Steam ‘fire and drive’ courses!
Some people get a train set, fewer people get a chance to enjoy
the real thing - but you can do just that. A Fire & Drive
course on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is something
that is sure to thrill and certainly makes a brilliant Christmas,
birthday or anniversary gift!
The 'golden age of steam' is something
that is but a distant memory for some of us while, for anyone aged
50 or less, it has become the stuff of legends. The feats
accomplished through the teamwork of driver and fireman: man and
machine perfectly in harmony and up for the challenges of the 'road
ahead'.
And while the trains on the Honeybourne Line aren't taking
travellers a hundred miles or more at speeds in the upper 70s,
driving and firing still demands skill and teamwork. But,
under the expert guidance of the railway's own experienced
footplate staff, those enjoying a footplate experience course will
most certainly have one of the most memorable and rewarding of
days.
The railway offers three courses, each operating over the seven
miles between Winchcombe and Cheltenham Racecourse, taking in the
long, dark, curved Greet tunnel.
The Silver Course
This runs on selected Saturdays. Costing just £195, this
fun day begins with a coffee or tea and cake at 10.00am and an
explanation of what the day holds in store before joining the crew
of one of the railway's main line locomotives. Taking a Great
Western Railway brake van, guests take turns at driving and firing
while the others travel with the guard in the van, running between
Winchcombe and Cheltenham Racecourse. An opportunity is taken
to visit one of the railway's signal boxes during the day and also
enjoy a tour of the Carriage and Wagon Works. All participants
receive a certificate and a two-for-one voucher for a future visit
to the railway. Click here for full details and
dates!
The Gold Course
This runs on selected Fridays. Costing £365, this is a
full day using one of the railway's main line locomotives and a
rake of up to six carriages - giving the engine and its crew some
real work to do! The day starts at 08.30 with a cooked
breakfast and full explanation of the operation of a steam
locomotive and what will be happening during the day.
Participants get two sessions of firing and driving and the package
includes a packed lunch. During the day a visit to one
of the railway's signalboxes is organised while each participant
can bring up to two guests to travel in the train. Click
here for full details and
dates!
The Platinum
Course
This really is the ultimate and while based on the Gold Course,
there are fewer participants which means more time 'on the shovel'
or 'on the handle'. There are just two of these exclusive
courses - one with a goods train and one with a train of passenger
coaches. Costing £695, there are four return trips to
Cheltenham from Winchcombe. Limited to just four
participants, those keen to get the most from their experience can
arrive at Winchcombe at 7.00am to help the crew prepare the engine,
carry out the inspections and bring it into steam before popping
over to Toddington at 8.30 for a cooked breakfast. Click
here for full details and
dates!
The interactive footplate!
So how do you operate a steam locomotive? You can get a sneak preview here of our
interactive footplate and find out what all of the mysterious
controls do!
Book up soon!
These courses book up very quickly so the earlier you apply, the
better.
Fit for a great day?
Operating a steam locomotive can be physically demanding and
while our staff are there to offer help and guidance, it is
important that those taking part are able to ascend and descend
from the footplate unassisted- this involves a vertical climb of
about six feet up widely-spaced steps. It is also important
that participants don't suffer short-term memory loss, have
reasonable vision and hearing (glasses and hearing aids are OK) and
are otherwise reasonably fit.
It's a gift!
GWR footplate courses are popular as gifts and indeed they make
an absolutely fantastic present that the lucky participant will
remember for the rest of their lives.
Here are a few comments from one lucky participant, Graham
Radband, who was presented with a steam 'Fire & Drive' course
as a 60th birthday gift from his wife. He says:
"The course was a truly great day and I would strongly recommend
anyone to try it who has the slightest interest in either the steam
engine or working a railway. It also really does highlight the
skills and knowledge needed to operate and run a steam railway by
all the team."
You can read his full story by clicking
here.