The fireman and the drivers job is to check over the loco and oil up everywhere and that can take anything up to two hours. Drive a train there can be no better or more memorable surprise than to fulfil a childhood ambition and take to the footplate of one of our steam or diesel locomotives. The most scenic train rides in devon our expert guide to the very best scenic train journeys in devon from beautiful branchline rides to sensational steamtrain trips share. Footplate experience is the only searchable footplate experience database of uk steam and diesel train driving and riding packages. We have a variety of experiences including bluebell railway steam train tip and visit to wakehurst place botanic garden for two, west somerset railway rover 2 adults and steam locomotive driving experience.
Live your dream and join the east lancashire railway on one of their drive a steam train experience days. Book well in advance for our train driving experiences though, as demand is high. Find fantastic luxury trains and heritage steam gifts for a friend or even treat yourself. Your ticket to ride the best train experiences and days out, with our range of diesel and steampowered day train trips for you. Diesel experience days are also available by special arrangement. Drive a steam train train driving experiences into the. Steam train experiences throughout england, scotland and wales. An information pack with full details will be posted to you upon booking. The man believed to be the longestserving steam engine driver in britain will make his final journey along the line he loved on monday. Drive a train on a journey of adventure that you will never forget. Driving experiences mid hants railway ltd watercress line.
Your ticket to ride the best train experiences and days out, with our range of diesel and steam powered day train trips for you. We offer a variety of experiences to suit your budget, interest and requirements from footplate rides to half and full day experiences driving a steam locomotive. Jan 11, 2018 the man believed to be the longestserving steam engine driver in britain will make his final journey along the line he loved on monday. Jan 12, 2020 the train driver of the steam engine horatio chap with glasses and brown hair deserves a special mention, he was very polite and told us about the history of the railway centre and the trains themselves and also let our 4 year old clip the tickets and wave the flag which she loved and generally had great interaction with the kids. At the age of 10 a steam loco driver invited me onto the footplate for a ride. The ultimate gift or the chance to live a childhood ambition. Have a taste of driving our steam engine on the main line. Real enthusiasts would love the footplate experience days, where you get to shovel in coal, drive the train, blow the whistle, and experience life as the.
We have a choice of the most lovingly restored and maintained steam railways so you can take a journey back in time on a train from the past. On this wonderful experience you will perhaps learn new meanings to old words such as tokens which control possession of the line, or permanent way which is the track and ballast that the trains run along. From train enthusiast days, to luxury train journeys, youll find a gift for every train lover. As if that isnt just a little bit special, this steam train is red. Its full steam ahead as you and an other customer take charge of a locomotive, with a footplate crew in support, for a 16 mile round trip. Drive a steam engine or diesel locomotive, on the south devon railway dates for 2014 are now available. Whether it is to realise a lifelong ambition, or as that very special gift, driving a railway locomotive is an amazing adventure. Whether its a steam or diesel loco, railway fans will love the chance to be the one up there in the cab operating the train. Dec 08, 2019 its only a short bus ride to paignton bus station and our bus driver was very jolly and informative both about our short journey and the rest of our day. This website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience and help us improve the. Learn to drive and fire a steam engine or diesel train and enjoy a. Footplate experience realise your lifelong ambition. During this steam engine experience day, you will get up close and personal with all of the controls, systems and joys of driving a full size steam locomotive.
They will drive a full 15 mile round trip from llangollen to carrog under full supervision. Unlike many modern trains, steam trains seem to have a personality and character. Driver experience days gloucestershire warwickshire steam. Steam train enthusiasts can have a go themselves by signing up for one of several driver experience days. A drivers eye experience gives you a taste of driving one our tramcars. It is situated near the northern end of the 495yard 1,485foot. Steam train driving and footplate rides are amongst our most popular activities. Tributes paid to the longestserving steam engine driver. It was so interesting to get a snapshot of yesteryear and how different things ran compared to todays modern railway systems. Win a steam train driving experience devon free online. Footplate experience find your perfect uk steam or. You will be one on one with the driver, as participants you will help clean and prepare the loco before firing it up and taking it for a spin.
Up to four family or friends, over the age of 12, can also travel. New steam and diesel footplate experience days added. Experience the thrill of driving and firing a real great western railway steam locomotive or heritage british railways main line diesel engine, under the watchful eye of our experienced footplate crews. Englands most southerly railway has excursions every sunday, thursday and bank holiday monday between march and november as well as wednesday. This locomotive was numbered 861 and consequently the driver experience is referred to as the 861 footplate experience course. Below are details of driveatrain for your information. For footplate experience days click here to check availabilty and to book. They also host a series of special events that are very popular. Dont just ride it, drive it now 30% off ever wanted to drive a train. Steam locomotive packages great central railway the uk. As the only place in this country where you can drive a steam locomotive on a main line, this is truly the experience of a lifetime. Railway experiences if you have pre booked or purchased a voucher for one of our driver experiences, we will reschedule your day as soon as we are in a position to do so. Featuring a variety of locomotives on various days throughout 2019, this is your chance to hop on the footplate and take control of a mighty steam engine. Whether youre a keen enthusiast, or have always imagined yourself manning the controls but never put a step on a footplate before well tailor the course to your individual needs, so that you can get the most from your time spent enjoying the thrill of driving a steam traction engine.
