Went for a hoon this weekend...

[cj_eds]

...in a steam train!

Well - it's not every day you get the chance to wheel spin a 100 ton steam locomotive out the station!
Was a brilliant father/son day out, taking it in turns to get a turn at the controls under supervision of the experts. Gives you a new perspective for anticipating your braking points when there's the engine and another 150 tones of carriages rattling along behind you.

 

[gannet]

fantastic

 

[deka]

ha ha fantastic... would love to have a go at that

 

[Carol M]

Brilliant! You drove your very own Henry! I love steam trains. We've got a great set up near to us, the Severn Valley Railway. They've got a great collection.
Glad you had a good time.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Sounds brilliant.

 

[a11y]

Aewesome

Bo'ness?

 

[Mowflow]

So where do you get to do this? Always looking for great experiences for my son.

 

[aquazi]

nice - prob has a few more ponies under the bonnet then the Z

 

[a11y]

So where do you get to do this? Always looking for great experiences for my son.

I reckon it was Bo'ness judging by the photos, but Carl will be sure to confirm - http://www.bkrailway.co.uk/. I've been there myself as a kid many years ago, and have been more recently through work (we look after the - currently closed - Birkhill clay mine at the other end of the line from Bo'ness).

 

[cj_eds]

Certainly was at Bo'Ness, they do 'footplate' days getting the experience of driving the train.

Started off 11am, spent the morning generally wandering around the sheds looking at the facilities and engines in various states of construction/rebuild, and then into the cab of the train to watch the real train drivers while they're doing the tourist runs up and down the railway all day. We also got a chance to get involved helping refuel the coal and water, doing some signalling etc while the engine is being swapped ends of the train between runs etc. While they do the tourist trains with the diesel engines in the afternoon you get the chance to practice rolling back and forth in the station area in the steam engine, learning the various controls etc. Once the place closes down to tourists you're then let out for real - about an hours round trip up the line and back for each driver driving the engine. While one's driving, the other spends the hour doing the fireman's jobs being shown and being basically responsible for not running out of steam and keeping the engine going. There's a hell of a lot more to that latter bit than just shovelling coal in!
Was knackered at the end of it, and filthy from coal dust and soot but had a brilliant day. Would highly recommend it. There's a fair mix of characters at Bo'Ness too - but all of them a good laugh and trying their best to make sure you get the most from the experience.

 

[Mowflow]

So where do you get to do this? Always looking for great experiences for my son.

I reckon it was Bo'ness judging by the photos, but Carl will be sure to confirm - http://www.bkrailway.co.uk/. I've been there myself as a kid many years ago, and have been more recently through work (we look after the - currently closed - Birkhill clay mine at the other end of the line from Bo'ness).

Cheers Ally never knew about this pace but looking at the site have noticed that they do a Thomas the Tank Engine thing and are running one the weekend after my sons 2nd birthday. need to get him along to that, he will love it.

 

[Adamski]

Certainly will have taken more effort that a drive in the car

 

[Stuart Truman]

Handles like it's on rails!

I'll get me coat...

Looks like serious fun