GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY

DRIVE A STEAM or DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE

To an engine
Here she comes with eyes agleam
Belching smoke and snorting steam
Stabbing the velvet gloom of night
With shafts of seeming red hot light ...

Once upon a time every young boy aspired to be an engine driver - when the sights, sounds and smells evoked the glory days of travel by train. Now you can relive those bygone days when the most powerful steam locomotives in the land headed great named expresses like the 'South Yorkshireman' and the 'Master Cutler', as they raced to the capital. Today there is thankfully the opportunity to turn those dreams into reality and fulfil those childhood ambitions.

At the controls of a main line Diesel locomotive © Mark Fowler 2001

At the Great Central Railway budding drivers can get behind the controls and for a few hours, or even a day, enjoy the thrill of driving a giant express passenger or freight engine on Britain's only main line steam railway. As the only place in this country where you can drive a steam locomotive on a main line, this is truly the experience of a lifetime.

Steam or Diesel

DRIVE A STEAM LOCOMOTIVE

A warm reception and a hot drink await you in the Loughborough Central refreshment room when you meet your friendly host for the day.
After donning company overalls you'll be shown a brief training film and during the day, enjoy a tour of our locomotive works and signal box.

The highlight of your day comes when you mount the footplate of your locomotive for your historic journey on Britain's only main line steam railway, ably instructed and assisted by an experienced crew.

All packages include a complimentary lunch where you can choose from a selection of daily specials or our famous all day breakfast.

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WITH OUR COMPLIMENTS

As well as fulfilling your dreams, guest drivers at The Great Central Railway also obtain certain additional privileges. You will receive an information pack including a guide to the railway and locomotive notes for your interest as well as your own commemorative certificate. Accompanying guests are always welcome and we offer complimentary travel to a partner or friend (one for Bronze, two for Silver). Other guests are welcome but will need to buy a ticket.

Steam or Diesel

DRIVE A DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE

And, if it's diesel rather than steam that gets you fired up and you can imagine the thrill of up to 2,500 bhp at your fingertips, then diesel driving packages are also available.

The Great Central hosts an enviable pool of ex-British Railways diesel locomotives. Now for anyone over the age of 21, we offer the opportunity to drive a diesel locomotive from our fleet and realise a dream.

The locomotives available include:

• Class 20 (English Electric Type 1) (D8098) - a rugged, yet attractive locomotive, a type still used on the national network and made even more challenging by incorporating only one driving cab, (Sorry this locomotive is temporarily unavailable)
• Class 31 (Brush Type 2) (D5830) - currently carrying the British Railways experimental livery, Golden Ochre and built in Loughborough at the Brush works.
• Class 45 (Sulzer Type 4) (D123) - a member of the "Peak" class of diesel locomotives and responsible for a wide variety of duties.
• Class 47 (Brush Type 4) (D1705) - a member of the largest class of diesel locomotives and responsible for a wide variety of duties.
• Class 25 (25265), this locomotive retains its BR corporate blue livery. (Sorry this locomotive is temporarily unavailable)

We also offer drive a train experiences on the class 45 locomotive and class 101 DMUs. Unlike our steam experiences you choose which diesel locomotive you wish to drive (subject to availability) and diesel experiences are available on selected weekdays by arrangement with us.

Each experience includes lunch for the participant, a guided tour of Loughborough Motive Power Depot and a visit to the Loughborough signal box with an explanatory talk given by one of our experienced signalmen.

Three levels of experience are available:

• Notch 1 - take control, under professional instruction, of a diesel locomotive for 2 round trips (over 30 miles), this is one 'light engine' (no carriages) and the second with carriages along the Great Central main line.
• Notch 2 - take control, under professional instruction, of a diesel locomotive for 2 round trips (over 30 miles), both with carriages along the Great Central main line.
• Notch 3 - take control, under professional instruction, of a diesel locomotive for 4 round trips (over 60 miles), all with carriages along the Great Central main line.

Overalls will be provided, but we recommend stout footwear.

Prices:

For further information or to book either for yourself or as a gift, please call us on UK: 01509 230726 or International: + 44 1509 230726
Or buy a gift voucher on line

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Steam or Diesel

THE ULTIMATE GIFT

Drive a Train experiences are also available as gift vouchers and are the perfect present for anyone (over 21), so why not stage a unique surprise for a birthday or other special occasion?

Gift vouchers for 'Drive a Locomotive' can be purchased online via our secure shopping area or by phone, fax or post. Gift vouchers are normally sent out via 1st class post, usually the same day or following day.

Personal callers are also welcome, although it will take a few minutes to process your order.

Gift Voucher
The choices:
Steam - Bronze, Silver, Gold
Diesel - Notch 1, Notch 2, Notch 3

CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES

Corporate packages can also be tailored to your requirements. If you're looking to stage an original and memorable client event or a team-building exercise with a difference, call us for more details.

FAMILY AND GUESTS WELCOME

Make it an entertaining day out for your family or guests as well. Each "trainee" is issued with a complimentary travel ticket for one guest on service days (two for Silver) and any others in the party can purchase travel tickets on the day.

All the facilities of the railway will be theirs to enjoy - museum, loco shed, station buffet, shop, signalbox and 3 other stations to visit.

ACCOMMODATION

A range of excellent accommodation is to be found in the surrounding area.

We offer a special weekend break package with The Ramada Loughborough Hotel as an add on to the Locomotive Driving Experiences

Add on prices:

• One Night Bed & Breakfast £45.00 per person
• Two Nights Bed & Breakfast and an evening meal on the Charnwood Forester/Master Cutler £110 per person.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Our Booking Office staff will be pleased to provide any information you may require including available dates, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Bookings can also be made by telephone during normal office hours on:

• UK: 01509 230726
• International: + 44 1509 230726

Or you may fax a completed booking form.

Confirmation of the booking will be sent out followed by detailed joining instructions nearer the actual date. "Surprise" bookings can be mailed to any stated address.

Current prices (including VAT)

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SPECIAL CONDITIONS

1. Applicants must be over 18 years of age and physically and mentally fit. Great Central Railway PLC ("the Company") reserves the right to refuse persons who appear to be unsuitable to operate the locomotive. Persons uncertain or having any doubts about this condition are invited to contact the Company beforehand and discuss matters with the Booking Office Manager at Loughborough. Any such discussions will be in strict confidence.
2. Applicants do not need to have taken part in any previous driver experience on the Great Central Railway.
3. All bookings should be accompanied by full payment or credit card details.

Overalls are provided, but we recommend stout footwear.

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© 2007 Great Central Railway PLC.

Tel: UK: 01509 230726 or International: + 44 1509 230726
Fax: UK: 01509 239791 or International + 44 1509 239791
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