Friends volunteers restore a boxcar, 2003.  Photo by Tom Cardin
Friends volunteers restore a boxcar, 2003. Photo by Tom Cardin.
The most important function of the Friends of the C&TS involves the volunteer work done each season on the structures and rolling stock owned by the railroad. Maintenance of a railroad such as this is a full time job, to say the least and the operator of the C&TS, has its hands full just keeping the equipment needed for its passenger operations in good condition. As a result, some of the historic structures and freight equipment, not needed for daily operation of the line, do not get as much attention as they require. The Friends help fill this gap by providing volunteer labor to keep these historic items in good repair, thus enhancing the experience for all visitors of the railroad. Also, since we’re a non-profit organization, expenses for registration, travel, food and lodging are tax deductible contributions to the Friends.

The organization and planning of our work sessions is a complex and time consuming process and has been described in an article, "Volunteering on a Grande Scale," reprinted from the Spring 1999 Railway Museum Quarterly, the official publication of the Association of Railway Museums.


2011 WORK SESSIONS

The 2011 Work Session registration materials will be posted in the Spring of 2011. A brochure describing 2011 volunteer opportunities can be downloaded here.

 


2010 WORK SESSIONS

May 24-28Work Session A
May 31-June 4Work Session B
June 14-18Work Session C
June 21-25Work Session D
August 2-6Work Session E
August 9-13Work Session F
August 16-20Work Session MT1
August 23-27Work Session MT2

2009 WORK SESSION PHOTOS

May 18-22Work Session A (click for images)
May 25-29Work Session B (click for images)
June 15-19Work Session C (click for images)
June 22-26Work Session D (click for images)
August 3-7Work Session E (click for images)
August 10-14Work Session F (click for images)
August 17-21Work Session M1 (click for images)
August 24-28Work Session M2 (click for images)

2008 WORK SESSION PHOTOS

May 12-15Work Session A (click for images)
May 19-23Work Session B (click for images)
June 16-20Work Session C (click for images)
June 23-27Work Session D (click for images)
August 4-8Work Session E (click for images)
August 11-15Work Session F (click for images)
August 18-22Work Session S2

2007 WORK SESSION PHOTOS

May 7-11Work Session S (click for images)
May 14-18Work Session A (click for images)
May 21-25Work Session B (click for images)
June 18-22Work Session C (click for images)
June 25-29Work Session D (click for images)
August 6-10Work Session E (click for images)
August 13-17Work Session F (click for images)

2006 WORK SESSION PHOTOS

May 8-12Work Session S (click for images)
May 15-19Work Session A (click for images)
May 22-26Work Session B
June 12-16Work Session C (click for images)
June 19-23Work Session D (click for images)
August 7-11Work Session E (click for images)
August 14-18Work Session F (click for images)

2005 WORK SESSION PHOTOS

May 9-13Work Session A (click for images)
May 16-20Work Session B (click for images)
June 13-17Work Session C (click for images)
June 20-24Work Session D (click for images)
August 1-5Work Session E (click for images)
August 8-12Work Session F (click for images)

2004 WORK SESSION PHOTOS

May 10-14Work Session A (click for images)
May 17-21Work Session B (click for images)
June 14-18Work Session C (click for images)
June 21-25Work Session D (click for images)
August 2-6Work Session E (click for images)
August 9-13Work Session F (click for images)