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Volunteer members are essential to the Museum’s success. They operate our trains and trolleys, do much of our collection restoration and maintenance, and maintain and improve our grounds and buildings.

You may have skills, knowledge, and experience that we can use. You could learn something new—our volunteers love to explain what they’re doing. Some people come out frequently, others only as their schedule permits. Everything helps, no matter how small.

Please note: Volunteers must be Museum Members for insurance purposes. Learn more about JOINING the Museum as a Member.

To learn more, visit the links below or contact us at (951) 943-3020 or by e mail at info@socalrailway.org.

Restoration Projects

The Museum has many important restoration projects underway! Each project has been made possible by the generous support of friends and members. Your financial support is leveraged by Museum volunteers who put thousands of hours into each project. We also use contractors to assist when special skills or equipment is needed, greatly speeding up the time restoration. Restoration work is assisted by our extensive photographs, documents and technical information library.

Each restoration project has many participation opportunities! Whether you are able to provide financial support, material donations, or hands-on help, you are welcome to join us. Membership is required for hands-on assistance. You must be 18 to participate.

Events

The Museum hosts several fund-raising events during the year, such as our Day Out With Thomas the Tank Engine. These events depend on volunteers for their successor . We need greeters, ticket sellers, car hosts, gift shop staff, cleaners, and many others. You can work part of a day or all day as your schedule (and energy) permits.

Call the Museum at (951) 943-3020, e‑mail info@socalrailway.org, or check our Volunteer Application Form for more information.

Prefer to print the form? PDF Version

Operations

Our trains and trolleys depend on trained volunteers who know how to correctly and safely operate them. Being an operator, conductor,  or car attendant is a popular activity at the Museum. You’re welcome to join us. We offer classroom and on-the-job training for these jobs, and we give qualification tests—safety is very important to us.

Call the Museum at (951) 943-3020, e‑mail info@socalrailway.org, or check our Volunteer Application Form for more information.

Prefer to print the form? PDF Version

Facility Maintenance

The Museum’s 100-acre grounds include dozens of buildings, many roads, and an extensive utility infrastructure. Think about your home; it needs regular maintenance, from cleaning and landscaping to painting and repair. We’re no different except that the scale is much larger. Many of our volunteers don’t operate trains or maintain rail equipment, they help keep up our facility. They bring a variety of skills and experience—carpentry, electrical, plumbing, painting, landscaping, and much more. You can join us, regardless of your abilities; we can train you. Our volunteers like to explain what they do and how it’s done.

Call the Museum at (951) 943-3020, e‑mail info@socalrailway.org, or check our Volunteer Application Form for more information.

Prefer to print the form? PDF Version