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Steam Locomotive Driver Experiences

Imagine the thrill of taking control of a living, breathing steam engine.  On the Great Central Railway you can!  Our line has double track, signals and stations, it's the stuff of childhood dreams...

 

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.

 

We have 3 steam experience packages to choose from:

Bronze - £595

Shared Drive of a Steam Locomotive (no coaches) - 8 mile drive, plus 8 mile footplate ride with one other customer

Bronze packages take place on selected weekends.

Includes:

  • Welcome Briefing with Tea/Coffee for Driver and Guests
  • Viewing of Introductory Film
  • Shared Drive of a Steam Locomotive (no coaches) - 8 mile drive, plus 8 mile footplate ride with one other customer
  • Lunch for Driver plus one Guest
  • Guided Tour of Loco works
  • Visit to Loughborough Signal Box
  • Complimentary travel for driver and one guest (for passenger services for rest of day)
  • Presentation Certificate
  • 12 months membership of Friends of Great Central Mainline for Driver

Silver - £995

Shared Drive of a Steam Train (Locomotive and coaches) - 16 mile drive, plus 16 mile footplate ride with one other customer

Silver packages can take place on selected Fridays.

Includes:

  • Welcome Briefing with Tea/Coffee for Driver and Guests
  • Viewing of Introductory Film
  • Shared Drive of a Steam Train (Locomotive and coaches) - 16 mile drive, plus 16 mile footplate ride with one other customer
  • Lunch for Driver plus Two Guests
  • Guided Tour of Loco works
  • Visit to Loughborough Signal Box
  • Complimentary travel for Two Guests
  • Presentation Certificate
  • 12 months membership of Friends of Great Central Mainline for Driver

Gold - £3,600

The ultimate footplate experience. This is your opportunity to drive a train all day long. Set the controls and stoke up the boiler for four full round trips with a break for lunch.

Gold packages can takes place on selected weekdays.

Includes:

  • Welcome Briefing with Tea/Coffee for Driver and Guests
  • Viewing of Introductory Film
  • Drive of a Steam Train (Locomotive and coaches) - 64 mile drive, 4 full round trips
  • Choice of Traditional Breakfast or Afternoon Tea (both served at lunchtime) for Driver plus up to Eight Guests
  • Exclusive GCR Gift Bag for Driver
  • Guided Tour of Loco works
  • Visit to Loughborough Signal Box
  • Complimentary travel for up to Eight Guests.
  • Presentation Certificate
  • 12 months membership of Friends of Great Central Mainline for Driver
Why not share your experience and make it an entertaining day out for your family and friends as well?   All the facilities of the railway will be theirs to enjoy - museum, loco shed, station  buffet, signalbox and on passenger service operating days there are three other stations to visit and the shop at Loughborough. 

 

If you already have a gift voucher for one of our driving experiences which is close to its expiry date, please contact the Booking Office on 01509 632323 to arrange the date to enjoy your experience.

"Drive a Locomotive and Drive a Train” - Booking Conditions

Following receipt of your voucher, you should contact the Booking Office by emailing sales@gcrailway.co.uk, or by calling 01509 632323 for a range of dates upon which the chosen package may be booked; once the date has been agreed, this is treated as a firm booking.
• All bookings are made in accordance with the Company’s Conditions of Carriage, www.gcrailway.co.uk/terms and the special condition that the Company reserves the right to cancel, amend or alter any service offered and that no refunds will be provided where an alternative or amended service has been offered.
• Participants must be over 18 years of age and be physically and mentally fit with reasonable hearing and vision. Participants must be capable of climbing up and descending the vertical steps between the footplate of the locomotive and ground level (approximately 6 feet).
• The Company reserves the right to refuse access onto locomotives to anyone who appears to be unfit to operate them. This includes anyone who appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Please note that cameras (still or video), or mobile phones, should not be used on the locomotive when it is in motion.
• Applicants need not have any previous locomotive driving experience.
• If you are unsure whether the person for whom the booking is intended can meet all of these conditions please call our booking office for advice before purchasing an experience.

Validity
A date for your experience must be arranged within 12 months of the date of purchase of your voucher. Vouchers may be exchanged for a higher priced product upon payment of a sum equal to the price difference.

Refunds
A full refund will only be offered up to 14 days from the date of purchase subject to a £20.00 administration fee. Thereafter refunds will only be considered in exceptional and unforeseen cases where, for instance, the recipient has suffered serious injury or illness within the unexpired term of the voucher and in the opinion of the Company would be unable to undertake the experience.

Cancellations
The following fee will be payable for change of date or cancellation once a date has been confirmed for your experience :-
• Within 2 weeks of experience date - 20% of purchase price
• Between 2 weeks and 6 weeks of your experience date - 10% of purchase price
• More than 6 weeks before your experience date - no fee
• Failure to turn up on the day of your experience, without prior notification will result in the voucher being considered redeemed.

Photo courtesy of Vincent Scothern

Our next running day

This Weekend

Two steam locomotives and a heritage Diesel Railcar are operating this weekend.

This Weekend

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Reunification appeal - Reuniting the two halves of the Great Central Railway

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