Deltic Driver Experience

Step into the driver’s seat of Class 55 Deltic D9015 Tulyar as it returns to service in 2026 on the Great Central Railway!

Owned by the Deltic Preservation Society (DPS), D9015 is one of the most historically important surviving Deltics, and its arrival continues the long-standing partnership between the Great Central Railway and the Society. Under the guidance of our experienced instructors, you’ll command the mighty Class 55 Deltic D9015 Tulyar, which entered British Railways service on 13 October 1961 already carrying the name Tulyar, after the Aga Khan’s famous racehorse.

Preserved since the mid-1980s, the locomotive saw extensive use on the heritage railway circuit before being withdrawn in 1997 for major bodywork and mechanical attention. Since then, the Deltic Preservation Society’s long-term restoration programme has seen around £450,000 invested in known expenditure, alongside many tens of thousands of volunteer hours.

A significant milestone was reached on 31 July 2025, when D9015 was successfully started for the first time since 1997 — a landmark moment in its return to operation and an important step towards its historic return to passenger duties.

Feel the surge of power as you take the controls with a full rake of coaches behind you, soaking in the sights, sounds, and sheer presence of this legendary machine in an authentic heritage railway setting.

Spaces are strictly limited – join us at Loughborough Central for a once-in-a-lifetime experience you’ll never forget.

This experience includes lunch for the driver and one guest – who can also travel on the train during the driving experience!