Footplate experience

At traditional village inn set in a valley between the Purbeck Hills, serving classic British food with a modern twist, fresh local seafood and gorgeous deserts! Relive the ‘Golden Age’ of steam! Please note, participants must be years or older. What is footplate experience?

Can you travel on the footplate? Drive a train on a journey of adventure that you will never forget!

We are offering this truly awesome experience for just £95. A ride on the footplate of one of our steam locomotives is a feast for the senses. Experience the rhythmic sound of the cylinders, the heat from the firebox, and unmistakable aroma of a steam locomotive at work. Enjoy a ‘turn’ on the footplate under the guidance of our experienced footplate crews.

The perfect experience for anyone who’s ever dreamed of being an ‘engine driver’! Footplate Experience £2from 8. There is nothing quite like the sight and sound of a diesel locomotive in full cry!

Choose your locomotive and experience the power and surge of adrenaline as you take the controls of your favourite Class on our full day Experience, including a tour of Kidderminster Diesel Depot!

The Customer Service team will be in touch shortly if you have a pre-booked event. We are a registered charity and many of our staff are currently furloughe so we are having to manage our resources carefully.

Our searchable database is meant as a helpful guide only. Travel in the cab and watch the driver and fireman as they operate the locomotive along the line. These are available on most steam operating days when booked in advanced. Instead of driving ‘Talos’, you will be driving ‘Aurora’, the newest engine to the fleet!

Take a return journey from Pickering to Grosmont (miles) with our experienced crews and see Yorkshire’s amazing scenery as you travel through the North York Moors National Park. Your footplate experience will consist of: Meet the railway team for introduction and HS briefing.

Assistance in preparation of locomotive. Include Lunch and Refreshments. Courses starts at 8. This ride allows you to visit the footplate of a steam engine for a trip on the Foxfield Railway from Caverswall Road to Dilhorne Park and return. Unfortunately due to COVID-and the regulations pertaining to Social Distancing.

We are unable to offer these products or confirm when the Drive A Train Experiences will be returning. We run over the full line and pull a complete service train, rather than just driving the loco only.

Inhale the smell of burning coal, feel the heat from the escaping steam and the surge of adrenalin as you get hands on in control of a heritage locomotive. The footplate of the locomotive cab is the where the crew is stationed to drive and operate the steam train.

We offer hands-on experiences where you will be shovelling the coal, opening the regulator to get the steam going and getting the train moving on the tracks. Everything you need for your model railway all in one store. Before we go into the detailed guidance on footplate experiences, lets start at the beginning. There are various ways to secure a footplate experience.

Our highly skilled and dedicated team of Drivers and Signallers are passionate about providing a fulfilling learning experience to each course participant. Experience the magic of a working steam locomotive as you climb aboard the footplate with our experienced crews.

A unique opportunity to drive our steam engine Darent under the guidance of an experienced driver. It is a full day starting at 09:and finishing at 16:30.

During the day you will start by setting the fire in Darent, drive a d. Experiences Pull on your overalls and climb into the cab of one of our full-size steam locomotives under the expert guidance of our experienced footplate supervisors. The ultimate experience for steam enthusiasts, over five days, spending two full days on the footplate Steam Driver Experience – Silver Two full round trips on the footplate into the evening - a real journey into the past.