Gold Footplate Steam Driving Experience 2025

Date:

May 16, 2025

to

May 16, 2025

Time:

8:00 am

to

5:30 pm

Book tickets now
SOLD OUT

Some people get a train set; fewer people get a chance to enjoy the real thing - but you can do just that. A Footplate Experience course on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is something that is sure to thrill and certainly makes a brilliant Christmas, birthday or anniversary gift.

Some people get a train set; fewer people get a chance to enjoy the real thing - but you can do just that. A Footplate Experience course on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is something that is sure to thrill and certainly makes a brilliant Christmas, birthday or anniversary gift.

The Gold course runs from Toddington on selected Fridays, costing £650.  Each of the 8 participants can be accompanied by up to two guests at £32 each who may travel in the brake coach during the course. Please note that participants must be over 18 and all guests must be over the age of 16. We are unable to accept children.

Please note this course starts at Toddington Station (GL52 5DT)

What3Words ///trials.composers.turntable.

The course includes:

• Full English breakfast on arrival in our onsite Cotswold Halt Café for participants and guests

• Explanation of the day's events and safety briefing

• Travel two round trips between Broadway, Toddington and Cheltenham, a total of 56 miles, during which you will fire and drive your steam locomotive over 14 miles of the line, hauling up to seven heritage railway carriages, under expert supervision. The part of the line you will fire will vary so all 8 participants can take their turn.

• Travel through the tunnel at Winchcombe

• Packed lunches for participants and guests

• Signal box tour (participants only)

• Guided tour of our carriage & wagon department (participants only)

• Free year's membership of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway for the participant, including a free Rover ticket

• Free GWSR Guide Book

• Personalised commemorative framed certificate signed by your driver and fireman

• Group Photo

• A commemorative gift

• Free car parking

Drive & Fire Terms & Conditions

Please note that to take part in these courses participants must be over 18 years of age and be reasonably fit and agile with normal intellectual abilities, with reasonable hearing and sight (glasses and hearing aids are acceptable) and without any memory impairment.  Bear in mind there is physical effort needed, as well as climbing unassisted the 6ft or so on to and off of the footplate: this is a vertical climb using handrails and widely-spaced steps.  Participants must not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The footplate can be hot and dirty and time spent there can be arduous.  Appropriate clothing and footwear must be worn; a 'T' shirt, shorts and trainers are definitely not acceptable.  Overalls or boiler suit are preferable but in all cases it is recommended that clothing made from cotton should be worn next to the skin.  Man-made fibres can melt onto the skin if inadvertent contact is made with any of the hot boiler fittings.  Stout shoes and boots are needed with safety boots being preferable.  A pair of gloves (Canadian rigger style) will be needed when firing and handling the controls.

Prices

Adult

£650.00

Child

Family

Dog

Prices

Adult

£650.00

Child

Dog

Family

2 Adults and up to 3 Children

Extended Family

4 Adults and up to 3 Children

Book tickets now
SOLD OUT

Contact Information


01242 621405

Trains Running

21 "Mavis"

Diesel Locomotive

No 21 "Mavis" has been stored at Toddington for some while, awaiting refurbishment. It is privately owned.

Diesel Locomotive

Learn more

TSO 4763

Preserved in 1987 by the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway, moved to the GWSR by March 2004.

No items found.
Learn more

BSK 34929

Preserved 1982 By Stratford area group of GWSR.

No items found.
Learn more

FO 3132 (Mary)

Named 'Mary' in honour of a long-serving volunteer on the railway.

No items found.
Learn more

DMBS

DMU / Railcar

Cars W51360 and W51372 are owned by Cotswold Diesel Railcar Limited . W51360 is currently the 'spare' for our 117 set and W51372 is awaiting restoration.

DMU / Railcar

Learn more

Class 122

DMU / Railcar

W55003 is a Class 122 'Bubblecar' owned by Cotswold Diesel Railcar Limited and is currently undergoing refurbishment plus the creation of wheelchair-friendly accommodation at Toddington.

DMU / Railcar

Learn more

Class 117

DMU / Railcar

Normally comprising cars W51405 (DMS), W59510 (TCL), W51363 (DMBS), this Class 117 unit was purchased in 2011 by Cotswold Diesel Railcar Limited and is now running regular services from Toddington.

DMU / Railcar

Learn more

John

Steam Locomotive

'John' has been on the Railway for over 30 years. The loco is presently undergoing restoration including the construction of a virtually new boiler.

Steam Locomotive

Learn more

20228

Diesel Locomotive

20228 (D8128) - Class 20 Diesel Electric Locomotive. 20228 is privately owned and is now a permanent resident on the GWR. 20228 moved to the GWR in 2020 and should become serviceable during the 2022 season.

