What's it like on a Footplate Experience (Advanced)?

From: Tom Lewis
Date: 12/11/00 13:34
RE: Footplate Experience - 8 November

(E-mail copied to MHR by an American customer. He was thanking an associate company for
arranging a MHR Footplate Experience (Advanced) Course for him by way of corporate hospitality)

...snip (of his own company business)...

I've done this before at other railroads, and I've accompanied others on still more railroads, so I can say with personal knowledge that the Watercress Line takes it to a new standard. Why?

They are a railway preservation group .... not a locomotive preservation group .... so it's a total railway experience. The course is structured to be just that .... a course .... not a ride on the footplate. You do it (completely), they manage and critique it. You're not a remote control pair of hands, you're in charge! It's all day, and everything: firing, driving, signalling, throwing points, coupling / uncoupling. I'm here to tell you, I was wrung out by the time it was over. It's completely authentic. When I got home, I got out my Bulleid engine book, found the engine and read about it again. This time it meant something. When the book said the engine had been fitted with a screw type reverser with a drum indicator, I could not only picture it, I could still feel it!

Mike (the driver) and Tony (the fireman) were superb. I couldn't come up with either a practical or theory question that Tony couldn't answer. Most impressive.

It was a great day, and a great experience ... fixed in my mind forever. Heartfelt thanks, to ...snip... , to Mike, to Tony, and the whole Watercress team for a great day.

Sincerely yours,
Tom

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From: Ian Scott
Sent: 18 March 2007 11:39
Subject: Advanced Driving Experience
Having just successfully completed the above I would like to thank you for a truly fantastic time. Please give my thanks to John and Barney for making it so memorable. My guests also enjoyed themselves very much.
We all had the steam bug before, and at least two of us have been severely bitten and two of us have been seduced by the gentleman who showed us around the shed at Ropley, and we would like to volunteer to do anything around there; we don't mind getting dirty if you can provide overalls! Please let me know how we can apply. 
Again thanks very much for a brilliant day. The DVD my friend made of the day is a fantastic memento.
Sincerely
Ian Scott

From: Graeme Peers
Sent: 08 May 2006 09:48
Subject: Advanced Footplate Experience, 28th April 2006

Just a line to say thanks, firstly to my family for giving me this experience for my 60th birthday, also to my wife Lyn & good friends June & John, for being my guests for the day and who I know all enjoyed themselves. To the MHR -Watercress Line staff, a big thanks, especially to Chris the Guard, John the Driver and the man with the most important job, Graham the fireman.
The "Loco of the Day" was Ex BR Standard 5MT 73096, which was a joy to drive, plus 3 coaches, one set aside for the guests. I was given the first run of the day, running loco first to Alton. Up hill through Ropley and on to the summit at Medstead was quite easy, the run downhill to Alton though, was a constant watch at speed, brake pressure and the track ahead, so you needed to be looking everywhere at once. Still, I did it and am quite pleased with my attempt. No slipping when starting, no sudden jerky stops and no overrunning of platforms or at the only signal we had to stop at, just outside Alton.
My fire experience was a tender first run back to Alresford which was surprisingly easy. Graham explained that if the firebox is loaded right at Alton it would see the train over The Alps and down to Alresford, as was the case. It was mainly a case of watching the water level in the boiler, the track ahead and enjoying the ride.
If you are thinking of the possibility of taking part in one of these experiences, there is a modern day saying that applies here.... DON'T THINK, JUST DO IT! I had a great day!
Thanks again all!

One   Two   Three

From: Ric Yates
Sent: 17 March 2005 23:04
Subject: Advanced Footplate Experience
Hello Tony
Just a quick note to say thank you to everyone at the railway (and especially Mike and Graham) for a fantastic day on the footplate of 73096 today.
I am a keen amateur photographer and run my own website, there's quite a few photos from today on the site.
Today was everything I expected and more - my last driving experience was quite a few years ago driving seven and a quarter inch gauge!
Thanks once again
Ric Yates

From: Robert Sutherland
Sent: 13 September 2004 14:38
To: tonywood@watercressline.co.uk
Subject: driving/firing experiences
From: Bob Sutherland (East Kilbride)
For a recent (heavy type) Birthday (i.e. one that ends with a zero!) my wife & two sons presented me with vouchers for Introductory & Advanced footplate experiences. Best present ever!!
I was there on 8th & 10th Sept. & I want to thank David & John, Mike & Rod for their explanations, guidance & forbearance. To you too, Tony, and for your kindness to my son & wife who accompanied me on the 10th - neither are "railway buffs" and I frankly expected them to become bored - far from it; you "rode herd" on them beautifully! Thanks too to the Catering Manageress - great!
To all your other correspondents who come up with impressive photos, remarks about this loco or that viewed at speed at some remote South of England location - lads, that's fine and well admired BUT start saving your pounds and book yourself on the footplate at Ropley or Alresford - there's nothing else quite like it!! Wind forward the reverser, release the steam brake, edge the regulator open a fraction and - nothing! - for about 30 seconds and then she moves! A bit more reg., a bit more, take the cut off back to 60 per cent and she starts to bark at you! WOW!!! what a feeling! The guidance given is so well presented and is never intrusive (unless you are going badly wrong, it's make your own mind up time).
I have probably missed naming many people who contributed to the two days (for example, the wee signalman who turned up at the footplate with a tray of teas & coffees on the Wednesday) but all are appreciated and the friendliness of the whole staff added to the two days. Thank you again, it was all just wonderful.
Bob Sutherland

