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!

When Is It Available

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