The Wensleydale Railway, based at Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire, is offering budding engine drivers the chance to experience driving a full-size train.

The experience will include sitting in the driver’s seat of a Class 142 Pacer, finding out how the different controls work, and driving the train through the stunning Yorkshire Dales countryside.

The Driver Experience Day is being held on Thursday, 30th July, starting at 9.30 am. On the day, the participant will meet the team, get to understand their roles, and then take the controls while an experienced driver explains how to drive and what the controls do.

After the initiation, the experienced driver will drive the train from Leeming Bar station to Bedale, before the budding driver takes over for a 20-mile return trip, passing through the amazing scenery of the Yorkshire Dales.

En route, the train will stop at six beautifully-restored stations between Leeming Bar and Leyburn stations, with the trainee controlling the train’s speed, braking, and acceleration. At Leyburn, the experienced driver will perform shunting moves before the guest drives the train back to Bedale. Refreshments will also be provided before or after the experience.

As well as the experience day on 30th July, there are other opportunities to drive a train on the Wensleydale Railway, including Class 14, 33, 37, and 47 locomotives, and a Class 121 ‘bubble car’ diesel multiple unit. Experiences can be shared with friends, where one person drives both ways, or one person drives to Leyburn and the other drives back to Bedale.

Full details of the experiences are online at https://wensleydale-railway.co.uk/driver_experiences/.

The Wensleydale Railway is holding regular events throughout the summer, including its popular Model Railway Show on Saturday, 9th and Sunday, 10th May, and the annual Home Fleet Diesel Gala 2026 over the spring bank holiday weekend from Saturday, 23rd to Monday, 25th May 2026. Both events are being held at Leeming Bar station.