COURSE TIMETABLE

10:00am Arrive at the main reception where you will be met and accompanied to the Orion Pullman Carriage for a safety briefing and theory session over coffee – and order your takeaway lunch from our canteen menu, which serves freshly made food to our whole site.

After that, you will prepare, learn the controls and steam-up the engine.

Before lunch, (if all goes well!), there should be an opportunity to try your hand at driving the engine, with full guidance and advice from your instructor, who sits behind you with ‘dual controls’ – just in case. There is a clear, social distancing screen, between you and the instructor, who can relay instructions to you via a cab radio if required.

12:45pm If you have guests joining you now, please ask them to meet you at White Falls Platform where your pre-ordered takeaway lunch(es) will be given to you to enjoy the gardens together whilst you re-energise yourself for the afternoon’s excitement!

13:30pm After lunch, you will be coupling up to a set of coaches and driving yourself and your guests on a few trips on the fully signalled, mile long ‘mainline’ with wonderful views.

Finally, there is ‘disposal’ – how to clean up and leave your locomotive safe for the night, during which time your guests may wait in the gardens for you.  Your day will finish at around mid-afternoon.

10:00am Arrive at the main reception where you will be met and accompanied to the Orion Pullman Carriage for a safety briefing and introductory session over coffee – and order your takeaway lunch(es) from our canteen menu, which serves tasty, freshly made food to our whole site.

After that, you will prepare and steam up the engine.

11:30am Organise and commence ‘Trip Freight’’ workings around the Beer Heights system.

12.45pm We will stop for lunch when you can enjoy the gardens whilst you re-energise yourself for the afternoon’s further excitement!

13:30pm After lunch, you will continue to deliver the goods around the site, eventually assembling all the wagons back at the yard.

Finally, there is ‘disposal’ – clean up and leave your locomotive safe for the night. Following a de-brief your day will finish at around mid- afternoon.

13.30 Arrive at the main reception where you will be met and accompanied to the BHLR Upsan Downs Depot for a safety briefing and short theory session over coffee.

After that, there will be a familiarisation session with the locomotive, its controls, and their operation.

You will then couple up to a train and take the engine out on the mainline, under direct supervision of the instructor. (Your guests may join you for this)

Finally, there is ‘disposal’ – shunt your train away, clean up and leave your locomotive safe for the night, during which time your guests may wait in the gardens for you. Your day will finish at around 1630 hrs.

Is there an age limit?

Yes, participants must be 18 years or over.

Do I need special clothing?

Cotton overalls (or a jacket and over-trousers) are essential to protect your clothing, along with stout boots – safety type preferable. (Trainers are not suitable). A waterproof jacket is also useful in case of poor weather. Suitable gloves will be provided.

Can I book on behalf of someone else?

Yes, this course makes an ideal gift.

How physically demanding is the course?

Participants need to possess a reasonable degree of physical and mental agility and to be able to comply with both verbal and graphic instruction. However, we cannot make assumptions or judgements about a person’s abilities without being informed of their circumstances and needs. The locomotive used has a ‘sit in’ cab which requires some flexibility to enter and egress. If in doubt, please ring us to discuss the above.

1. The PECO Factory Tour is wheelchair-accessible; however, participants must be able to independently control their wheelchair or be accompanied by a carer. Please note that the site is extremely steep in places, particularly at Pecorama, and this should be considered when booking. We are happy to make reasonable adjustments in accordance with the Equality Act 2010; please contact us in advance to discuss specific accessibility needs. 2.Children over the age of 10 may only enter the factory premises if accompanied by an adult. Children under the age of 10 are not permitted to enter the factory for safety reasons. Parents, guardians, and group leaders are responsible for the supervision and behaviour of minors throughout the visit. 3. School classes must be accompanied by a minimum of two responsible adults per group. 4. Closed shoes must be worn during the tour. Steel toecap overshoes will be provided and must be worn when entering the tooling room. 5. Photography and filming are only permitted at specified points during the tour, as directed by staff. 6. Animals are not allowed in the facility, with the exception of registered assistance dogs. 7. The consumption of food and beverages is not permitted during the tour. Smoking, including the use of e-cigarettes or vapes, is strictly prohibited. 8. All visitors must follow the safety instructions and emergency procedures provided by PECO staff at all times. 9. Current global events can have a significant influence on our production. As a result, tours may be cancelled for operational reasons. Should this occur, we will offer an alternative date or arrange a refund as soon as possible. 10. PECO reserves the right to change or cancel bookings at any time due to unforeseen circumstances. In such cases, alternative dates will be offered or a full refund provided. This does not affect your statutory rights. 11. If you need to cancel or amend your booking, please contact us at least 48 hours in advance. Refunds or rescheduling may be offered at PECO’s discretion, unless otherwise required under consumer law. 12. While we take every reasonable precaution to ensure your safety, PECO cannot accept liability for any personal injury, loss, or damage to personal property unless caused by our negligence or a breach of statutory duty. 13. PECO shall not be held liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, extreme weather, strikes, pandemics, or government restrictions. 14. Personal data collected during the booking process will be handled in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). For more information, please refer to our Privacy Policy.