This is a collection of all the scenarios i have made for the workshop that house you, as the driver, on the riviera line, south devon. Have you ever dreamt about taking to the footplate of a steam or diesel locomotive, feeling the power of the engine as it hauls a train along a full size railway. All the footplate action from the cab of br standard 460 75014 braveheart at the dartmouth steam railway uk in august 2019. Live your childhood dreams of becoming a train driver as you get a taster of being at the controls of a diesel or steam train with an exhilarating railway experience. Welcome to our steam driver experience page where you can book to live that childhood dream. Feb 17, 2017 uk is the site for driver s eye views.
Ride with the driver on the dartmouth steam railway visitengland. Steam experience course heritage railway and steam train. Driver experience days gloucestershire warwickshire. South devon railway dates for 2014 are now available. In recent years, all our steam and diesel driving courses have sold out within a few weeks of being advertised. Look for classic experiences such as bluebell railway, watercress line, great central railway, swanage railway and severn valley railway. Steam trains and heritage railways in englands west country. This trip gives you approximately 30 minutes of tram driving and these sessions are available during 2020 on various dates throughout the year, between 10. Luxury trains and heritage steam train experiences. We offer multiple driving experiences alongside our footplate and guard experiences. Why south devon is paradise for steam train lovers. Once we arrived at paignton it is a very short walk across the road to the train station to pick up the train which was a steam one when we went it does tell you when these are running. Below are details of drivea train for your information.
Drive a steam engine or diesel locomotive, gwr footplate on the. Treat someone special even yourself to the thrill of a lifetime learning what it feels like to be a real fireman and engine driver. Enjoy the thrill of a lifetime or realise that childhood dream. The station, dartbridge road, buckfastleigh, devon, tq11 0dz. Greenway halt railway station is a small railway station on the dartmouth steam railway, a heritage railway in devon, england. Steam driver experience course bure valley railway norfolk. Hop aboard the footplate and join the fireman and driver for a unique experience driving a beautiful steam train. Looking to book a train diving experience in the south.
Watch the driver as he works the regulator, bringing the train to the stations with inch perfect precision. Heres your chance to drive a steam or diesel train at a heritage railway in the uk. Feel the heat of the fire and experience the sights and smells of a bygone era. A steam train driver picture of south devon railway. This features plymouth to gunnislake and newton abbot to paignton filmed in 2016. The puffing billy railway offers train driver experiences in a 120 year old steam engine, a couliett locomotive built in 1886 for use in paris. The perfect gift for family, friends or colleagues. The thrill of driving your very own train is on offer at a leading devon family attraction.
At about 5am on the day the train will be in use someone will come in to get the fire going. Simply put, driving a train is a mustdo experience that realises all those childhood train driver dreams. Drive a steam train train driving experiences into the blue. I speak highly of your organization to all others that i have contact with and recommend the experience to them.
We offer three different experiences throughout the year, from our steam taster, 3 hour diesel multiple unit dmu or full day diesel locomotive course, all under the expert supervision of our experienced drivers and firemen. Fulfil your childhood dream drive a steam locomotive. A notforprofit, volunteer run organisation offering steam train rides, train driver experiences, group charters, as well as family events and specials. The chance to spend a day at a heritage railway surrounded by steam and diesel locomotives is pure nostalgia and loved by all ages. Englands most southerly railway has excursions every sunday, thursday and bank holiday monday between march and november. Steam and diesel driver experience epping ongar railway. The multiaward winning south devon railway is one of devons and the west countrys best loved tourist attractions and is the longest established steam railway in the south west. Enjoy a scenic steam train ride from paignton to dartmouth, with a twist. You will travel on the footplate to stand alongside and under the guidance of our driver and fireman as they work the steam engine along the 30minute coastal. There can be no better or more memorable surprise than to fulfil a childhood ambition and take to the footplate of one of our steam or diesel locomotives. Keep the fires roaring on a steam footplate experience or feel the raw power on a diesel driver experience. The avon valley railway offers you the chance of a lifetime to realise your dream of driving a steam or diesel locomotive. Have a taste of driving our diesel multiple unit on the main line.
