Diesel Driving Courses also available - click here

	A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY BEING OFFERED DURING SPRING AND AUTUMN One Day Steam Locomotive Driving & Firing Courses Realise that childhood dream or relive the great days of steam by spending a day learning how railway locomotives work, with theory and then practical experience on the footplate. In Spring and Autumn the Bodmin & Wenford Railway will be offering courses giving an insight into footplate work on board real steam locomotives.  In particular,  the courses will feature the opportunity to work on the footplate on the railway's challenging 1-in-40 gradient which covers about 2 miles of the 3½ mile line.  It is an opportunity no other preserved railway can offer.
	What is included The course normally starts in the Waiting Room at Bodmin General Station with an introduction to the railway and a lecture on Health & Safety over a cup of tea or coffee. This will be followed by a theoretical talk about the locomotives used, then footplate experience on the locomotive. After preparation of the engine each participant will do one trip as Driver, one as Fireman & one as Guard. We endeavour to use a Great Western Railway loco for all courses. You will get full guidance and supervision throughout from experienced footplatemen and will receive a certificate after completion of the course. Participants will get most out of the course by spending as much time as possible with the crew but are welcome to invite a few family or friends to see them on the engine and to have a free train ride.  Please let us know if you wish to do this when you confirm your course dates. Driving Courses do not run to a timetable but the following gives a guide.  9.00am   Introduction and Health & Safety Lecture  9.30am   Introduction to the locomotive then take coal and water as required. 10.30am  Locomotive to Train and carry out Brake Test 10.45am  Tea or Coffee in Waiting Room 11.00am  First trip down the line to Bodmin Parkway or Boscarne Junction and back, 12.00pm  Arrive back at Bodmin General.  Run loco round train and take water.  Push train back into station. 12.15pm  Cornish Pasty Lunch.   1.00pm  Second trip down the line.   2.00pm  Arrive back at Bodmin General. Run loco round train and take water.  Push train back into station.   2.15pm  Tea or Coffee   2.30pm  Last trip down the line.   3.30pm  Arrive back at Bodmin General.  Run loco round train.  Push train back into station.   3.45pm  Dispose of loco in shed.  Clean fire and smoke box.   4.30pm  End of course.  Collect your certificate and say "good bye" to fellow participants and crew.
	Price  £280 inc VAT Bodmin Railway Preservation Society All Participants are required to be members of the Bodmin Railway Preservation Society for insurance purposes. B.R.P.S. membership also provides 3 Newsletters about the railway per year and two free tickets. B.R.P.S. Membership is extra - see below.

 

Buying as a Gift? If you are booking this course as a gift for someone we are happy to keep the booking confidential until near to the course date. We can also provide a voucher and card for you to give to the participant  -  please select this when booking   Health & Safety Advice This experience course will of necessity involve active participation in the preparation, firing, driving and disposal of a steam locomotive. You will need to climb onto, underneath and around the engine.  You will be exposed to heat, water and ash.  You will have to handle heavy tools and shovel coal.  It is inevitable that you will get dirty. Protective clothing (overalls, cap and gloves) and strong footwear are essential. All reasonable safety precautions will be taken.  You will be under constant supervision but it must be pointed out that footplate work has potential dangers, although no more so than other active occupations or sports. Unfortunately the course is only open to those of eighteen years or over. You must be prepared to accept instructions from those in charge;  these will be for your own benefit.  Instructors are either ex-BR employees with many years of experience or other BWR staff who are currently involved in driver training. Follow the advice given and you will have an enjoyable time.

The Small Print - please read For those joining the B.R.P.S. before or on the 30th November renewal is due the following June. Those joining on or after 1st December will renew the June following 12 months membership. By completing and forwarding the form above the participant must agree to abide by the rules of the B.R.P.S. and understand that membership of the B.R.P.S. does not allow them to trespass on Network Rail or other private property. Only members of the B.R.P.S. are allowed to carry out work on its behalf and will be subject to its supervisor's control and rules whilst on company premises. Membership records are kept on computer. (The B.R.P.S. is registered under the data Protection Act.)

To Apply Please note that dates may be subject to change and courses will need to comprise of three persons.  Before applying, do please read the safety advice above. We will contact the person applying for the course to arrange payment.  A deposit of £50 plus the B.R.P.S. Membership fee will be required. These courses only take place in March, April, May, October & early November.  It is not possible to have a course at other times. Most courses take place on week days (often Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays) and are often booked up well in advance.  We can not give specific dates for courses until we have received your application.  To apply online now please click here

If you have any further questions please
To contact us by phone please call Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm on 0845 125 9 678 (Bookings cannot be taken over the phone)

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