Volunteer Train Crew Training:

Join the volunteer crews and be part of the North Shore Scenic Railroad by attending the new conductor classes starting in March, 2025. Classes are free and designed for beginners who want to be part of the railroad’s train crews.  Attending starts you on the path toward becoming a fully certified conductor on the North Shore Scenic Railroad.

Spring Class:

Saturday, March 8, 2025 & Sunday, March 9, 2025
9:00am to 6:00pm = attendance both days is mandatory.

Fall Class:
Saturday, September 20, 2025 & Saturday, September 27, 2025
9:00am to 6:00pm = attendance both days is mandatory.

Prerequisite Requirements

No prior experience in railroading or transportation is necessary to volunteer as a crew member on the NSSR.

Volunteers must:

• be at least 18 years of age
• have a willingness to work as part of a team
• have a safety minded attitude
• be willing to follow company policies, state statutes, and federal regulations
• submit to and pass a pre-employment drug screening as well as random tests while operating as a crew member
• pass medical, hearing, and vision testing
• submit state and federal driver’s records for review
• pass written and practical tests

The administrative side of these requirements, as well as testing, will be addressed and completed during training.

Path to Certification

Students are required to attend designated hours of classroom training and pass a written test in conjunction with proceeding to “on the job” (OJT) training. OJT training consists of a designated amount of hours.  The first portion of OJT training is in a controlled environment with instructors.  The remainder of OJT takes place with NSSR crew members on actual scheduled passenger trains.

When students feel confident, and management feels they are ready, a check ride takes place allowing students to demonstrate knowledge and the ability to work safely as part of the NSSR team.  A successful check ride allows the newly certified member to sign up as a conductor or brakeman on scheduled trains.

If a crew member’s eventual goal is to be a locomotive engineer and operate the train, this course is the first step in that direction.

How do I sign up?

Click here for more info or to register for the training classes.  An email will be sent confirming your registration in the class.  During the first session, learning and testing materials will be provided.  Simply bring some writing paper and a pen/pencil. Students are encouraged to bring a 3-ring binder as the material given out will be punched for binder use.

I want to volunteer, but I don’t think this course is for me

If you don’t think this class sounds right for you, but you’d still like to volunteer for the North Shore Scenic Railroad or Lake Superior Railroad Museum, please reach out to us at cassie@duluthtrains.com. We are always looking for volunteers in our maintenance shop, museum, docents, and archives. No prior experience is required for these positions, but individuals with skills in woodworking, welding and metal fabrication, etc. are encouraged to apply.