DIESEL DRIVING EXPERIENCE

Photo: Tony Kirkham

Diesel Driving Courses

Imagine getting behind the controls of a heritage diesel locomotive. Experience the wonderful thrill of learning the ropes on our heritage railway on the edges of the Yorkshire Dales.

For many years, we have offered a superb range of hands-on experiences that allow many people to achieve lifelong ambitions, celebrate special occasions and make lasting memories.

Grasp the controls of one of our diesel locomotives as it charges up the line. Listen to

the humming of the engine, look out for signals and see behind the scenes.

“I would just like to say what a wonderful time we had on the Footplate Experience” Ian & Mary

In 2024, we are running a range of experiences with large diesel locomotives and our unique, pioneering “Autocar” from 1903. Scroll down for more details.

All of our experiences run over our full line between Embsay & Bolton Abbey station so that participants can have a “good run”.

Large Diesel Locomotive Driving Experiences

Dates in 2024:

Class 20 – Monday 29th April, Monday 13th May, Monday 24th June & Monday 21st October

Class 37 – Monday 17th June, Monday 22nd July

Large diesel locomotives built by British Railways in the 1950s and 1960s represented the dawn of a new age for the nation’s transport network. These mighty engines replaced steam locomotives and were in service for several decades.

Now, they too are heritage.

You can get your hands-on one of these impressive machines on our railway:

Class 20, D8110, arrived on our railway in 2023, having entered service 61 years earlier in 1962. It was used during its heyday in Scotland, particularly on the famous West Highland line, before moving to England for the last years of its active career. In railway preservation, it has worked everywhere from Cornwall to Yorkshire.

Class 37, 37 294, emerged from English Electric’s Vulcan Works in Lancashire in the height of the Swinging Sixties, 1965. It was based in South Wales and is not recorded as having pulled a passenger train for the first 13 years of its operating life, instead working heavy goods trains. A period in Scotland followed and finally preservation. It has been on our line for many years now.

The experience includes one round trip ‘at the helm’ as driver and another as ‘second-man’ on the locomotive.

You’ll take a third trip on-board, this time acting as the guard. Check the doors, blow the whistle and take in the important spots along our line like our mid-way halt and sheds.

The locomotive pulls an impressive set of MK1 carriages during these days so there’s a real weight for any driver to shift!

Safety and your enjoyment are both very important to us and so a briefing is included as well as a tour of the locomotive before heading off down the line.

Autocar Driving Experiences

Dates in 2024 – Monday 20th May & Monday 15th July

Our heritage railway is home to a very special item of rolling stock which a lucky few now have the opportunity to drive on our 1903 Autocar Experiences.

Built before the First World War, at the height of the railway age, this special self-propelled carriage was the inspiration for many much later vehicles on our rail system. Referred to as an ‘Autocar’, it worked around North Yorkshire in its later life before being preserved as a holiday home!

The vehicle was restored by the 1903 Electric Autocar Trust, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and is lavishly fitted out inside – a far cry from similar trains today. Since its return to service on our line, it has been highly acclaimed with awards won and much press interest. It’s in this comfort that any guests such as close family members can travel while you enjoy your experience, giving them ample opportunities to get superb photographs.

The experience includes two round trips ‘at the helm’, driving with the support and guidance throughout of one of our friendly, well-trained volunteers. In total, this equates to 18 miles in control of this historic vehicle – a real treat for a birthday, special occasion or for any interested individual. Large windows at each end of the Autocar mean you’ll get great views of the edges of the Yorkshire Dales, but remember to concentrate on the beautiful railway artefact at your fingertips.

You’ll take a third trip on-board, this time acting as the guard. Check the doors, blow the whistle and take in the important spots along our line like our mid-way halt and sheds.

Safety and your enjoyment are both very important to us and so a briefing is included as well as a tour of the Autocar before heading off down the line.

Photo: Mike Heath

Gift Vouchers

As well as offering the chance to book specific dates, we also give the opportunity to purchase gift vouchers for any of our hands-on experiences. These allow the recipient to choose their own date and time within our calendar of options.

Important Information:

Requirements for Participants

Because our hands-on experiences involve some physical activity, good physical health including eyesight and hearing are required. We also require participants to be aged 18 or over.

Length of Visit

Our hands-on experiences usually last for approximately half a day.

Guests

We can accommodate additional guests on this experience to share in the wonderful memory-making. These guests do not themselves drive, but can travel on the train driven by the main participant.

Five guests are included complimentary with additional guests possible at £10 per person.

Expert Tuition

No prior experience is required for these experiences. All our experiences are led by an expert tutor who will help and support you.

Membership

All our experiences include membership to the charity which cares for the railway – including a magazine four times a year about our progress and other benefits, too.

How to Book

Booking one of these experiences with us is a straightforward process. You can:

• click the tickets button
• contact us using the contact form or call the office on 01756 710614

If you are unsure about some of your preferred options, do not worry. We know that there can be a number of things to consider to make your day just right. Get in touch with us and we can chat everything through.

Photo: Andrew Rapacz