There is nothing quite like the sound, smell and power of a steam locomotive in full cry!  Thanks to our steeply graded line, 1 in 60 at its’ steepest,  you can drive a steam train in the manner it was designed for. 

This really is the ultimate footplate experience!  Starting at 9am at Alresford station, you will be in control of one of our larger steam locomotives hauling a train of carriages along the full length of our steeply graded line.

Under the expert instruction of our highly experienced crew, you will be paired with another participant to take turns as both driver and fireman during the day, completing a 10 mile trip in each role.

When not on the footplate you will assist the guard, help with coupling and other areas of importance.  As you are able to invite up to 3 guests to travel on the train during your experience, you will also have the opportunity to join them on board the train for refreshments.

A lunch is provided for the participant in the West Country buffet at Alresford station.

Whilst this is our advanced experience, it can be attended by ‘first timers’ too!

Please click here to download the course requirements plus terms and conditions.

Another happy footplate customer.  My thanks to John and Barney for letting me feel very much at home on 'Wadebridge' last week, 21st October, and for the discreet assessment of what I could or could not do as we went along.  I discovered for the first time how hilarious the Bulleid steam reverser is to operate.  On just one occasion, as we got going, it was '40% - bingo'.  I did know they're hungry beasts though, and was not disappointed as I was told yet again, 'yes, put some more in the back corners'.

The effort and consumption in our 10 mile journeys with three coaches put into perspective for me various travels in the distant past, behind 'Wilton' on the 'Pines', and on sections of the Salisbury - Exeter behind 'Lord Beaverbrook', '141 Squadron' and the eight and a half minutes it took 'Seaton' to accelerate 11 coaches to 21mph, upgrade out of Sherborne.  Also the 93mph behind 'City of Wells' in 1988 between Tisbury and Dinton, and what about 'Tangmere's  phenomenal solo lifting of an 11 coach train up out of Weymouth recently?

Alright, yes, I'm a total Bulleid enthusiast, and a week later it's all going round and round in my head!  Thanks also to guard Mike Pearson for kindly accommodating my request to 'shovel before driving'.

Yours sincerely

Ted Goater

I just wanted to thank you all at MHR for the superb day that I had with you last Friday on the ‘Advanced Driving and Firing’ day. Ron and Greg on the footplate of ‘Wadebridge’ were great company and looked after us really well, answering the endless questions and really making it a very special day.

But I’d also like to thank all the other ‘behind the scenes’ volunteers who were there to make it happen, from canteen staff to signalmen, and without whom the trains would never run.  Their hard work was just as much appreciated.

Having grown up in Southern Hampshire and gone to school by train in the dying days of mainline steam, it was a very special moment to be given the privilege of driving ‘Wadebridge’, as I have many happy memories of the Bulleid Pacifics thundering through Eastleigh and St Denys stations while I waited for my rather more sedate local diesel unit.

I’ve attached a couple of photos, please pass their ones on to Ron and Greg, and feel free to use the images as you wish.

Best regards

Derek Squires