Diesel Locomotive

Learn more

Des 372

Diesel Locomotive

372 arrived at Toddington in October 1999 and since then has been used extensively as yard shunter.

Diesel Locomotive

Learn more

D2280

Diesel Locomotive

D2280 arrived on the GWSR in 2018 and is now part of the shunting fleet at Toddington. It is privately owned . There is a Bachman model of this locomotive available in BR green.

Diesel Locomotive

Learn more

11230

Diesel Locomotive

11230 arrived on the GWSR in 2003 and is now working at Toddington with its restoration almost complete.

Diesel Locomotive

Learn more

D2182

Diesel Locomotive

D2182 is usually to be seen shunting at the carriage works at Winchcombe

Diesel Locomotive

Learn more

47376

Diesel Locomotive

47376 is owned by The Brush Type 4 Fund and is a permanent resident on the GWR. The Brush Type 4 Fund was formed in 1992 and, in November 2002, bought No 47376. The loco was transported to the GWR in 2003 after receiving a replacement engine at Ashchurch from sister loco No 47295.

Diesel Locomotive

Learn more

47105

Diesel Locomotive

The Brush Type 4 Fund was formed in 1992 with the aim of preserving a Series Parallel Class 47, after 2 years of fund raising 47105 was bought from Crewe in January 1994.

Diesel Locomotive

Learn more

45149

Diesel Locomotive

A class 45/1 Diesel Electric Locomotive. This locomotive is owned by The Cotswold Mainline Diesel Group and is a permanent resident on the GWR. It first ran in preservation during the 2013 Heritage Diesel Weekend.

Diesel Locomotive

Learn more

37215

Diesel Locomotive

A class 37/0 Diesel Electric Locomotive, is owned by The Growler Group and is a permanent resident on the GWR. 37215 was preserved in 1994 and was returned to working order in 1998.

Diesel Locomotive

Learn more

D6948

Diesel Locomotive

A class 37/0 Diesel Electric Locomotive, is owned by four individuals who are both Growler Group members and active working members of the GWR diesel department and is a permanent resident on the GWR. 37248 came to Toddington in 2010 and has undergone an extensive refurbishment including the provision of steam heating and a return to BR green.

Diesel Locomotive

Learn more

D5343

Diesel Locomotive

A class 26 Diesel Electric Locomotive. This locomotive is owned by The Cotswold Mainline Diesel Group and is a permanent resident on the GWR. 26043 ran for the first time in preservation during the 2013 Heritage Diesel Weekend.

Diesel Locomotive

Learn more

5081

Diesel Locomotive

A privately owned and is a permanent resident on the GWR. 24081 was preserved in 1981 and has remained operational throughout its life in preservation. Its bogie refurbishment is now complete and the loco is fit for service.

Diesel Locomotive

Learn more

20137

Diesel Locomotive

A class 20 Diesel Electric Locomotive. 20137 is privately owned and is a permanent resident on the GWR. 20137 was purchased from British Rail at Wigan in 1994 and moved to the GWR. 20137 was returned to working order in 1995.

Diesel Locomotive

Learn more

76077

Steam Locomotive

A BR Standard Class 4 mixed traffic locomotive, built 1956. Restoration started.

Steam Locomotive

Learn more

3850

Steam Locomotive

A '2884' class heavy freight locomotive, built 1942. Owned by Dinmore Manor Locomotive Limited. It's comprehensive 10-year overhaul has just been completed at Toddington. It returned to steam on August 2024, bearing the wartime black GWR livery it carried when new.

Steam Locomotive

Learn more

2874

Steam Locomotive

A '28xx' class heavy freight locomotive, built 1918. This locomotive is owned by The 2874 Trust Limited and it is slowly being restored from 'Barry Scrapyard' condition.

Steam Locomotive

Learn more

2807

Steam Locomotive

A '28xx' class heavy freight locomotive, built in 1905. This locomotive is owned by Cotswold Steam Preservation Limited and, after a 29 year restoration, is one of the GWR's resident locomotives.

Steam Locomotive

Learn more

Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co.

Steam Locomotive

35006 Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co. is a Southern Railway rebuilt Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 steam locomotive. It was built at Eastleigh locomotive works in December 1941 and given the Southern Railway number 21C6.

Steam Locomotive

Learn more

Foremarke Hall

Steam Locomotive

Although every inch a Great Western Railway thoroughbred, No. 7903 Foremarke Hall was one of the 79XX series, in the last batch of the Modified Hall class built at Swindon in 1949 under BR auspices.

Steam Locomotive

Learn more

Dinmore Manor

Steam Locomotive

7820 Dinmore Manor is a British Railways locomotive, part of the Manor Class. It is one of nine locomotives preserved from the class, which originally numbered 30.

Steam Locomotive

Learn more