Volunteer Machinist

FROM: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a09SJ000005OLwT

ADDRESS: 6200 North 22300 West Promontory Summit, Utah, 84307

DATES: 4/1/2025 – 10/31/2025

DEPT: National Park Service

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The volunteer is responsible for assisting staff to restore and maintain steam and diesel railroad locomotives to maintain operational status. This includes repair work using hand, power and machine tools, welding and torch cutting, assembly and disassembly of equipment parts, and other potentially dangerous work. Experience will be assessed by qualified NPS staff. The position start and end dates are negotiable and the available volunteer hours range from 8 hours to 32 hours per week. Housing may be available in the form of an RV/Trailer Pad in exchange for the full 32 hours of volunteer service per week.

As a representative of the National Park Service (NPS), volunteers are held to the same standards of customer service, and resource/cultural protection as NPS staff.

Benefits:

• Opportunity to use existing skill or trade in a hands-on environment within a National Park.
• Get a ‘Behind the Scenes’ look at how a National Park and Locomotive Shop operates.
• An opportunity to meet like-minded individuals.
• Take an active role to assist the National Park Service in its mission to preserve and protect cultural resources.

Duties:

• Performs work on historic rail structures including, but not limited to: metal fabrication, welding, machining, while performing tasks such as maintenance and restoration of steam and diesel locomotives and rolling stock to a specific period of time. Volunteers must maintain accurate records and make detailed drawings of all work performed on the historic locomotives.
• Inspects, repairs, and rebuilds historic steam and diesel locomotives in line with federal railroad regulations, specifications, and procedures. Troubleshoot causes of mechanical operational problems and make necessary repairs. Work includes overhauling, rebuilding, and other major/minor repairs of systems such as air brake, steam, diesel, and gasoline types of internal combustion engines; hydraulic utility systems; interior/exterior jackets, under-carriage unites, bearings, frame works, truck units, and any other related parts as needed.
• Investigates, through drawing or blueprints, and determines the correct way to repair, replace, and/or fabricate parts for the historic locomotives.
• Performs duties involved in the manufacturing and/or repair of parts for locomotives from raw stock of different types of metals, metal alloys, and other materials. Incumbent will layout, fit, adjust, shape, bore, slot, mill, and grind metals used in building, assembly, repairing, and maintaining locomotives, engines, motor cars, pumps, and heavy equipment. Incumbent bends and fits steel and copper pipes.
• Reproduction of historic steam locomotive parts/materials, composition, and shape, using historic tools to reproduce unique parts/components. Craft skills required include: welding, brazing, repairing, fabricating, and modifying various types of metal and alloy-part equipment systems and structures.
• Reproduction of historic hardware and architectural metals with use of epoxies and other wood construction to repair, restore, or reconstruct interiors/exteriors of steam locomotive structures listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
• Assists Golden Spike NHP staff and performs inspections on both steam and diesel locomotives according to Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) rules and regulations. Volunteer assists Golden Spike NHP staff with FRA inspections, keeps required records, and supplies copies of completed records to staff. Volunteer works with other employees on the proper procedures to follow when performing said inspections.
• Tasks are generally performed under close supervision. A periodic review of the work accomplished is made by the volunteer’s supervisor on a task-by-task basis to ensure compliance with performance and activity standards. Assignment involve a need to make decisions which affect the quality and adequacy of the work performed. Accepted trade practices and procedures must be followed in accordance with NPS and Golden Spike NHP directives, standards, manuals, and trade guidelines. Work is evaluated for efficiency and compliance with established policies, procedures, and instruction pertinent to moving equipment.

Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid state driver’s license. Position is subject to drug testing.
• Possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform state-of-the-art preservation and restoration on steam engines.
• Possess traditional and historic craft skills: carpentry, blacksmithing, machining, welding, metal fabrication, painting, reproducing historic hardware and other metals, and repairing historic structures.
  • Skilled in conservation, preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, stabilization, construction methods and techniques;
  • Skilled as journeyman craftsman, machinist, woodworker, metal worker, painter, or welder;
  • Skilled in articulating preservation technology and craftsmanship.
• Ability to read and interpret technical manuals, illustrations, specifications, blueprints, diagrams, electrical schematics, etc. to make repairs, modifications, and fabrications.
• Knowledge of OSHA regulations as well as applicable laws, regulations, policies, and standards, such as the FRA, NEPA, NAPA, and NBIC accepted industry standards.
• Experience with hand and power tools, and machine shop equipment (lathes, mills, presses, etc.)
• Possess the knowledge of mechanical make up, operation, and working relation ship of a variety of heavy duty systems, assemblies, and parts such as: steam, diesel, gas engines, gear systems, and drive line assemblies.
• Must wear steel-toed safety boots and wear appropriate safety gear.
• Volunteer must be able to climb steps and scaffolding and also be able to bend, walk, stand, and crawl for long periods of time. Ability to lift heavy equipment (40 pounds or more).
• Ability to administer CPR/First Aid with valid certification. Park may provide training as resources allow.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a group.
• Interact and communicate with NPS staff, other volunteers, or public in a professional manner.
• Must attend and participate in all required training sessions offered by NPS staff.
• Adherence to established procedures and protocols is mandatory. This includes, but is not limited to implementing Golden Spike NHP’s safety measures and reviewing and acknowledging important policies such as: NPS Director’s Orders #7 (Volunteers), #16E (Anti-Harassment), and #43 (Uniforms), and Department of the Interior (DOI) Ethics policy.

Work Environment:

• Work is performed both inside and outside. Volunteer may be continuously exposed to potentially hazardous and unpleasant worksite conditions as: fumes, vibrations, excessive noise, flying particles, moving parts of machines, welding flash, dust, dirt, and grime.
• Work is performed on-site, on a variety of conditions and structures. The work is often very dirty or of a nature that may require special protective equipment, such as hard hats, safety-toed shoes, eye and ear protection, etc.
• Climatic conditions are considered to be very sever, ranging from extreme cold to extreme heat, high humidity, rain or snow, and high winds.

Tagged as: SPRING '25, SUMMER '25