I drove Earl Bathurst Today

[brownairwolf]

Did a railway experience course at didcot today. Best birthday present i've had. Given a great day by the volunteers on GWS. Big thankyou to all of them. Sorry if this is a bit of a waste of time but i am so hyped at the moment.

[CaldRail]

I fully understand. I've never driven a loco myself but I once rode the footplate of a restored steamer in New Zealand. Its a great experience.

[saddletank]

I'd quite like to do a steam driving thing. Do you know how much it cost?

[bjdick]

Welcome to the club.Great isn't it?All that power under the control of a couple of handles(and a shovel)
Try a traction engine,or a road roller next.A road roller doesn't require road tax (it improves the road surface as it travels along)Had a few interesting conversations with zealous cops on that one.
To our motorist friends.Give a steam roller a wide berth,they don't stop very well,and if you hit one,it'll just steam on,while you get a car crusher to iron out your bodywork.

[Timcourt1]

had a go on a burrell showmans once, its a very relaxing experience (when travelling in a straight line on a flat hard surface!)

[saddletank]

I went on a traction engine at a steam fair a few weeks back. It was a big fair at Northampton with around 100 engines, steam cars and steam buses. At the end of the afternoon they had a fun session where about 20 engines went into the display arena and joe public could go and try a drive. I was queuing up with my 8-year old daughter when one came up and the announcer said it was quite a quick one, so I thought "that's the one for me" and by heck, it was quick. Most of them were trundling about at 3 or 4 mph but this guy was a real character and he cranked it up to about 12 or 13 mph which is fast in a sloping bumpy field where 20 other traction enines are rolling around in a big oval! I had a great time spinning the wheel about, and the owner was knocking it into reverse and we were zooming backwards and other jolly japes.

I bet any Healh and Safety officers watching must have had kittens!

Combined with a 10 minute helicopter ride where the pilot insisted on doing a 90deg bank it was a really good day out!

[cwhug]

My son is doing a driving experience this weekend at the East Somerset railway and it is costing £195 for the day

[brownairwolf]

At didcot a Railway Experience Day (Tender engine either 5051 Earl Bathurst (Castle) or 3822 heavy freight tender) cost £250, A Tank Engine Experience Day ( one of the smaller GW engines 4144 or another) £185. Well worth it. Depending on numbers you could have up to 40 mins driving and the same time firing and guarding.