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Affiliated Railways

The W&LLR is affiliated with Railways worldwide

The W&LLR is affiliated with a number of other lines across the globe, sharing our experiences and knowledge.

Great Little Trains of Wales – The W&LLR is one of 12 heritage railways, preserving narrow-gauge steam in Wales (Click Here to Learn More).

Alishan Forest Railway

The agreement with the Alishan Forest Railway was signed in September 2017 by our Chairman, Steve Clews, Lord Faulkner, President of the Heritage Railway Association, and Hwa-Ching Lin, Director General of the Taiwan Forestry Bureau.

The railway is famous for being the highest narrow- gauge line in Asia, with the steepest gradient and for its distinctive Shay locomotives. More information can be found here.

Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway - Affliated Railways
Welshpool Affiliated Railways - Taiwan Sugar Corporation

Taiwan Sugar Corporation

Our agreement with the Taiwan Sugar Corporation (TSC) was signed in December 2018 at the annual Sugar Culture Festival in Taiwan, for which we loaned our locomotive no.8 ‘Dougal,’ to the delight of Taiwanese enthusiasts, as seen here.

The attached information, from the book “The Stories and Memories of Sugar Railway Culture, TSC” published by the Taiwan Sugar Corporation, gives more information about all TSC’s heritage railways. Please click here.

Sierra Leone National Railway Museum

Our most recent agreement was signed with the Sierra Leone Ministry of Tourism & Cultural Affairs on behalf of the Sierra Leone National Railway Museum on 12th March 2020. This provides for mutual cooperation and knowledge sharing.

In acknowledgement of the twinning, plaques were exchanged between W&LLR chairman Steve Clews and Deputy Minister of Tourism & Cultural Affairs, Mr. William I K Robinson.

View more information about the museum here.

Welshpool Affiliated Railways - Sierra Leone National Railway Museum
Welshpool Affiliated Railways - Bregenzerwald Museumsbahn

Bregenzerwald Museumsbahn

The Bregenz Forest Railway (known colloquially as the Wälderbahn or Wälderbähnle), is an Austrian narrow gauge railway.

It runs through the state of Vorarlberg and from 1902 to 1983 linked Bregenz on Lake Constance with Bezau in the Bregenz Forest on a 35 kilometre long railway line.

Today, a 5km long section is still worked as a heritage railway.

Learn More about the Bregenzerwald Museumsbahn – Click Here.

Zillertalbahn

The Zillertal Railway operates along the valley of the river Ziller in Tyrol, Austria. The 32km line starts in Jenbach and terminates in Mayrhofen.

Most of the passenger train services are hauled using modern diesels or railcars, but several steam locomotives also operate a regular tourist service.

The W&LLR operates several former Zillertalbahn traditional four-wheeler balcony carriages.

No.2 ‘Zillertal’ was on loan to the W&LLR between August 2019 and November 2024.

Learn More about steam on the Zillertalbahn – Click Here.

Welshpool Affiliated Railways - Zillertalbahn
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Customer Support Team

Do you love helping people? Join our Customer Support Team:

  • Deal with customer queries and offer information and advice.
  • Help to ensure all visitors have a positive experience.
  • Assist with keeping our background administration up to date.
  • We offer a traditional service where customers can talk to ‘real people’ if they want to.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Archives & Education Team

Do you love building and sharing detailed records of history? You might enjoy volunteering in our Archives and Education Team:

  • Help to find and store accurate and detailed records of our history.
  • Gather and record oral and written memories of our railway’s past.
  • Share our heritage stories with community and school groups.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Events Team

Do you like making good things happen? Could you help us to organise our special events?

  • Be part of the team planning and running special events throughout the year.
  • Vintage weekends, children’s events, themed events and the annual steam gala.
  • You can help with just one event or several during the year.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Museum & Visitor Centre Team

Do you love museums and heritage centres? You might enjoy volunteering in our Llanfair Connections Visitor Centre:

  • Meet and greet visitors.
  • Open weekends and school holidays from March to October.
  • Support children’s activities and learning.
  • Support heritage conservation and visitor interest.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Buildings & Grounds Gang

Do you want to help us to keep our station sites looking tidy? Can you spare some time on Tuesdays or Wednesdays?

Then join our Buildings and Grounds Gang:

  • Help to keep our stations and facilities well cared for.
  • Carry out routine and general maintenance as part of a team.
  • Regular Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the year.
  • Join the team on a regular or occasional basis.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Lineside Vegetation Gang

Do you want to help us to keep our railway line looking tidy? Can you spare some time on occasional weekends - one weekend per month or less?

Then join our Fence-to-Fence gang:

  • Be part of the team managing vegetation alongside the railway line.
  • Work outdoors as part of the team.
  • Regular two-day weekends throughout the year.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Track Gang

Are you happy working outside in the fresh air? Do you love the satisfaction of seeing a job well done?

  • Be part of our track gang, maintaining eight miles of railway track.
  • Work outdoors as part of the team.
  • Repairs and routine maintenance.
  • Weekday operations – currently every Friday.
  • Light tasks included, so no need for physical strength.
  • Reasonable mobility is required.
  • Supervision and training provided.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Engineering & Workshops

Do you love tinkering with cars? Then you’ll love volunteering in our engineering workshop!

  • Maintain and restore heritage locomotive engines.
  • Fabrication, fitting and machining of specialist parts.
  • Well-equipped workshop and facilities.
  • Both specialist and general roles.
  • Full training and supervision provided.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Shopkeeper

Do you want to volunteer and prefer to be indoors? Then join our busy station team as a Shop Keeper:

  • Serving customers in our station shops.
  • Restocking shelves.
  • Helping visitors with their purchases.
  • Full training provided.
  • Can be combined with the Assistant Station Master role if desired.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Locomotive Team

Do you dream of being a train driver? Make your dream come true!

  • Learn ‘footplate roles’ from Fireman through to Steam Engine Driver.
  • Train on heritage steam and diesel engines.
  • Drive our interesting and challenging line.
  • Shunt rolling stock around the stations.
  • Full, progressive training provided.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Guard : Signalman

Are you looking for a new volunteering experience? How about becoming a Guard or Controller Blockman for our heritage trains?

  • Manage all aspects of passenger train journeys.
  • Oversee train movements and timekeeping.
  • Help visitors to their seats and check tickets.
  • As Controller Blockman, take control of signals and points.
  • Full training provided.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Station Master

Do you enjoy making people happy? Then you’ll love volunteering as our Station Master!

  • Despite the title, women are very welcome too!
  • Oversee smooth operation of the station site.
  • Ticket sales.
  • Ensure station safety and cleanliness.
  • Make our visitors feel welcome.
  • Full training provided.
  • Start with Assistant Station Master role if preferred.

Volunteer Enquiry Form

Please complete the following information so that the Volunteer Liaison Office can deal with your enquiry. The information helps us to consider where we might be able to place you.