Do you have questions about our organisation?
Would you like to enquire about a party booking?
Please complete the enquiry below:
Are you interested in becoming a member of Castledare Miniature Railway?
Here is a little bit about members of CMR and what we do.
Membership Brief
- The Club was founded in 1963 with the first track laid that year.
- We currently operate from 2 separate stations.
- Our club is operated for the benefit of both members and the general public.
- Our primary running days are the first and third Sunday each month and Wednesdays of school holidays.
- A member’s magazine Cinders & Soot is published each quarter and sent electronically, it has lots of information and photos about what is happening around the club.
Age:
We endeavour to cater for young people within the age ranges permitted by AALS and our own constitution.
Station, signal and train guards can qualify at 15 years to operate on public days, Diesel outline loco drivers at 16 and Steam drivers 18 on public running days.
Driving of all types of engines under suitable supervision at others times.
For under 15 we encourage family membership due to supervision requirements for children.
Safety:
This is the single most important matter at the club. At all times the safety of members and public comes first.
We are very proud of our safety record.
Safety footwear is encourage to be worn by members and registered visitors.
Members and visitors are encouraged to raise any safety or security concerns so prompt action can be taken.
Activities at the club:
A club fun / social day on the forth Sunday of each month for testing of locomotives and for familiarisation of procedures, practices etc., where Members often have a barbeque lunch.
We encourage celebration days and Christmas running for members only.
New members are encouraged to be involved with and gain experience in, any or all of the following activities:
- grounds maintenance,
- guard duties,
- loco preparations,
- run day preparations,
- runner roles,
- signal operations,
- station duties,
- ticket box and ticket collector roles,
- track maintenance,
- wagon preparation,
- workshop activities plus many more.
Work days:
There is a club major work day on the second Saturday each month, during these days we undertake major track work or maintenance items.
The Saturday prior the first Sunday run is a work day when all members are asked to attend for an hour or so to prepare the railway for the run day.
Tasks include but not limited to:
- checking signals infrastructure work correctly,
- clearing the station and surrounding areas of leaves / debris,
- cleaning ash pits,
- cleaning and fuelling of club loco’s,
- cleaning wagons,
- cleaning picnic facilities,
- lawn mowing.
Members are at the railway most Saturdays and Wednesdays to carry out general maintenance, and any corrective maintenance like locomotives / rolling stock repairs, these days are not mandatory but attendance is encouraged whenever you are able, as the old adage goes “many hands make light work”.
New members serve a probation period of 12 months.
If any of this interests you please complete the below enquiry form.