ULTIMATE FOOTPLATE EXPERIENCE DAYS

The ultimate footplate experience day for any railway enthusiast or lover of steam is now available at The Bluebell Railway.

You can now take part in a very special Footplate Taster Day where you are in control of one of our larger locomotives and your very own train!

FUTURE DATES FOR 2024 WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE IN DUE COURSE

Your day starts at 7 am and you join your crew and help prepare your locomotive for the day at Sheffield Park Shed. Savouring the sights, sounds and smells of a working steam shed, here you’ll get the chance to be introduced to your Bluebell engine crew and locomotive and be alongside the other crews and engines running that day before you head out onto The Bluebell Railway later that morning. You’ll also get your chance to sample an experience very few people are lucky enough to have experienced before, a behind-the-scenes look into how you prepare an engine and how it’s achieved. You will be part of that whole experience with this Super Footplate Taster Day!

After starting in the shed, you head into The Bessemer Arms for a Full English Breakfast at Sheffield Park at 9 am. (Extra guests are welcome, catering requirements can be booked in advance, and an additional fee is required for guest catering.)

After this, you then re-join your engine on the shed, and after coupling up with your allocated coaches, you’ll then take your train up the whole length of The Bluebell Railway to East Grinstead. Departing away from Sheffield Park at 11:05.  This is something that your guests (who can join you on this very special day) can enjoy as well as they travel on the train will be in control of!

You will have two return journeys between Sheffield Park & East Grinstead (broken up by a lunch break) During this experience, you will share it with another person and enjoy their Super Footplate Taster Day alongside them on the footplate. During this, you’ll both have the chance to take turns both driving and firing the locomotive along the beautiful High Weald that our railway runs through.

Lunch will be served once again at Sheffield Park around 1:30 pm and your day will finish off at 4:30 pm

This special experience is a real must for anyone who’s always wanted to be an engine driver or wanted their chance to join the footplate crew!

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Price: £1295.00 per person (Plus £1.95 booking fee)

Up To 10 Guests are allowed to join your special experience and ride on the train you will be driving and firing!

The course is designed for 4 Candidates for each day- each candidate will get 11 miles of driving and firing each on the day.

For any reasons for changing any Bluebell booking, you will be required to pay a £10.00 surcharge if you wish to change/amend your booking.

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Participants must: 

• Be aged at least 18.
• Be reasonably fit and in good health – able to ascend and descend a ladder unassisted.
• Wear suitable protective clothing, which covers arms and legs at all times. Clothing that may easily melt or catch fire if it comes into contact with hot surfaces/materials is not suitable (e.g. polyester/nylon). Gloves are also advisable.
• Wear sturdy footwear.
• Not attend the experience under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Read the Medical Standards and meet the standards required in the Medical Self-Assessment Questionnaire before being allowed to take part.

Please note

• Participants will be required to complete a medical self-assessment questionnaire prior to taking part. Bluebell Railway reserves the right to cancel bookings were the participant fails to meet the required health standards.
• Bluebell Railway reserves the right to reschedule a driving experience if the minimum number of participants booked on a specific day is not reached, or for any other reason.
• The locomotives used for this experience are subject to availability.

Photos kindly supplied by James Cummins

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STEAM FOOTPLATE TASTER EXPERIENCE DAYS

ALL CURRENT FOOTPLATE TASTER DAYS HAVE SOLD OUT. MORE DATES WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN DUE COURSE!

Steam Footplate Taster Days are back in 2023! Featuring LBSCR A1 “Terrier” Tank No.72 “Fenchurch” and SECR O1 No. 65. (subject to locomotive availability on the day).

These extremely popular locomotives are unique and fantastic choices for our steam footplate experience. It’s the perfect gift for any steam buff or budding engine driver!

Your Experience:

• An individual 1 hour ‘Hands On’ driving experience on No. 72 “Fenchurch” or SECR No.65 with one of our experienced crews within the station area, doing small shunt moves and short runs on the line.
• Your own guided tour of Steamworks and the Loco Workshop in Sheffield Park.
• Hot drink and a breakfast bap or a slice of cake in the Bessemer Arms at Sheffield Park.
• A certificate for you to take away on completion.

Price: £310.00 per person (Plus £1.95 booking fee)

For any reasons for changing any Bluebell booking, you will be required to pay a £10.00 surcharge if you wish to change/amend your booking.

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Participants must: 

• Be aged at least 18.
• Be reasonably fit and in good health – able to ascend and descend a ladder unassisted.
• Wear suitable protective clothing, which covers arms and legs at all times. Clothing that may easily melt or catch fire if it comes into contact with hot surfaces/materials is not suitable (e.g. polyester/nylon). Gloves are also advisable.
• Wear sturdy footwear.
• Not attend the experience under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Read the Medical Standards and meet the standards required in the Medical Self-Assessment Questionnaire before being allowed to take part.

Please note

• Participants will be required to complete a medical self-assessment questionnaire prior to taking part. Bluebell Railway reserves the right to cancel bookings were the participant fails to meet the required health standards.
• Bluebell Railway reserves the right to reschedule a driving experience if the minimum number of participants booked on a specific day is not reached, or for any other reason.
• The locomotives used for this experience are subject to availability.

Photos kindly supplied by James Cummins