We are delighted to offer a variety of steam driving experience at the spa valley railway, these range from driving the locomotive on its own over a short or long distance to hauling a rake of carriages along part of our railway. These hugely popular courses enable you to take part in the experience of a lifetime and relive the golden age of steam. We offer the thrill of firing and driving a fullsized steam or diesel locomotive on one of britains premier preserved railways. This unique experience to drive along our 6 mile railway, restored and relaid after a 30 year battle is available to purchase for you and members of your family. Footplate experience find your perfect uk steam or diesel. Following the near sellout of our driver experience days for both steam and diesel trains, we are delighted to announce that some additional.
Thanks to the hard working crew and support staff at dsr. The celebrations reach their climax on easter sunday and monday, 12th and th april, when no fewer than eight former gwr steam engines will be in steam. Ideal for birthdays, anniversaries, corporate gifts or team building with a difference. For steam enthusiasts, there are plenty of reasons to visit cornwall and devon. A fantastic footplate experience from dartmouth steam railway. Well, at the victorian goldfields railway, you can, and for a limited time, you save over 30% off both steam and diesel experiences. Steam train gift experience days activity superstore. Select a journey day out with thomas events and specials heritage train service train driver experiences if you cannot find what you are looking for please call us on 03 5258 2069 or send an. If you have pre booked or purchased a voucher for one of our driver experiences, we will reschedule your day as soon as we are in a position to do so. Steam train driver experience the bellarine railway.
Sep 03, 2019 all the footplate action from the cab of br standard 460 75014 braveheart at the dartmouth steam railway uk in august 2019. If you wish to register interest please email us using the following link footplate experience. Be it steam or diesel, a drive a train experience makes for a fantastic gift for a family member or a friend, you can even purchase an open voucher so that the lucky recipient can choose when they want to embark on their journey. The sdr is a seven mile former great western railway branch line, built in 1872, which runs along the stunning. For a firsthand account of a participants experiences on a steam footplate experience course, click here. We can now offer you the opportunity to drive an engine from our home fleet, getting a truly authentic experience as you control the locomotive and. A steam train driver check out tripadvisor members 4,337 candid photos and videos. Let off some steam as you take in the beautiful countryside scenery whilst at the controls of a powerful engine.
The east somerset railway is a preserved steam railway running through the mendip countryside near shepton mallet in somerset, uk. With a nostalgic old station tearoom at okehampton station east somerset railway. Browse below to find the perfect present today from virgin experience days. South devon railway far more than just a steam train ride. Experience the feeling of working steam locomotives as you join the team on the footplate, shovel coal into the firebox, blow the whistle, open the regulator and feel the power. Whatever the name people from all walks of life and of all ages have a love of trains and would relish the chance to drive a real life steam or diesel locomotive engine. Dining, driving and footplate experiences with afternoon teas, cream teas, and sunday lunch excursions. They offer a glimpse of a bygone age that seems inherently romantic. Steam driver experience the foxfield railway offers the thrill of firing and driving a fullsized steam locomotive. But not any old jinty at the great central railway they roll out nothing other than a standard 9f 2100. Driving and footplate experiences telford steam railway. You will drive our steam locomotive, be a fireman and find out how it all works all under the instruction and watchful eye of our qualified footplate crew. A wonderful train experience for my retirement from mainstream railway operations, my colleagues bought me an experience day at loughborough driving a classic steam engine. Steam train gift experience days the golden age of steam may be long gone, but the chance to enjoy a trip on a steam train is certainly not.
Welcome the victorian goldfields railway offers you the opportunity to drive a train. Purchase a footplate experience voucher for family or friends or both or just for gift to yourself. Take the driving seat on one of our fullsize steam locomotives as you wind your way through the worcestershire and shropshire countryside. Treat someone special even yourself to the thrill of a lifetime learning what. For footplate experience days click here to check availabilty and to book if you wish to register interest please email us using the following link footplate experience the south devon railway association can make it possible for you.
Experience the thrill of driving and firing a real great western railway steam locomotive or heritage british railways main line diesel engine, under the watchful. Ride with the driver on the dartmouth steam railway. You take on water, you take on coal, and the first train will typically get off at 11am. Its only a short bus ride to paignton bus station and our bus driver was very jolly and informative both about our short journey and the rest of our day. The south devon railway in buckfastleigh is offering visitors for the first time ever an opportunity to drive an auto train often known as a push and pull train as part of the lines 40 th anniversary celebrations this unusual opportunity is on a strictly first come, first served basis with just seven places available. It fired up a passion for steam trains that has stayed with me ever since. The experience has left a great impression, not just for me, but also on the rest of my family. Weve got experiences to suit all tastes and budgets, with departure stations on historic and mainline railway lines the. Make someones dreams come true or realise your own lifelong ambition on our very special steam footplate or diesel driver experience. Dave knowling, who has died at the age of 78, will be.