Our Volunteers

Our Volunteers

As is noted elsewhere on this website, a group of vintage rail enthusiasts formed the Gisborne City Vintage Railway Society (GCVR) in 1985.

They were all volunteers and this tradition of volunteers working for and running GCVR continues today. Some of the original 1985 volunteers are still working here!

Many of our volunteers fill more than one role within GCVR. In addition to the maintenance work required on our 3 locomotives (Wa165, DSC2759 and TR23), there are 4 passenger carriages and one service wagon to maintain, as well as the railway track and bridges that we use. We also have shunter drivers (to drive TR23 to assemble the train and move carriages around the yard as required), shunters (who direct the movement of trains around the yard), engine drivers, assistant drivers, firemen (for Wa165), technical inspectors (to "pre-flight" the train), train guards and safety crew, buffet staff, administration staff - all roles that are necessary to keep GCVR operating and all filled by volunteers.

Many of our volunteers are retired (from all sorts of backgrounds including engineering, electrical, railway, office, building, maritime and farming), but we also have volunteers who are still in full-time employment, including office staff, truck drivers, engineers, business owners and even a RocketLab employee. A wide variety of backgrounds - always a chance to learn something new.