Drive a steam train - Leics
Your day starts with an introduction from your host for the day at the main steam railway station with a hot drink and, of course,
getting kitted out in the driver's overalls ready to step back in time as you walk along the beautifully restored platform.
After watching an introductory video and a safety briefing, you will be shown around the station. The tour includes the fully restored and working signal box and the extensive locomotive workshops staffed by skilled enthusiasts who can answer all your questions. The site is a veritable dream for all train fans and the enthusiasm of the knowledgeable staff is infectious!
Then it's time for the highlight of the day - your chance to climb aboard the footplate of a large mainline locomotive on Britain's only mainline heritage double track railway. The mainline railway runs from Loughborough through some of the most beautiful countryside in the East Midlands and calls at two further stations before reaching the terminus at Leicester.
Bronze Experience: You will be taken on an observation journey in a diesel so that you can see the track and signals. It's full steam ahead as you and another customer then take charge of a steam locomotive with a footplate crew in support for a 16 mile round trip.
Silver Experience: The pressure mounts, the fire is glowing. You and another customer share responsibility for a steam locomotive and full rake of carriages over two return trips of the mainline, a total distance of over 30 miles.
Both experiences conclude with a presentation of a personalised certificate and an information pack. Lunch for the driver is also included.
Experience Summary: Experiences last approximately eight hours and include a welcome briefing, introductory video, lunch for the driver, guided tour of the loco works, guided tour of signal box, personalised certificate.
Bronze Experience: Route observation trip, 16 mile drive of a steam locomotive (shared with one other customer), train ticket and platform access for one guest.
Silver Experience: 30 mile drive of steam locomotive and carriages (shared with one other customer), train tickets and platform access for two guests.
Availability: January to November. Bronze experiences run most weekends. Silver experiences on selected Mondays and Fridays. Due to the overwhelming popularity of these experiences, we recommend booking around six months in advance.
Spectators: Experiences include guest platform access and passenger train tickets (one for Bronze, two for Silver). Lunch is not included for spectators. Other guests are welcome but must buy a platform and/or train ticket (£12 adult, £8 child). The station has a museum, toilet facilities and a station buffet. Guests may watch the driving from one of the stations and join in the tours and briefing. On Silver experiences guests may ride in carriages being driven by the participant.
Requirements: Participants must be over 21 years of age, physically and mentally fit due to the nature of the activity, but no previous experience is necessary. The operator supplies overalls. Customers are advised to wear stout footwear.