Experience the thrill and nostalgia of the golden age of steam on our exclusive Footplate Taster Day at The Bluebell Railway!

Step into the boots of an engine driver or fireman and join our experienced crew for an unforgettable journey on the footplate of a magnificent steam locomotive. Whether you’re a lifelong rail enthusiast or looking for an extraordinary adventure, this hands-on experience offers a rare opportunity to learn the art of driving and firing a steam locomotive. Under expert guidance, you’ll get a chance to both drive and fire either 72 ‘Fenchurch’ or SECR O1 65 (subject to availability).

Experience the thrill and nostalgia of the golden age of steam on our exclusive Footplate Taster Day at The Bluebell Railway!

Step into the boots of an engine driver or fireman and join our experienced crew for an unforgettable journey on the footplate of a magnificent steam locomotive. Whether you’re a lifelong rail enthusiast or looking for an extraordinary adventure, this hands-on experience offers a rare opportunity to learn the art of driving and firing a steam locomotive. Under expert guidance, you’ll get a chance to both drive and fire either 72 ‘Fenchurch’ or SECR O1 65 (subject to availability).

Have your chance of driving Class 73 E6040 'The Bluebell Railway' on a diesel footplate taster experience.

Our Diesel Footplate experiences are back for 2025 with a difference!

The experience is around 1 hour 30 mins in total, each participant will have an opportunity to work D4106 around Horsted Keynes, with an opportunity to work the diesel shunter to East Grinstead and back. Light refreshments and a hot drink will be provided for participants on the day from Horsted Keynes. Guests can purchase refreshments on the day. Book a Brake Van ride for your guests! There is a chance for your guests to travel in our Southern Railway brake van between Horsted Keynes and East Grinstead on your experience. This is an additional fee of £25 per person and can be booked via the button below (this is separate to booking the main Diesel Footplate Taster event). Please note: Participants must be 18+ or over to take part. Cancellation is 1 month & £10 admin fee if you cancel. Participants must be physically able to take part. Medical form must be submitted before event. Book your experience now: https://www.bluebell-railway.com/special/diesel-footplate-taster-day/

Ever wondered what it’s like to be in control of a powerful steam locomotive? Now’s your chance to find out! Footplate Taster Sessions with 32424 Beachy Head, Britain's newest steam locomotive, are here!

For 1 hour, you’ll step into the heart of the action aboard this majestic engine, getting a first-hand feel of what it’s like to be part of the crew. It’s a day where every moment is an unforgettable adventure. Starting at Sheffield Park, you’ll have the rare opportunity to experience one of the most exciting additions to the steam railway world – 32424 Beachy Head – in action. With expert guidance from our experienced footplate crew, you’ll learn the ins and outs of operating this unique steam locomotive. Perfect for railway enthusiasts, thrill-seekers, or anyone who has dreamed of piloting a steam engine, these Footplate Taster Sessions are the ultimate hands-on experience. Book your session today, and prepare to feel the power of 32424 Beachy Head under your hands! https://www.bluebell-railway.com/special/beachy-head-footplate-tasters/

Have your chance of driving Class 73 E6040 'The Bluebell Railway' on a diesel footplate taster experience.

Our Diesel Footplate experiences are back for 2025 with a difference!

The experience is around 1 hour 30 mins in total, each participant will have an opportunity to work D4106 around Horsted Keynes, with an opportunity to work the diesel shunter to East Grinstead and back. Light refreshments and a hot drink will be provided for participants on the day from Horsted Keynes. Guests can purchase refreshments on the day. Book a Brake Van ride for your guests! There is a chance for your guests to travel in our Southern Railway brake van between Horsted Keynes and East Grinstead on your experience. This is an additional fee of £25 per person and can be booked via the button below (this is separate to booking the main Diesel Footplate Taster event). Please note: Participants must be 18+ or over to take part. Cancellation is 1 month & £10 admin fee if you cancel. Participants must be physically able to take part. Medical form must be submitted before event. Book your experience now: https://www.bluebell-railway.com/special/diesel-footplate-taster-day/

Ever wondered what it’s like to be in control of a powerful steam locomotive? Now’s your chance to find out! Footplate Taster Sessions with 32424 Beachy Head, Britain's newest steam locomotive, are here!

For 1 hour, you’ll step into the heart of the action aboard this majestic engine, getting a first-hand feel of what it’s like to be part of the crew. It’s a day where every moment is an unforgettable adventure. Starting at Sheffield Park, you’ll have the rare opportunity to experience one of the most exciting additions to the steam railway world – 32424 Beachy Head – in action. With expert guidance from our experienced footplate crew, you’ll learn the ins and outs of operating this unique steam locomotive. Perfect for railway enthusiasts, thrill-seekers, or anyone who has dreamed of piloting a steam engine, these Footplate Taster Sessions are the ultimate hands-on experience. Book your session today, and prepare to feel the power of 32424 Beachy Head under your hands! https://www.bluebell-railway.com/special/beachy-head-footplate-tasters/

Ever wondered what it’s like to be in control of a powerful steam locomotive? Now’s your chance to find out! Footplate Taster Sessions with 32424 Beachy Head, Britain's newest steam locomotive, are here!