(Bob took our FPX Introductory course on 8th Sept '04 on Douglas, and the FPX Advanced course on 10th Sept '04 on #73096)

From: Adrian Wood
Date: 07/07/2003 08:19 +0100
Subject: Advanced Footplate Experience
Hi Tony
I had a wonderful day on the footplate on Friday. Could I thank you Mike and John for giving me one of those experiences of a lifetime.
Your course has a very light touch but you realise that at the end of the day you have actually driven and fired safely. During the course of the day you learn the small disciplines which the apprentice would have started with years ago. An example is where to put your shovel and how to walk on the ballast between the tracks. The huge thrills were the first start when you open the regulator and nothing happens until the system fills up with steam and then there is the first feel of the power that is in front of you.. There was also great satisfaction in the firing. It is a real mind game as well as being physically satisfying.
You said in your introduction that the grin would last for five days. I am sure that is an underestimate, mine is going to last for ages.
Once again many thanks to all at the Watercress line for such a wonderful experience.
Adrian Wood

From: Tony Kerwood
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2003 02:59:52 EDT
Subject: Advanced Footplate Experience
Hi Tony
I have been a working volunteer in the Traffic Department with the Watercress line for a good many years and have the long service badge as proof. Although I have been on the footplate many times I have never had the pleasure of driving or firing before yesterday. I have left hints about the driving and firing experience around the house for a number of years so I was more than delighted when for my last birthday the present from my wife was the footplate experience. I had no expectations for the day except that I knew I would enjoy myself.

My wife Diane is not a railway fan and I was very pleased that she agreed to accompany me. I expected her to be bored. She wasn't, and I have you to thank for that. Diane had no idea that she would be taking part working alongside you as guard for some of the time. 'I don't wave off trains' she said, 'or do the brake test, but when Tony said to me do it, I just had to. It was great'.

I for my part am still at least a foot off the ground with a smile from ear to ear. Mike Burke and Rod Tye were great encouragers as instructors for driving and firing. What do I remember most? Well it has to be sitting in the drivers seat and lifting the regulator for the first time. Just a gentle lift to the mark Mike had made. Then this great beast of a 9F moved. Awesome. Thank you all for a splendid birthday treat.
regards
Tony

We share your happiness, Tony. Thank you for taking the trouble to write such very kind words (and for your photo of Diane giving the right away) ... tw

Subject: Footplate experience
Date: 01/07/2002 12:43 +0100
Tony,
Just to say many thanks for your help and guidance on the Advanced Footplate Experience on Friday 28 June, which my father and I enjoyed very much. For my part, having had some footplate experience before, I particularly appreciated being allowed to get on with it and to make my own mistakes, which I did. However much experience anybody may have had previously, I would recommend your Advanced Experience to all. There is little that can prepare anyone for the combination of a big engine and demanding gradients offered by the MHR. Thanks also to our driving and firing instructors who have the subtle gift of knowing when to offer advice and knowing when to stand back. This made for a real sense of achievement. However, is it not slightly irresponsible to start people on this slippery slope? Can it not become addictive?
Many thanks,
Stephen Hoadley

What's it like on a Footplate Experience (Introductory)?

From: Hannah Nevett
Sent: 29 March 2008 22:01
I would like to say thank you very much for my first footplate experience for my sixteenth birthday.
I have been waiting for this for almost a year; it was the best birthday present I ever had! 
I have driven a train on a computer simulator, but I the real thing was much, much better!
The day was over too quickly for me and I wished that I could've driven the engine a little longer, but I still had a great day; and I hope that I'll do it again on the advanced course. See you soon.      
Hannah Nevett 

From: Steve Franklin
Sent: 09 March 2005 00:01
This afternoon I had the pleasure of attending an Introductory Firing and Driving session and I had an absolutely super time. I'd like to convey my thanks to our supervising driver and fireman (Mike and Tom) for their giving us all a most interesting and informative time on the J94 locomotive. I certainly hope to return for the next level session soon but in the meantime, keep up the good work on the railway.
My wife Annie took a few photographs and I attach three of them - please feel free to post on the website.
Once again, many thanks to all for a super afternoon.
Best regards
Steve Franklin                 One     Two    Three

From: Richard Dawes Subject: This morning's Intro to Driving & Firing course Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 19:30:13 +0100 Hello Tony Many thanks to you and everybody I met at Ropley (and Medstead) for making my 60th birthday present the most memorable of all. I haven't been as sweaty and filthy for years (well it was the hottest day of the year so far) and as happy as I'm sure everyone who does your courses is. As it's whetted my appetite for more could you please email the photos you took. I can then use these to apprise my benefactors of my next birthday requirements - if I can wait that long, and I probably can't! Many thanks Dick Dawes

From: Mike Berry
Date: 23/02/01 03:39
RE: Footplate Experience Introductory Course

I want to thank Mike and Tony from the bottom of my heart for a fantastic experience on Sunday.
At the beginning, Tony told us we would leave walking six inches above the ground. Well, I don't think I have come down, yet, five days later!
What I appreciated most was that this was a proper course, not just a bit of fun - although it WAS fun, as well. As a professional trainer myself, I am full of respect for the job that Mike and Tony did.
I am now saving up for the Advanced Course.
Best wishes
Mike Berry

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