Participants from one of the 2010 courses with a class 37.  


Another satisfied customer!  

Due to the landslip at Chicken Curve near Winchcombe, the railway is now effectively split into two parts, the Northern Section and the Southern Section.

Despite this huge setback for the railway we are still able to offer Diesel Driving Experience Courses on both sections. These courses will take place at weekends in conjunction with the service steam and DMU trains, adding to the experience.

The Northern Section will consist of six trips between Hailes (between Toddington and Winchcombe) and Laverton over the newly constructed extension towards Broadway taking in the Stanway viaduct and the new Laverton bridge.

This will be a full day experience - 13.5 miles driving per person.

Available motive power will be the ever popular Class 37's and 47's, and there will also be an opportunity to drive the Class 122 DMU.

The Class 37 and 47 courses will consist of light engine only as it is not possible to run around coaching stock.

Two guests per participant may travel FREE on the course if the DMU is being used, otherwise a 2 for 1 travel voucher will be issued to each participant to enable their guests to travel on the service train at reduced rate.

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The Southern Section will consist of two trips between Winchcombe and Cheltenham Race Course utilising either coaching stock or freight.

Available motive power will be the freshly painted Class 73, which has never previously been available for Experience Courses, and the Class 20, which has not been used on Experience Courses for some years.

15 miles driving per person.

Two guests per participant may travel free on the coaches used for the course.

If the course consists of freight then a 2 for 1 voucher as described earlier will be issued to each participant.

As you can see, despite the setback the railway has suffered, we are still able to offer Experience Courses with a great deal of variety and interest.

Course fees are payable at the time of booking and payment must have cleared by the date of the course.

Please note that all places must be filled in order to make the courses financially viable.

You will be advised as soon as possible if your chosen course is not likely to run.

The information below applies to ALL courses. Please read carefully before booking.

For driving experience courses we cannot accept bookings for participants under 18 years of age. If the booking is for an 18th Birthday gift, the participant must be 18 on the day of the course.

Participants must be physically moderately fit, and capable of entering a locomotive cab from track level. Participants must also have good vision and hearing ability.

The Company reserves the right to require a prospective participant to undergo a basic fitness examination by an approved medical officer.

 Click on the icon to the left to download an application form.

Southern Section: Winchcombe - Cheltenham Race Course
Class 20 & Class 73
Two Participants - Two Trips
Cost: £240 per person

Northern Section: Hailes - Laverton
Class 37, Class 47, Class 122 DMU 
Four Participants - Six Trips
Cost: £215 per person

PLEASE NOTE:

Because of the limited number of places available, a "reserve" list will operate. If your booking is unsuccessful, you will be given the opportunity to be placed on the reserve list. Obtaining a place on the reserve list does not guarantee a place on a course. It is expected that anyone placed on the reserve list would be contacted at short notice to be offered a place. Please indicate if this would cause a problem. Once you are placed on the reserve list, your payment will be held, but not banked, until a place on a course is confirmed. Anyone placed on the reserve list who does not get a place on a course by the end of the season will have their payment returned.

Should it be necessary for you to cancel your place on a course, please notify the coordinator as soon as possible. The Company reserves the right to refuse a refund unless the place can be filled. Any refund made may be subject to an administration charge.

Whilst every effort will be made to ensure that the courses run as advertised, the Company reserves the right to cancel, alter, or suspend any course without notice. Where the Company cancels a course, a full refund or alternative will be offered.

Please forward any enquiries regarding bookings or availability to the course coordinator at: alanclothier@tiscali.co.uk.