For 1 hour, you’ll step into the heart of the action aboard this majestic engine, getting a first-hand feel of what it’s like to be part of the crew. It’s a day where every moment is an unforgettable adventure. Starting at Sheffield Park, you’ll have the rare opportunity to experience one of the most exciting additions to the steam railway world – 32424 Beachy Head – in action. With expert guidance from our experienced footplate crew, you’ll learn the ins and outs of operating this unique steam locomotive. Perfect for railway enthusiasts, thrill-seekers, or anyone who has dreamed of piloting a steam engine, these Footplate Taster Sessions are the ultimate hands-on experience. Book your session today, and prepare to feel the power of 32424 Beachy Head under your hands! https://www.bluebell-railway.com/special/beachy-head-footplate-tasters/

Ever wondered what it’s like to be in control of a powerful steam locomotive? Now’s your chance to find out! Footplate Taster Sessions with 32424 Beachy Head, Britain's newest steam locomotive, are here!

For 1 hour, you’ll step into the heart of the action aboard this majestic engine, getting a first-hand feel of what it’s like to be part of the crew. It’s a day where every moment is an unforgettable adventure. Starting at Sheffield Park, you’ll have the rare opportunity to experience one of the most exciting additions to the steam railway world – 32424 Beachy Head – in action. With expert guidance from our experienced footplate crew, you’ll learn the ins and outs of operating this unique steam locomotive. Perfect for railway enthusiasts, thrill-seekers, or anyone who has dreamed of piloting a steam engine, these Footplate Taster Sessions are the ultimate hands-on experience. Book your session today, and prepare to feel the power of 32424 Beachy Head under your hands! https://www.bluebell-railway.com/special/beachy-head-footplate-tasters/

Our Diesel Footplate experiences are back for 2025 with a difference!

The experience is around 1 hour 30 mins in total, each participant will have an opportunity to work D4106 around Horsted Keynes, with an opportunity to work the diesel shunter to East Grinstead and back. Light refreshments and a hot drink will be provided for participants on the day from Horsted Keynes. Guests can purchase refreshments on the day. Book a Brake Van ride for your guests! There is a chance for your guests to travel in our Southern Railway brake van between Horsted Keynes and East Grinstead on your experience. This is an additional fee of £25 per person and can be booked via the button below (this is separate to booking the main Diesel Footplate Taster event). Please note: Participants must be 18+ or over to take part. Cancellation is 1 month & £10 admin fee if you cancel. Participants must be physically able to take part. Medical form must be submitted before event. Book your experience now: https://www.bluebell-railway.com/special/diesel-footplate-taster-day/

Have your chance of driving Class 73 E6040 'The Bluebell Railway' on a diesel footplate taster experience.

We are able to offer a one day course, designed to get you behind the controls of one of our unique narrow gauge steam locomotives.

A fantastic present to give someone for a special occasion, or maybe it's just an opportunity for you to indulge in a childhood dream! • Preparation of steam locomotive for service • Driving a steam locomotive hauling passenger carriages - 9 miles • Refreshments (including a cooked lunch) • Price £275.00 Please note this experience is available for suitably fit people aged 18 years and over only.

Our Diesel Footplate experiences are back for 2025 with a difference!

The experience is around 1 hour 30 mins in total, each participant will have an opportunity to work D4106 around Horsted Keynes, with an opportunity to work the diesel shunter to East Grinstead and back. Light refreshments and a hot drink will be provided for participants on the day from Horsted Keynes. Guests can purchase refreshments on the day. Book a Brake Van ride for your guests! There is a chance for your guests to travel in our Southern Railway brake van between Horsted Keynes and East Grinstead on your experience. This is an additional fee of £25 per person and can be booked via the button below (this is separate to booking the main Diesel Footplate Taster event). Please note: Participants must be 18+ or over to take part. Cancellation is 1 month & £10 admin fee if you cancel. Participants must be physically able to take part. Medical form must be submitted before event. Book your experience now: https://www.bluebell-railway.com/special/diesel-footplate-taster-day/

We are able to offer a one day course, designed to get you behind the controls of one of our unique narrow gauge steam locomotives.

A fantastic present to give someone for a special occasion, or maybe it's just an opportunity for you to indulge in a childhood dream! • Preparation of steam locomotive for service • Driving a steam locomotive hauling passenger carriages - 9 miles • Refreshments (including a cooked lunch) • Price £275.00 Please note this experience is available for suitably fit people aged 18 years and over only.

On Saturdays 20 May and 15 July you can get a feel of a first generation mainline diesel and experience the sheer power as you unleash its engine to tackle our steeply graded Railway! You will get to pull a rake of 1950s passenger coaches when you drive a round trip of the line up to our boundary gate at Thame Junction and return, all made under guidance from our experienced driving instructor. We are confident you will have a great time!

