Volunteer Opportunities

The Dining Car Society is an all-volunteer organization comprised of railroad enthusiasts and veterans, historians, artists, and foodies. We focus on railroad dining car service based on the equipment we operate. We have several opportunities for volunteers to participate in Society activities outside of the railcar restoration and maintenance, including car attendants, wait staff, or porters.

Fundraising

The preservation work that the DCS does would not be possible without the generous gifts of donors. DCS 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 that have grant writing skills or are good at sourcing funds for nonprofits.

Event Planning

The DCS hosts a number of events each year. Each of these events is planned by dedicated volunteers. Events range from happy hours at area establishments to our popular pop-up restaurants and our annual Santa Trains. These events are a great way for administratively-minded people to get involved in the DCS’ activities. Volunteers that can coordinate locations, advertising, and other contacts within the community are especially welcome.

Equipment Restoration

DCS’s historic railroad passenger cars 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 of equipment is probably the easiest way for an inexperienced volunteer to get involved in the DCS, as we can provide on-the-job training for nearly all aspects of railroad equipment maintenance.

There are many ways to get involved, but the first step is to let us know of your interest. Please contact us if you’re interested in volunteering!