Gold Steam Footplate Experience
A Footplate Experience course is something that makes a brilliant Christmas, birthday or anniversary gift!
Please note this course runs from Toddington Station
Course fee £695 per person with a maximum of 8 participants.
The course includes:
Your day starts at 08:30 with a "Full English" breakfast on arrival in the Cotswold Halt Cafe at Toddington for participants and guests
Explanation of the day's events and safety briefing
Two round trips between Broadway, Toddington and Cheltenham, a total of around 56 miles, during which you will fire and drive the locomotive for again up to a maximum of 14 miles, hauling up to eight heritage railway carriages, under expert supervision
Packed lunches for participants and guests
Signal box and steam shed tour (participants only)
1 year's free membership of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway for the participant, which also entitles you to one day of free travel on the GWSR.
GWSR commemorative booklet.
Commemorative certificate signed by your driver and fireman.
You may be accompanied by a maximum of two guests (over 16) at a nominal price of £35 each, who may travel on the train all day.
Please refer here for terms and conditions and clothing requirements. You may still add a guest to your party even to a "sold out" course by phoning our head office on 01242 621 405 who will be able to assist you further.
Experience Times & Booking
Select your preferred time and book your railway experience
Gold Steam Footplate Experience
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!
Participants must be at least 18 years of age and be reasonably fit and agile with normal cognitive abilities, reasonable hearing and eyesight. Glasses and hearing aids are perfectly acceptable. Participants must also not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This is a safety-critical environment and we operate to the same standards as professional railways.
Yes! You may bring up to two guests (aged 16 or over) at a cost of £35 per person. Your guests can travel on the train all day and will receive breakfast and lunch, but only participants take part in the footplate activities, signal box tour and steam shed tour.
T-shirts, shorts and trainers are not acceptable for safety reasons. Please don't wear your best clothes – they will get dirty!
Appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear are essential for safety reasons. We recommend:
Overalls or a boiler suit (preferable)
Clothing you don't mind getting dirty – the cab environment means your clothes will likely get grimy
Stout shoes or boots with good grip and ankle support – safety boots are preferable
Long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt
The locomotive cab can be hot, dirty and physically demanding. This is an authentic steam railway operation, so you should be prepared for a hands-on, working environment rather than a passenger experience.
You need to be able to climb unassisted into and out of the locomotive cab – a vertical climb of around 6 feet using handrails and widely spaced steps. Operating a steam locomotive also involves physical effort, so a reasonable level of fitness is required. Time spent on the footplate can be quite arduous.
Important Information
To take part, you'll need to be over 18 and reasonably fit and agile with normal hearing, eyesight and cognitive abilities (glasses and hearing aids are fine). You should be ready to get hot and dirty—it's part of the experience!
Please come sober and wear appropriate cotton clothing with stout or safety footwear. We recommend overalls or a boiler suit, and bring a pair of gloves (Canadian rigger style work best).
Important Information
Please note HRA, Shareholders, members passes are not accepted for this event
