VOLUNTARY roles will be up for grabs at a popular tourist attraction when it hosts a job fair to recruit more people to help keep it on the right track.

Severn Valley Railway’s (SVR’s) Volunteer Job Fair event will take place at Kidderminster Station on Saturday, April 12, between 10am and 4pm.

It coincides with the railway’s members’ and shareholders’ weekend, which will be held from the Saturday to the Sunday.

During the job fair, representatives of various departments at the railway will be on hand to talk to people about the range of tasks where volunteer help is needed and the training requirements.

Additional attractions at Kidderminster will include an engine in steam, diesel locomotive and a brake coach/wagon at the platform so visitors can see it and talk to the crew.

Diesel multiple unit (DMU) shuttles will also be running to the carriage shed and diesel depot.

Engine cleaner James Rogers and John Price, signalman and fireman, were both introduced to the railway by family members and joined the SVR Junior Club as teenagers.

Mr Price, who has been volunteering for more than 20 years, said: “My dad is a guard on the railway, so I was introduced to it from a young age.

“I love volunteering here. There’s a great camaraderie between the volunteers as you’re all here for the same reason, so as well as indulging your passion there’s a great social aspect to it too.”

Diane Malyon, chairman of the staffing committee and guarantee company director at SVR, who organised the fair, added: “You don’t need to be an enthusiast to volunteer.

“There are plenty of jobs that are sure to appeal to people from any background or stage in life. We are hoping to see some younger faces at the Volunteer Jobs Fair as it’s important the skills vital for the future running of the railway are passed down to the younger generation.”

As part of the members’ and shareholders’ weekend, people will be able to visit areas of the railway not normally open to the public, including the Bridgnorth Locomotive Works, where the railway’s fleet of steam locomotives is kept, maintained and restored.

Signal boxes at Kidderminster, Bewdley North and Bridgnorth will also be open for visits as well as the Bewdley Carriage and Wagon area, with staff on hand to answer questions.

Visitors can also enjoy an intensive all-steam service during the weekend, supplemented by the visiting Great Western 0-4-2 Tank Locomotive No 1450 work - ing a typical branch line “push and pull” train on short journeys during the day.

There will also be cream tea in the SVR’s observation saloon on both days. The railway will also be running daily from April 12 to 27 for the Easter school holidays, with extra activities to keep the children entertained.