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.