Packaging Options
All orders are sent in plain packaging so as not to ruin the surprise.
Premium Gift Pack
Our Premium Gift Pack includes a stylish gift box, which holds your personalised gift voucher and your activity voucher guide booklet. The premium choice.
£3.50 (+ £3.95 shipping charge)
Standard Gift Pack
Our Standard Gift Pack comes with a smart envelope that includes your personalised gift voucher and your activity voucher guide booklet.
Included in the £3.95 shipping charge
E Voucher
Our E Voucher is an instant voucher delivered by email, with your personalised email message and a downloadable .pdf of your personalised gift voucher.
FREE
What's Included
- Drive a Class 31 Diesel Locomotive
- Welcome, introduction and safety briefing
- Familiarisation session with the locomotive to show how it works and the operating of its controls
- Travel through the beautiful Hampshire countryside, adjacent to the South Downs National Park
- The loco is a 'light engine' (no carriages)
- Guidance from an experienced train driving instructor
- Allow approximately two hours for this experience
30 Minute Drive
- Drive the train for 4 miles (approx. 30 minutes at the controls)
- You will form part of a small group of four participants
60 Minute Drive
- Drive the train for 8 miles (approx. 60 minutes at the controls)
- You will form part of a small group of two participants
What Can I Expect
Discover the wonderful Watercress Line when you go diesel train driving at this heritage railway in the South Downs! We are offering 30 and 60-minute shared experiences to drive a Class 31 diesel electric.
The British Rail Class 31 needs no introduction. These hefty diesel electrics were pounding the UK’s rail network in the 1950s and 60s and well beyond. From mail trains to heavy freight, there was nothing the resilient Class 32 couldn’t do.
And in fact, the very Watercress Line you will be experiencing owes its name to the tons and tons of watercress transported by rail all over the country. Being in a Class 31 on the line brings it all back!
Driving the Class 31 is quite extraordinary. It’s a tactile, mechanical beast, with quirky controls, bags of character, resilience and the distinctive gurgling sound that makes this diesel-electric unmistakable.
On these shared Watercress Line diesel drives, there will be a maximum of four in the cab for the 30 minute drive and just two on the 60 minute. Obviously, you’re onboard for longer than that, this is the amount of personal driving time you will have.
Running 10 miles from Alresford to Alton via Ropley and Medstead & Four Marks stations, you will have a fantastic time exploring this very picturesque 19th century heritage railway that includes exciting 1 in 60 ascents and descents too!
Always hugely popular, buy your Watercress Line diesel train driving voucher now and get booked in!
When Is It Available
- Selected weekday and weekend dates throughout the year
- There will generally be 4 dates per month
- Due to the popularity of this experience please book well in advance to avoid disappointment
Location
- The Watercress Line, Alresford, Hampshire
- Located just seven miles from the ancient city of Winchester
Suitable For
- Minimum age 18
- Participants should be reasonably fit and in good health - fit enough to climb on and off the locomotive from ground level unaided
Anything Else
- Old clothing that fully cover the arms and legs should be worn
- Wear sturdy shoes or boots that protect the feet - trainers are not permitted
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Please note that once your booking is confirmed, the provider's terms and conditions will apply. In the event of postponements due to weather and/or operational issues your booking will be rescheduled