Our friendly and knowledgeable train crew will look after all our new Drivers and guide them throughout their Diesel Driver Experience. Starting with a Safety Briefing, we then give a familiarisation session with our locomotive, to show how it works and how to operate its controls. We'll show our new Drivers how to start and stop the locomotive and train safely and what to do as they take it and the train along the 6 mile round trip of the line. Price £395 (includes VAT) Enjoy one trip of the line as a solo driving experience - drive the mainline diesel to Thame Junction and return with expert tuition given by our experienced staff. You can take a second trip in the locomotive cab as an observer too. You can also bring along up to 6-Guests with you for a Free ride in the passenger coaches - it's always enjoyable to join in with the fun on a Driving Experience - even for those who are not driving! We are pleased to welcome guests of the driver to our Railway and up to 6 additional people can travel in the passenger carriages for Free, if arranged in advance. In addition, you and your guests are welcome to stay for more trips of the line and please do discuss with Chris by email below. Refreshments Your Driving Experience Course price includes refreshments for the Driver and one guest. We will be delighted to provide refreshments for additional guests at our regular prices. Special Requests Our aim is to ensure all of our visitors to have a wonderful and memorable visit with us. If you have a special request for your Driving Experience, do let us know and we’ll see how we can accommodate your wishes. For further information and to book? To find out more including diesel locomotive availability and to book, please email Chris, Experiences Coordinator, at driverexperience@chinnorrailway.co.uk

On Saturdays 20 May and 15 July you can get a feel of a first generation mainline diesel and experience the sheer power as you unleash its engine to tackle our steeply graded Railway! You will get to pull a rake of 1950s passenger coaches when you drive a round trip of the line up to our boundary gate at Thame Junction and return, all made under guidance from our experienced driving instructor. We are confident you will have a great time!

Our friendly and knowledgeable train crew will look after all our new Drivers and guide them throughout their Diesel Driver Experience. Starting with a Safety Briefing, we then give a familiarisation session with our locomotive, to show how it works and how to operate its controls. We'll show our new Drivers how to start and stop the locomotive and train safely and what to do as they take it and the train along the 6 mile round trip of the line. Price £395 (includes VAT) Enjoy one trip of the line as a solo driving experience - drive the mainline diesel to Thame Junction and return with expert tuition given by our experienced staff. You can take a second trip in the locomotive cab as an observer too. You can also bring along up to 6-Guests with you for a Free ride in the passenger coaches - it's always enjoyable to join in with the fun on a Driving Experience - even for those who are not driving! We are pleased to welcome guests of the driver to our Railway and up to 6 additional people can travel in the passenger carriages for Free, if arranged in advance. In addition, you and your guests are welcome to stay for more trips of the line and please do discuss with Chris by email below. Refreshments Your Driving Experience Course price includes refreshments for the Driver and one guest. We will be delighted to provide refreshments for additional guests at our regular prices. Special Requests Our aim is to ensure all of our visitors to have a wonderful and memorable visit with us. If you have a special request for your Driving Experience, do let us know and we’ll see how we can accommodate your wishes. For further information and to book? To find out more including diesel locomotive availability and to book, please email Chris, Experiences Coordinator, at driverexperience@chinnorrailway.co.uk

On Saturdays 20 May and 15 July you can get a feel of a first generation mainline diesel and experience the sheer power as you unleash its engine to tackle our steeply graded Railway! You will get to pull a rake of 1950s passenger coaches when you drive a round trip of the line up to our boundary gate at Thame Junction and return, all made under guidance from our experienced driving instructor. We are confident you will have a great time!

Our friendly and knowledgeable train crew will look after all our new Drivers and guide them throughout their Diesel Driver Experience. Starting with a Safety Briefing, we then give a familiarisation session with our locomotive, to show how it works and how to operate its controls. We'll show our new Drivers how to start and stop the locomotive and train safely and what to do as they take it and the train along the 6 mile round trip of the line. Price £395 (includes VAT) Enjoy one trip of the line as a solo driving experience - drive the mainline diesel to Thame Junction and return with expert tuition given by our experienced staff. You can take a second trip in the locomotive cab as an observer too. You can also bring along up to 6-Guests with you for a Free ride in the passenger coaches - it's always enjoyable to join in with the fun on a Driving Experience - even for those who are not driving! We are pleased to welcome guests of the driver to our Railway and up to 6 additional people can travel in the passenger carriages for Free, if arranged in advance. In addition, you and your guests are welcome to stay for more trips of the line and please do discuss with Chris by email below. Refreshments Your Driving Experience Course price includes refreshments for the Driver and one guest. We will be delighted to provide refreshments for additional guests at our regular prices. Special Requests Our aim is to ensure all of our visitors to have a wonderful and memorable visit with us. If you have a special request for your Driving Experience, do let us know and we’ll see how we can accommodate your wishes. For further information and to book? To find out more including diesel locomotive availability and to book, please email Chris, Experiences Coordinator, at driverexperience@chinnorrailway.co.uk