Steam Footplate Experience
A one to one all day footplate course with a senior driver.
Service Description
Steam Footplate Experience · 1-to-1 · Full day · Limited spaces · £350 Ever wondered what it’s like to drive a real steam locomotive? Step into the whistle, steam, and grit of the golden age of rail travel. At Heatherslaw Light Railway - the UK’s most northern steam railway -you’ll get hands-on, up-close, and personal with our charming 15” narrow-gauge steam locomotive, Bunty. Your day begins bright and early at 08:30 and runs through to 16:30, giving you a full, immersive footplate experience that captures the spirit of steam from firebox to footplate. Expect unforgettable memories, great photo opportunities, and a newfound appreciation for the craftsmanship and heritage behind traditional steam railways. What’s included • A warm welcome with a safety briefing and an escorted tour of the sheds and yard, giving you a backstage pass to the hidden workings of a railway. • Introduction to Bunty: you’ll learn how a steam locomotive works — the valves, the fire, the pistons — and get your instructor’s one-on-one guidance through the process of firing up, cleaning and polishing the engine. • Once Bunty is ready, you’ll fire up the locomotive, attach it to the service train (8 coaches), and complete five full round trips to Etal under instruction. This is as close as it gets to the real locomotive driver’s role. • After the last journey, you’ll perform the final tasks to ready the locomotive for the next day’s service, giving you a true “day in the life” of a steam driver. • Minimum age: 18 (straightforward registration). Contact us for further information. Why choose this experience? • Authenticity: This isn’t a ride-along. You’re driving the engine — lighting the fire, feeling the steam, hearing the whistle. • One-to-one instructor: You won’t be in a large group; you’ll have full guidance from an experienced senior driver. • Historic setting: Heatherslaw is a true working light-railway, nestled in the handsome Northumberland countryside. It’s more than flavour: you’re in the heart of real railway heritage. • Memorable gift: Whether for yourself or someone special, this is an extraordinary gift for train-enthusiasts, adventurers, or anyone who wants something out of the ordinary. Important info • Time: 08:30 – 16:30 (please arrive 15 minutes before start time) • Price: £350 per person • Location: Heatherslaw Light Railway, Ford Forge, Heatherslaw, Cornhill-on-Tweed, Northumberland, TD12 4T
Cancellation Policy
1. Booking Appointments Clients may book appointments online. • Appointments must be booked at least 8 days before the scheduled start time. • We reserve the right to limit how far in advance bookings can be made. 2. Rescheduling Appointments Clients may reschedule their own appointments online. • Rescheduling is permitted up to 14 days before the appointment start time. • After this point, rescheduling is no longer available and the appointment will follow the cancellation policy below. 3. Cancelling Appointments Clients may cancel their own appointments online. • Cancellations are permitted up to 30 days before the start time. • Cancellations made after this window will incur fees as outlined in the Cancellation & No-Show Fees section. 4. Staff Assignment If a client does not select a specific staff member during booking: • Staff will be assigned automatically based on availability. • Assignments may be either random or based on staff priority, depending on our scheduling settings. 5. Payments • A card on file is required for all online bookings. • This ensures secure payment for sessions, whether they are prepaid, included in a membership/plan, or paid in person. 6. Cancellation & No-Show Fees Fees apply to cancellations made after the permitted cancellation window, as well as to missed appointments (no-shows). Fees are charged to the card on file. If you cancel more than two weeks before your scheduled session, no fee will be charged. If you cancel between two weeks and one week before the session, a fee of 50% of the session price will be charged. If you cancel less than one week before the session, the full session price (100%) will be charged. If you do not attend your appointment and do not cancel (a no-show), the full session price (100%) will also be charged. 7. No-Show Policy Failing to attend a scheduled appointment without prior cancellation is considered a no-show. No-shows are charged at 100% of the session price.
Contact Details
Heatherslaw Light Railway, Cornhill-on-Tweed, UK
0189820244
info@heatherslawlightrailway.co.uk