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Preserved Railways Driving Experience

You are here: Home > Forum > Miscellaneous > The real thing (anything else rail-oriented) > Preserved Railways Driving Experience

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Preserved Railways Driving Experience 13/03/2011 at 20:52 #2591
mfcooper
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707 posts
I am looking at getting my Dad a driving experience for his birthday, and am wondering if anyone amongst the SimSig users had any recommendations? Or are there any I should avoid looking at? Cheers!
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Preserved Railways Driving Experience 13/03/2011 at 20:52 #14047
mfcooper
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707 posts
I am looking at getting my Dad a driving experience for his birthday, and am wondering if anyone amongst the SimSig users had any recommendations? Or are there any I should avoid looking at? Cheers!
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Preserved Railways Driving Experience 13/03/2011 at 21:20 #14048
Peter Bennet
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5402 posts
The year or so ago my wife bought me a birthday experience at the Nene Valley Railway driving 55009 (it was a visiting experience) I'd actually originally wanted to try the DMU but it was broken (and still is I believe). There were two "trainees" per trip and we got to drive both ways between Wansford and Ferry Meadows and then back-cab while the other drove. Max speed was something like 20mph and light engine- other experiences are available involving coaches and running round (I think).

Having thrashed Class 27s (I own a bit of two) at the Caledonian Railway at Brechin many times (hence the original request for the DMU as I'd not done that before) the experience for me was maybe less than it might be for someone else.

Teresa's sister did the steam driving experience there some years earlier and enjoyed that.

Other ideas might be 4x4 Driving experience which I did a few years ago and that was brilliant - (I've never been allowed to take mine off-road) - and I was going to do a JCB experience but for some reason, I forget why, it never happened.

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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Preserved Railways Driving Experience 13/03/2011 at 21:25 #14049
ipswich
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247 posts
Peter Bennet said:
DMU but it was broken (and still is I believe).

that is correct peter, and will be for some time

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Preserved Railways Driving Experience 13/03/2011 at 22:30 #14051
canaderyn
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8 posts
Good Day I would recommend Grand Central at Loughborough. http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/datex.aspx I did the whole day in 2009. Great experience Grahame
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Preserved Railways Driving Experience 14/03/2011 at 16:20 #14054
headshot119
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4869 posts
The Llangollen railway do a variety of driver experience courses which I can recommend from the feedback I've heard. Choice of :

Passenger train (Steam or Diesel hauled, Not in service) Diesel is a choice of a class 26 or 37, and at the moment a 31.
Freight Train (Steam or Diesel hauled.)
DMU (Choice of 109,108,104,127)

"Passengers for New Lane, should be seated in the rear coach of the train " - Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
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Preserved Railways Driving Experience 14/03/2011 at 18:45 #14056
UKTrainMan
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1803 posts
Whilst I haven't had what would without a doubt be the greatest of pleasures of such a thing, the Mid Norfolk Railway do offer Driver Experience Courses. This is one of my favorite heritage railways (as well as the Great Central) and what would probably be one of the fun parts of driving along it (at least for me anyway) would be the two AOCL(?) level crossings near to Dereham Station as they require the use of the train's horn on approach to them, which may be fun to sound, so it's really got a bit of everything. Never had any or heard of any problems or complaint about MNR at all.

Hope this helps.

Any views and / or opinions expressed by myself are from me personally and do not represent those of any company I either work for or am a consultant for.
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Preserved Railways Driving Experience 14/03/2011 at 19:11 #14057
Danny252
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1461 posts
The Severn Valley does its own, with Steam and Diesel offerings as with most others, and offers everything up to a full round trip (32 miles) on the footplate. Guests travel free.

Link

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Preserved Railways Driving Experience 15/03/2011 at 12:49 #14060
nnr
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170 posts
............and it would be rude if I didn't recommend the North Norfolk Railway Steam Driver Experience, wouldn't it?

Fire and drive the length of the line. You even get fed and watered yourself. You can also take the family to share the experience with you.

www.nnrailway.co.uk/page.php?pid=12

Neil

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