FOOTPLATE
TASTER
Available on the 10:40 & 13:15 trips only
Ride on the locomotive with
the crew on the 21 mile trip from Tenterden to Bodiam and back.
You are accompanied at all times by one of our
driver/instructors who will meet and brief you about the experience and
will explain the functions of the driver and fireman throughout the trip.
This experience is not a 'hands-on' trip but continues to be a most popular
choice both in cost and as a 'taster' to the other experiences listed
below. We hope that by watching the teamwork that exists between crew
you will want to return for an Introductory Course to learn the skills
needed to drive the engine yourself.
Tasters are usually available throughout the year on selected days and
at selected times. Please ring the Sales Office for more details.
INTRODUCTION TO DRIVING
Join us for a day during which you will learn some of the basic skills required to drive
a steam locomotive. Under the eye of an experienced instructor you will
take the controls and learn how to move off and stop smoothly. As the
day progresses you will have several opportunities to develop your skills,
culminating in gently ‘buffering up’ your
engine to a 20-ton brake van.
ITINERARY
The day starts at 09:00am at Rolvenden Station (TN17 4JP) where participants meet for a Breakfast Bap and a cup of tea during which there's a short safety briefing. Your engine for the day awaits in the platform already in full steam to commence the 'hands-on' part of the day. Careful and patient tuition is given to each participant by a knowledgeable instructor under whose guidance your confidence will grow throughout the day. Lunch is of course provided at Rolvenden and is included in the price of your course. At the end of the day you are presented with a certificate of acheivement together with a souvenir Tee Shirt and Mug. Usual end time is around 5:00pm.
Also included is a visit to the Signal Box and
a tour of the locomotive yard and repair shed.
ADVANCED DRIVING
Due to an overwhelming demand we regret the ADVANCED DRIVING COURSE is FULLY BOOKED until the end of October 2008. Please re-visit this page or call the commercial office on 01580 765155 for news of future dates. Alternatively, register for the email alert facility found on the left-hand-side of this page.
Having
mastered the basic techniques with an ‘introduction’
course, why not try an ‘advanced’ experience? You will drive
a train from Tenterden to Bodiam and back under the careful supervision
of your instructor. You will gain first hand experience of operating a
locomotive on one of the most challenging lines in the Country, through
varied countryside and on gradients of up to 1:36.
ITINERARY
The
day starts at 9:30am at Tenterden when the two participants (we only
take two for the advanced day) meet the instructors for the day. There
is the usual safety introduction then some time with the engine to refresh
the skills learned from the earlier course. After this, each participant
has a go at driving the loco plus a train of two or three carriages
from Tenterden to Bodiam and back. Whilst one participant drives, the
other will be given instruction on firing the loco. After lunch, provided
by us of course, they swap over for another run to Bodiam and back.
Each person therefore has a chance to fire the engine for 21 miles and
to drive it for 21 miles.
Please note; there are no other
trains running on the days that we run the advanced courses so you literally
have the whole railway to yourselves.
Participants can bring family and friends as guests on our Advanced Driving days. For £25 per person they can enjoy unlimited travel on YOUR train and join you for lunch at The Refreshment Rooms, Tenterden. Please advise the Sales Office staff of numbers when booking or at the earliest possible occasion.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
- One-year membership. Benefits include three free train rides and
copies of the Tenterden Terrier magazine. Who knows where this may
lead? You may want to carry on developing your skills by becoming one
of our volunteers!
- ‘Certificate of Achievement’.
- A souvenir Tee Shirt and Railway Mug is included on the Introductory and Advanced courses
- A breakfast roll, a full cooked lunch and
refreshments are provided on the ‘Introduction’ days and the same on ‘Advanced’
days EXCEPT the breakfast roll due to the slightly later start time.
DIESELS
A DMMU Cab Ride Gift Voucher £70
This is a unique opportunity to view the 21-mile line from a totally different perspective. You will travel in the cab of the DMMU with the driver on one of our scheduled passenger trains along the line. During the trip your driver will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the line, operation of the controls or the techniques employed in driving a Diesel Mechanical Multiple Unit.
Whilst sharing a 'driver's eye view' of signals, points and stations we're confident the experience will be a memorable one! The approximate journey time is 1hr 50min. The experience starts and ends at Tenterden Station
This experience is available on many days throughout the year, a list of available dates will be sent to you for a choice of date & time to be selected. Open to all 18 - 70 years.
A One Day Signal Box Experience £95
Enjoy a fully operational day in an authentic Southern Region Signalbox with a qualified signaller who will allow you a 'hands-on' experience of what's involved to operate the K&ESR safely. An initial safety and etiquette briefing is quickly followed by despatching one or two light engines for the day's duty. The principles of interlocking and block working are examined before a packed lunch is delivered along with the token on the 1:15 ex Tenterden steam service. The signaller will explain and demonstrate where possible the variety of his/her role and featuures of the afternoon session can include allowing the locomotives to water, the re-coaling of bunkers and token exchanges. Participants each receive a set of
station track and signalling layout plans
together with a certificate and souvenir mug at the end of the day.
This experience is available on many days throughout the year, a list of available dates will be sent to you for a choice of date to be selected. Open to all 18 - 70 years.
PRICES FOR FOOTPLATE EXPERIENCE COURSES
Footplate Taster - £80
Introduction - £225
Advanced - £650
DIESEL EXPERIENCE COURSES
A DMMU Cab Ride - £70
Click here for
a list of dates available during 2009.
SPECIAL DISCOUNTS
Book two or more footplate courses within the same year and get a £20
discount.
Book three or more footplate courses within the same year and get a £50
discount.
Become a volunteer driver and you can ride our trains for free!
A FEW WORDS ABOUT SAFETY
You must be aged between 18 and 70, reasonably fit and healthy and
not on any medication, however, for those over 70, a doctor’s note
will normally suffice. We can also cater for people with certain disabilities – the
Sales Office will be pleased to provide advice.
Overalls are provided if required and you will need to wear strong,
sensible footwear.
Despite the warmth of a steam locomotive, during inclement weather it
is advisable to bring warm clothing.
HOW TO BOOK
The Sales Office is open between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, 9am - 3pm weekends. For further details or to make a booking, call at the office
at Tenterden Town Station, telephone on 01580 765155 or email:
enquiries@kesr.org.uk
HOW TO BUY A GIFT VOUCHER
Gift Vouchers are normally for sale through our ONLINE SHOP or call 01580 765155
Gift Vouchers are available for;
A Footplate Taster
An Introductory Steam Driving Course
An Advanced Steam Driving Course
A DMMU Cab Ride
A Signalbox Experience |
PLEASE NOTE:
This information is correct at the time of going to press.
These courses are operated by the Kent & East Sussex Railway Company
Limited - a charitable company limited by guarantee. Registered Charity
No. 262481.
Kent & East Sussex Railway Company Limited reserves the right to
alter dates and prices prior to booking.
Photos courtesy of Bill Oates PA.
