Footplate Experiences

We have an exciting range of diesel and steam footplate experiences.

Bronze Drive a Diesel Day

Our most popular diesel driving experience! Take the controls as part of a small group and spend the whole day learning to drive along the valley. You will take the controls of one of our heritage railcars under the guidance of one of our skilled instructors and take it in turns to drive to Duffield and back. Take in the local atmosphere with a freshly prepared lunch in the Station Cafe and then enjoy a tour of Wirksworth site and our facilities. In the afternoon you will feel the power of one of our main line diesel locomotives. Participants may travel on the heritage railcar in the morning and join you for lunch, however they will not be able to ride on the mainline diesel locomotive in the afternoon.

Full day experience 09:30 until 16:00. Includes lunch and travel for the participant and one guest. Selected dates through the year. Locomotive runs 'light-engine'. Just £295.00.

Due to popular demand, many dates have two sessions taking place at the same time called 'Group A' and 'Group B'. Both groups receive the same experience however depending on your group, the running order described above may be reversed.

Book online now

Silver Drive a Diesel Day

Upgrade to our Silver experience and enjoy the full day with one-to-one tuition firstly on one of our award-winning heritage railcars and then one of our main line diesel locomotives after lunch.

Full day experience for yourself and no other participants 10:00 until 16:00. Includes lunch for yourself and one guest. Selected dates. Locomotive runs 'light engine'. Just £949.00.

Please call us on 01629 823076 to book.

Gold Drive a Diesel Day

Upgrade to our Gold experience and enjoy the full day with one-to-one tuition using one of our heritage diesel locomotives all day. In the morning you'll learn the handling of the locomotive 'light-engine' under the guidance of our skilled instructor and, following a pub lunch in a local establishment, learn to master the locomotive with a rake of coaching stock in tow.

Full day experience for yourself and no other participants 10:00 until 16:00. Includes lunch for yourself and up to 3 guests. Selected dates. Just £1149.00.

Please call us on 01629 823076 to book.

Drive a Steam Locomotive

The perfect gift for the steam enthusiast! Learn to fire and drive the steam locomotive to see if you can master the unusual 1 in 27 incline from Wirksworth to Ravenstor, the steepest passenger railway in the country. Friends and family can ride in the brake van coupled to the engine to share the experience.

We offer one and two hour courses on selected dates through the year with a one hour course. POA.

Steam experiences are organised and arranged by the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Association.

Visit their website to book

Drive the Dream

Taste the dream of driving one of our heritage diesel locomotives with a return journey from Wirksworth to Shottle at the controls. Get expert one-to-one guidance from our instructor during the one hour session and feel the power at your fingertips.

Selected dates and times. £109.00 including complementary day rover for the rest of the day. Guests may wait at the station for your return.

PLEASE NOTE: This product is now withdrawn however if you have a voucher which has not expired, we will endeavour to honour it. Please call our team on 01629 823076 to book.

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