New steam train driving experiences at the Severn Valley Railway

The dream of becoming a train driver is an ambition for a lot of people and is indeed on a lot of bucket lists.

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Steam Driver Experiences Diesel Driver Experiences Popular Severn Valley Railway gifts from RailAdvent

The Severn Valley Railway is helping members of the public to achieve just that, by running Experience Days on both Steam and Diesel locomotives to a newer enhanced programme covering a range of footplate duties from June to October this year.

There are 4 available packages to choose from. Each package also includes tickets for up to 10 friends and family members that will travel on the train which you will be driving.

Steam Driver Experiences

There are three grades of steam experiences ranging across bronze, silver and gold, the higher the grade the more involved the experiences become.

Ranging from £400 all the experiences include a safety briefing and operational instructions, before you join the footplate of one of the Severn Valleys steam locomotives, where experienced footplate crew will assist and guide you as you drive and fire the steam train along the line.

A Footplate Experience on 7812 Erlestoke Manor // Credit: Bob Green

A steam footplate experience underway at Arley on 7812 'Erlestoke Manor'. Bob Green — A Footplate Experience on 7812 Erlestoke Manor // Credit: Bob Green

Diesel Driver Experiences

These experiences are limited to four participants at a time and are £600, they also include a safety briefing, before a tour of the engine room where you can observe the startup procedure of the locomotive, after which you will take turns as both first and second man covering a range of roles including driving over a 16 mile journey.

You will also get another 16 mile trip travelling in the rear cab of the locomotive, and the option to travel on the train with your invited friends and family for a further 32 miles to make it a day to remember.

A behind the scenes tour of Kidderminster Diesel Depot is also included.

You could be in the cab and drive 40106 ‘Atlantic Conveyor' // Credit: David Bissett

All experiences have opportunities for photographs with friends and family and you will receive a certificate and presentation folder as a personal souvenir for you to treasure.

Jan Wilkes recently took part in a steam footplate experience, along with her son Aaron and loved every minute of her day: “I have been a fan of steam locomotives as far as I can remember, but to actually take part in driving such a beautiful engine, I can't put it into words! In fact I still think, did that actually happen? It was amazing. To experience the power of the engine as we went along was something else. The whole experience was way above any expectations I may have had. It was magnificent travelling along the tracks knowing that although under supervision I was actually driving the train. I even got to blow the whistle a couple of times!”

SVR footplate co-ordinator Martin Bannister outlines what people can expect from these train driving experiences. “Our footplate experiences run along the whole length of the line. You'll be passing some truly spectacular countryside, and believe me, there's no better way to see it than from the cab of a heritage steam or diesel locomotive. You'll pass through through Bewdley Tunnel, glide across Victoria Bridge and storm up Eardington Bank, on a journey you'll never forget.”

For more information about the SVR's Steam and Diesel footplate experiences, and to book one of the strictly limited places, visit https://svr.co.uk/experience/