Footplate Experiences
Live that dream and try one of our steam or heritage diesel driving experiences.
Steam Driving
Drive a Steam Locomotive Experiences
Selection of dates throughout the year
NEW FOR 2024!
Fulfil that dream with one of our steam locomotive footplate experience courses. We have a range of courses available including our Bronze two hour session trying your hand at driving and firing one of our medium-sized steam locomotives and our Silver full day experience where a group of participants enjoy a full day on the railway taking the controls of one of our large locomotives and indulge on lunch on board the train too.
Live that dream with our Bronze Drive a Steam Locomotive footplate experience course. Try your hand at both driving and firing one of our medium-sized steam locomotives for a 10-mile return journey with one-to-one tuition from our experienced crews.
- Try your hand with the shovel firing the locomotive and master the driving controls during the trip
- One participant per slot, with one-to-one tuition from our experienced team of drivers and firemen
- Welcome hot drink and safety brief in The Apollo at Wirksworth
- The experience lasts approximately 2 hours
- Certificate of completion at the end of the experience
£495.00
Book online...
Our Silver Drive a Steam Locomotive footplate experience day is every rail enthusiasts dream! This full day experience provides you with the opportunity to drive and fire a large steam locomotive pulling a train of heritage coaches along the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, with expert tuition from our friendly team.
- Try your hand with the shovel firing the locomotive and master the driving controls during the trip
- Share the day with other participants to complete a full return journey of 18 miles. Your time on the footplate will be around 2 hours spread across the day.
- Welcome hot drink and continental-style breakfast and safety brief in The Apollo at Wirksworth on arrival.
- One guest is included who will be able to ride in the heritage coaches whilst you are on the footplate and enjoy lunch with the group.
- You will be on and around the railway for a full day from 08:45 until around 17:00, travelling on the train inbetween your time at the controls
- You will stop the train in a picturesque location in the middle of the day where we will serve a two-course hot meal on board to all the participants and their guests.
- Certificate of completion at the end of the experience
£645.00
Book online...
We can tailor an experience to suit you! Give us a call on 01629 823076 to discuss options for making your perfect steam locomotive driving experience day.
Diesel Driving
Drive a Diesel Experience
Range of dates throughout the year
Spend the whole day learning to our heritage diesel trains along the valley. You will take the controls of one of our heritage railcars under the guidance of one of our skilled instructors and take it in turns to drive to Duffield and back. Take in the local atmosphere with a freshly prepared lunch in the Station Cafe and enjoy a tour of Wirksworth site and our facilities. For the other half of the day, you will feel the power of one of our main line diesel locomotives.
- Full day experience 09:30 - 16:00
- Take the controls, taking it in turns as part of a small group with one of our experienced instructors
- Includes lunch for the participant and one guest
- Guests can travel on the heritage railcar and accompany on the yard tour
- Certificate at the end of the day
£295.00
Book online...
As per the Bronze Experience plus:
- Take the controls with one of our experienced instructors on your own, without any other participants
- Includes lunch for the participant and one guest
- Guests can travel on the heritage railcar and accompany on the yard tour
- Certificate at the end of the day
£849.00
Call us on 01629 823076 to discuss.
Upgrade to our Gold experience and enjoy the full day with one-to-one tuition using one of our heritage diesel locomotives all day. In the morning you'll learn the handling of the locomotive 'light-engine' under the guidance of our skilled instructor and, following lunch in the Station Cafe, learn to master the locomotive with a rake of coaching stock in tow.
- Take the controls with one of our experienced instructors on your own, without any other participants
- Includes lunch for the participant and up to three guests
- Guests can travel in the coaches in the afternoon
- Certificate at the end of the day
£1249.00
Call us on 01629 823076 to discuss.
Important Information
- All participants must be aged 18 or above
- Participants should be reasonably fit and able to board a train from the ground rather than a platform
- All experiences start at Wirksworth (DE4 4FB)
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Contact Us
Ecclesbourne Valley Railway
Wirksworth Station
Station Road
Coldwell Street
Wirksworth
DE4 4FB
United Kingdom
Enquiries and Information:
T: 01629 823076
E: [email protected]
