Volunteer Opportunities

TOYX is a non-profit group that is 100 percent staffed by volunteers. Our active volunteers come from all walks of life and have varying levels of experience, from those who have never been on a train before all the way up to active professional railroaders. Almost all of our volunteers have full-time jobs outside of their work for TOYX, and they graciously give their free time to make a positive impact while enjoying the company of our other volunteers, with whom they have often forged friendships.

There are a variety of ways to get involved, ranging from event planning to locomotive maintenance, and our more experienced staff is happy to offer on-the-job training to new volunteers in whatever subject they’d like to get involved in.

Railcar Restoration & Maintenance

Without our railroad equipment, the rest of TOYX’s activities would not be possible. TOYX’s historic railcars have been restored or are currently being restored by our volunteers. Even after initial restorations, this equipment still requires regular maintenance and upkeep. Our skilled volunteers perform all but the heaviest repairs themselves, many of them learning about car repair and maintenance “on the job.” The restoration and maintenance of rail equipment is our most time- and labor-intensive yearlong project, making it the easiest way for an inexperienced volunteer to get involved in TOYX. We can provide on-the-job training for nearly all aspects of railroad equipment maintenance.

While fixing TOYX’s historic railroad equipment is the main goal of these efforts, we also strive to do so while preserving the skills, tools, and trades of the railroad industry. Our volunteers have learned how to lay new railroad tracks using 1940s-era track gauges and hand tools, been trained on air brake systems that were discontinued in the 1950s, and even rebuilt a 1949-vintage refrigeration system. Still more volunteers have learned on-the-job skills like carpentry, flooring, electrical, and metalwork - new skills that have then proven invaluable to their lives outside of our organization.

Work sessions are generally held on fair-weather weekends at the Erie Turntable or one of our other railcar storage locations, and volunteers can often be found working on multiple projects at once. TOYX has established a specialized set of work safety rules to protect its volunteers while working on and around railroad equipment. These rules are adopted from current railroad safety regulations to fit our preservation, restoration, and operation activities. All volunteers working on or around TOYX’s railroad equipment must be members of TOYX for insurance reasons, unless this requirement is specifically waived for a special event and all non-member participants sign a waiver of liability.

Fundraising

The work that TOYX does would not be possible without the generous gifts of donors. TOYX volunteers perform all of the fundraising work, including advertising projects to potential donors and working with event planning volunteers to conduct a fundraising event (such as happy hour events and pop-up restaurants). We are always looking for volunteers who have grant writing skills or are good at sourcing funds for non-profit organizations.

Event Planning

TOYX hosts several events each year, ranging from historic dinners to Toys for Tots collections. Each of these events is planned by dedicated volunteers. These events are a great way for administratively-minded people to get involved in TOYX’s activities. Volunteers who can coordinate locations, advertising, and other contacts within the community are especially welcome.

Food Service

TOYX’s Dining Car Society focuses on the railroad dining car culinary experience. We have several opportunities for volunteers to participate in TOYX food-related activities, ranging from cooking and food prep to service and sales. We also occasionally hold barbecues for our own volunteers.

Volunteer Hours

For high school and college students interested in railroading or any of our other non-profit activities, we can provide a letter to your school verifying your time spent volunteering with us to fill any volunteer hour requirements you may have for graduation.

Contact Us

If you are interested in volunteering for TOYX, please contact us at info@toyx.org and let us know what experience you have and what you’d like to get involved in. We’ll put you in touch with the right project coordinator to engage your skills, interests, and abilities to provide an enjoyable and rewarding experience and keep you coming back week after week.