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Train Driver Experiences

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently not able to offer footplate experience courses. It is anticipated these will return for early 2022.

Full Day Course

This will be driving one of our steam engines. You'll usually be driving Ruby or Ellie!

Cost: £TBC

Available: NOT AT PRESENT

Duration: One full day from 0900-1600

Meet the driver at 0900 for a safety briefing and introduction to the locomotive before lighting the fire and preparing the engine for the days service. Get familiar with the locomotive whilst driving it ‘light engine’ for a trip around the line. Upon your return, hook up to the coaches before driving the train, perfecting your driving and firing technique under the watchful eye of our driver. Enjoy a jacket potato cooked in the smokebox for lunch with hearty fillings and plenty of hot beverages to drink.  We allow up to 5 guests to travel on the train that you are driving. You’ll end the day by putting the locomotive to bed, cleaning the fire, ash pan and cleaning the locomotive. This course is ideal to share. Extra participants are priced at £30.00 per person.

Half Day Taster

This is our shorter taster course on one of our steam engines, and you'll be driving Ruby or Ellie.

Cost: £TBC

Available: NOT AT PRESENT

Duration: 90 minutes to 2 hours

Meet your driver and ride on the footplate for the last train of the day to collect the final passengers from East Wheal Rose. Get to know the locomotive whilst watching one of our qualified drivers operate the locomotive up the gradient and back down again. After arriving at Benny Halt, you will help the driver turn the locomotive, clean the fire and lubricate the engine before taking to the regulator and driving the locomotive ‘light engine’ on two trips of the line.

Footplate Ride

Ride in the driver's cab alongside our engine driver for a real taste of life on the rails!

Cost: £TBC

Availability: NOT AT PRESENT

Duration: One return trip

Join the driver for a ride on the footplate of the steam or diesel locomotive where you are able to get a real unique perspective of the railway!

 

Half Day Diesel Course

Join the driver for a half day course learning to drive our diesel engine, the City of Derby.

Cost: £TBC

Available: NOT AT PRESENT

Duration: Half Day Course 0900-1300

Meet the driver at 0900 for a safety briefing and introduction to the locomotive before preparing the engine and starting it. After becoming familiar with the controls, you will drive two or three light engine trips to get to know the route of the railway. You will then be allowed to couple onto your own private train which you will then drive for the remainder of the course. Up to 5 guests are able to join you and travel on the train that you are driving!

Meet the Engines

We have a wonderful fleet of steam engines here at Lappa Valley, all with their own story and history behind them.

Train Driver Experiences

Lappa Valley offers a range of train driver experiences and footplate rides on our locomotives for those adults who always dreamed of riding the rails.

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