Donate
time - Become a Volunteer
The generous
support of volunteers from the local community is how the railway
was established and is run. We are committed to preserving Northern
Ireland's railway past. This includes caring for one-hundred
year old carriages and locomotives, all of which are restored
to operational condition by our volunteers.
Are you
able to give some time to the Railway? Each day brings new and
exciting challenges, with very diverse opportunities, including:
|
Tour
Guide |
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Track
Laying |
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Fundraising |
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Train
staff (Guards, firemen, drivers, etc.) |
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Woodwork/Metal
work |
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Platform
staff |
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Signals
and Telegraph |
|
and
much, much more! |
Everyone
is welcome, regardless of age, gender, interests or abilities.
You don't need to have any experience on the railways or any
trade. If you have any prior skills in any of these fields,
or are interested in working in particular area, check out the
About Us page for a list of the current
Heads of Department and introduce yourself to them - this will
make it easier for you to be placed. You're also free to try
you hand at different aspects of railway work - many of us are
"jacks-of-all-trades" and can be working on coaches
one day, locos the next and serving in the Buffet carriage on
another day!
So
whether you are a student, unemployed, retired or simply have
a couple of hours spare on Wednesdays or Saturdays, just bring
yourself along - you're guaranteed a warm welcome!
Top
Donate
or Loan an Object or Collection
The railway
is a fully registered museum and is actively collecting historical
objects and photographs relating directly to the Belfast &
County Down Railway. Items from Northern Ireland's other railways
can be accepted on their individual merits. We have always benefited
greatly from donations by the railway's many friends and supporters,
as well as the families of former BCDR employees.
In many
instances we have heard of former employees who have passed
away and discovered that many of their photographs and personal
items from their time on the railway have been binned - and
it's only later that their relatives realise what a tragedy
this was.
If you have
an object, photograph or collection, or know someone who has,
that you feel would be of interest to the railway, we would
be happy to discuss this
with you. For personal photographs of family members, we are
also perfectly willing to take copies of them and return the
originals to you.
In the first instance we suggest that you contact
us with brief details of the object or collection. Our specialist
curator will then be able to advise you on what to do next,
and can arrange to view or collect the item(s) where appropriate.
Why should
I donate an Artefact or Collection to the Museum?
Donating
a BCDR artefact to the railway ensures that it will be preserved
for future generations to enjoy. Objects from our collection
will be exhibited to the public. History was not meant to be
buried in a basement or hidden in an attic. The past should
be shared, not hoarded away.
In a registered
museum, your items will be:
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Stored
in an appropriate environment |
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Preserved
for the future |
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Available
for education and enjoyment |
Privately
owned, items are often eventually:
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Thrown
away |
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Sold
|
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Damaged
|
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Destroyed
|
What if
I want to keep my original item, but share it, too?
The railway is happy to accept photocopies or scanned images
of any paper items or photographs with a connection to the Belfast
& County Down Railway. Copies can be made by yourself or
the relevant person at the railway.
All donors must sign a donor agreement form.
The railway reserves the right to process, arrange, and provide
access to all gifts in a manner consistent with its established
policies, or to return or send to another museum items that
do not conform to the selection policy for the Local History
Collection. The railway cannot appraise gifts.
The
Downpatrick & County Down Railway Society is a not-for-profit
registered museum and charity run by volunteers. We rely on the
fares from operating days and the subscriptions from our members
and public donations to enable us to preserve and restore Northern
Ireland's railway heritage.
