoy working outdoors with your hands, the variety of work keeps every day interesting.
Beyond the practical side, the social element is a huge draw. The P-Way team is known for its strong camaraderie, where volunteers of all ages and backgrounds work together, share knowledge, and enjoy a good laugh along the way. You become part of a close-knit group united by a shared passion for railways and heritage, often forming friendships that last well beyond the end of a working day.
Finally, volunteering with the GWSR P-Way team offers a meaningful escape from everyday routines. It’s time spent outdoors, doing something tangible, and contributing to a cause that benefits the wider community and future generations. Seeing a train pass safely over track you’ve helped maintain is a uniquely satisfying moment—and one that keeps our many volunteers coming back week after week.
The Main Permanent Way Gang
We have two gangs which form the main permanent way team; one meets on a Wednesday and one meets on a Saturday. Both teams meet from about 9am in our Mess Coach, which is normally stationed at Winchcombe. You are welcome to join one gang or the other, or indeed both if you wish.
Following a warming cup of tea, a donut and a briefing from the Person-In-Charge, the team sets out to undertake the tasks required to maintain the track to our required tolerances.
The type of work varies from week to week – it could be lifting and packing track, oiling the fishplates, changing out expired wooden sleepers, replacing crossing pads, attending to pointwork in the sidings, or a number of other different activities. In the winter time, when the Railway is shut to passengers, we have the opportunity to take old life-expired track out and re-lay it with newer, more modern replacement materials.
Although much of the work is still manual - such as shovelling ballast - mechanised assistance is now more readily available than it was in the early years, to the teams’ relief!
Track Patrollers
In addition to the work gangs, but very much part of the P-Way Department, we also have a team of Track Patrollers.
Track patrolling is an essential activity to keep our railway safe. The Permanent Way department depend on the reports which are submitted by the teams of Track Patrollers who visually inspect the line and help identify any issues along the route. This information helps the Track Maintenance Manager and the Gang Leaders plan rectification works by tackling the areas in need of attention.
As a Track Patroller, you are the eyes of the Permanent Way department, spotting issues before they develop, so a keen eye and attention to detail is essential. Track Patrollers always go out in pairs, and they walk between neighbouring stations inspecting the track and the lineside environment as they go, reporting any faults that the main gangs can then rectify.
Track Patrolling is a rostered role but, unlike the main work gangs, you can request to be rostered on any day of the week, provided that someone else from the team is available to accompany you. You do not have to go out with the same person every time, nor do you have to stick to any particular section of the line – the track varies between each station, and so does the scenery, so enjoy it.
There are more than sufficient patrols available each month to justify the issue of a Work Permit for the role of Track Patroller, so anyone who becomes a Patroller does not necessarily have to do any other volunteering on the Railway.
Fitness
As you might expect, the work is entirely outdoors and in all but the worst of weather, so suitable protective footwear and clothing are essential. There is no specific level of fitness required, but you will be on your feet for most of the day. The work can take you anywhere along the Railway and will involve quite a bit of walking, especially along the ballast, and can include shovelling, barring, lifting and positioning of materials.
Regular breaks are taken during the day but please be aware that working on remote stretches of line can mean that facilities are often non-existent, so you will have to be self-sufficient and will need to bring your own food and drink with you for the day.
Current volunteer opportunities
We are always looking for people to join either the Wednesday or the Saturday team (or both if you prefer!). If you would like more information on any of our activities, or to arrange an informal chat, please contact the Head of Department by emailing pway.manager@gwsr.com.
