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Loughborough Steam Train Driving Day

Near Loughborough
REF: GCRBRD
Rated Based On 29 Reviews

  • A Bronze driving experience driving day
  • At the Great Central Railway, Leics
  • Visit the signal box, see the apron etc
  • Be on the footplate for a 16-mile round trip
 
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What's Included

Bronze Steam Train Driving Experience
  • Drive a steam locomotive on Britain's only main line steam railway
  • Welcome briefing with tea and coffee for driver and guests
  • Introductory DVD
  • Enjoy a 16-mile footplate experience
  • Drive the steam locomotive for 8-miles of the journey
  • Guided tour to the loco works and visit the Loughborough signal box
  • Lunch included for the Driver and one guest
  • Complimentary travel for the Driver and one guest
  • Participants can bring additional guests up to six total
  • Concessionary travel rates for any additional guests
  • Personalised souvenir certificate
  • 12 months free membership of Friends of the Great Central Mainline, the GCR supporting organisation
  • You will form part of a small group of two participants for this experience sharing the drive time
Want more time on the footplate? Take a look at our Silver train driving experience !

What Can I Expect

You are invited to spend the day as a driver at the Great Central Railway in Loughborough - the UK's only double track heritage railway! On this Bronze driving experience you will share the footplate with one other driving experience day participant.

Loughborough station is where your steam train experience starts. You'll meet your crew for the day and chat over a hot drink. After talking the talk, you'll need to look the part as well. As every steam train crew member knows, a good navy blue cotton overall is the only way to go! Once kitted out, you'll walk along the platform (which is like stepping back in time) to the briefing room.

After watching an introductory video and a safety briefing, you will be shown around Loughborough station. You'll see the GCR collection of trains on the apron, visit the working signal box and see where the extensive locomotive workshops staffed by skilled enthusiasts are. We're sure you'll have loads of questions and the friendly volunteers who work tirelessly at this railway will be only too happy to answer them all.

The main Loughborough site is a veritable dream for steam train fans who've dreamt of having the chance to drive one of these incredibly nostalgic steam locos - and the atmosphere here is truly lovely. You don't have to be a steam buff to enjoy these experiences, there's just something so magical about the puff and hiss of a fully stoked engine!

You will be climbing aboard the footplate of a full-sized, mainline steam locomotive and assisting with the journey from Loughborough station and back again. The mainline railway runs through some of the most beautiful countryside in the East Midlands (including the lovely Swithland Reservoir bridge) and calls at two further stations (Quorn and Rothley), before reaching the terminus at Leicester North.

Lunch is included for the driver and one guest on these Bronze experiences and it'll be taken on the move in the Griddle Car, which is an original 1960s kitchen car, serving tasty dishes to keep any railway worker going all day long.

Once you have completed your return journey, it's time to say your goodbyes and reflect on the day you got to be a member of a crew to drive a steam train from Loughborough to Leicester North and back again!

Availability

  • Selected weekend dates between April and October
  • Occasional weekday dates may also be available 
  • Due to the popularity of these experiences, we recommend booking around six months in advance
2024 Available Dates
  • 7th July
  • 28th July
  • 17th August
  • 19th August
  • 24th August
  • 25th August
  • 31st August
  • 1st September
  • 14th September
  • 15th September
  • 21st September
  • 22nd September
  • 29th September
  • 12th October
  • 13th October

Location

  • Great Central Railway, Loughborough

Suitable For

  • Minimum age 18
  • You must be physically fit and be able to climb up into the engine cab
  • No previous experience is necessary
  • Drivers overalls are provided
  • Customers are advised to wear sturdy footwear

Spectators

  • Participants can bring up to 6 guests , one of which can travel free. The remainder at concessionary rates
  • Lunch is only included for one guest
  • The station has a museum open to guests
  • Guests may watch the driving from one of the stations and join in the tours and briefing

Anything Else

  • Please note that as Bronze experiences do not haul carriages passengers tickets are valid for the scheduled passenger services in operation that day

Reviews

5 out of 5 stars

Average Rating: 5
Total Reviews: 29

Find out what other customers think of the experience

Reviews

  based on 29 reviews

Rating: 5 stars
Nick B
5 Months ago
Absolutely amazing day, the trains are alive and the guys with them are really engaging and helpful...
Rating: 5 stars
T Brooks
A really enjoyable and informative day.
Rating: 5 stars
Keith Fisher
This was a fantastic experience, the staff at Loughborough station were knowledgable & friendly. It...
Rating: 5 stars
Peter Rush
A well organised and enjoyable experience, with flexibility on the day to accommodate items of inte...
Rating: 5 stars
Bryan Rosewell
An amazing experience with friendly, helpful, and very informed staff. The way the day was organise...
Rating: 5 stars
Anthony Hill
What a fantastic day we had at Great Central Railway. Our host David who was very friendly and know...
Rating: 5 stars
Paul Beesley
Excellent day, recommend the experience all persons helpful and made it an enjoyable day
Rating: 5 stars
Jonathan bell
An excellent day. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. A great day was had.
Rating: 5 stars
Amanda
Great time had - very friendly helpful staff.
Rating: 5 stars
David Abel
A great day all round brought my family with me and everyone enjoyed themselves
Rating: 5 stars
Andrew turney
Brilliant experience with good, informative and welcoming host.driving experience most enjoyable wi...
Rating: 5 stars
Edward
Was fantastic. Was a great day, with lots of interesting people
Rating: 5 stars
Terry Armstrong
It was an excellent day, well organised and very enjoyable. The train driving experience was fantas...
Rating: 5 stars
Dean Minett
Had a fantastic day on the Great Central Railway. Well worth the money.
Rating: 5 stars
Paul Tierney
I/we thoroughly enjoyed the whole experiance and would definately recomend it. The staff we deal...
Rating: 5 stars
Peter Hulance
Very enjoyable.The Engine shed part may have been a little lonh
Rating: 5 stars
Rob
What an excellent day!!!! The whole experience was amazing. From our arrival Jim, our host, was ver...
Rating: 5 stars
STEVE PIGGOTT
Extremely well & professionally organized day by friendly, courteous & friendly staff. A very enjoy...
Rating: 5 stars
John Abraham
Thoroughly enjoyed it. There was plenty to do and see apart from driving the train, which was a fa...
Rating: 5 stars
Howard Clay
Really good day out. Well organised and the volunteers were excellent in the way everything was org...
Rating: 5 stars
Roderick A S Watson
Certainly lived up to my expectations . The staff at the Railway were all very helpful and welcomi...
Rating: 5 stars
Hayley huckle
Absolutely amazing day. Dad thought he would be driving a small engine so his face lit up like a c...
Rating: 5 stars
Brian Williams
Had a fantastic day would highly recommend staff very friendly and helpful especially the crew on t...
Rating: 5 stars
Andy Walker
This was a really fascinating and enjoyable day on a 'real' steam railway. The opportunity to drive...
Rating: 5 stars
Michael Sherman
This was a wonderful experience. Driving the steam locomotive was amazing, and the tour of the work...
Rating: 5 stars
John Cherry
This was a wonderful experience. Driving the steam locomotive was amazing, and the tour of the wor...
Rating: 5 stars
Jane Haka
I bought the drive a steam train experience for my Dad's birthday. Mum had been undergoing major su...
Rating: 5 stars
John
Well organised. Excellent lunch. Informative. Good fun.
Rating: 5 stars
Steve Mockford
Fantastic experience, would definitely recommend