Volunteering Opportunities

Play to the part of Mrs. Claus and assist Santa on the train. Board the train in Brightside Yard at 3:00pm. Ride both trains and return to Brightside Yard at end of evening.

Play the part of Santa on the train. Board the train in Brightside Yard before train departs for Niles at 3:00pm. Ride both trains and return to Brightside Yard at end of evening.

Work the Sunol Depot ticket window giving Boarding Passes. Answering questions and selling walk up tickets if available.

Parking lot crew places signs, and directs passengers where to park. Put signs away at end of night.

Lead parking lot crew with placing signs, parking cars and directing passengers where to park. Put signs away at end of night.

Parking lot crew places signs, and directs passengers where to park. Put signs away at end of night.

Lead parking lot crew with placing signs and directing passengers where to park. Put signs away at end of night.

Arrive at Brightside at 2:30 before the train departs for Niles at 3:00pm. Turn on PA system. Give welcome talk to passengers and where the gift shop, snack bars, and restrooms are on the train. Give a short History of the PLA (Niles Canyon Railway). Highlight some spots in the canyon during the TOL. Thank our passengers for riding with us, ask them to throw away their garbage, and take all of their belongings with them.

Arrive at Brightside at 2:00pm. Pre check generators before start up. Check fuel status and inform Conductor if re-fueling is necessary. Start and turn on AC and DC train line circuits. Handle any minor issues that might arise during ride. Shut down both AC and DC train line circuits.

Prepare and deliver food for crew on operation nights. Either deliver to Brightside by 2:15 pm or deliver to Niles Station by 3:30 when train arrives. Three and a half crock pots (about 5 gallons) of food such as stew, soup, spaghetti, beans & hot dogs, etc. Two crocks worth for train (2 crock pots are on train in the snack bar car), 1 gallon for the Sunol Depot ticket staff and parking lot staff, and 2 quarts for Niles Station for parking lot volunteers. Save and turn in receipts to treasurer for reimbursement.