Swansea Vale Railway

Important Announcement
Passenger carrying duties have been canceled due to important engineering work being carried out on the railway,and with regret. for the foreseeable future.
Please ring 01792 461000 or 01554 749200 for up to date information.

You are invited to take this opportunity of our very popular Driver Experience Courses, on our 1914 built Rosyth No 1 Steam Loco. OR on a Vintage 3 car Diesel Multiple Unit

Our one day courses are extremely popular, and are designed to take you through all the tasks of footplate duties

We guarantee a day to remember, and what's more you receive a Certificate to prove
you did it.

An ideal way to celebrate a Birthday, Anniversary, or that special occasion. Courses start at Upper Bank in the morning at 10.00 and continues until 14.00 ( 2pm ) in the afternoon.

At Upper Bank, the recipient will be introduced to the crew, Driver, Fireman and Guard and given an introduction to the workings of a steam Locomotive and the Safety considerations which must be observed on the footplate, the track and the immediate surroundings of the Locomotive. Having joined the Fireman on the footplate, the Driver will demonstrate the workings of the different levers and hand wheels which control the operation of the locomotive. The Fireman in the meantime has been carrying out his duties adding coal to the fire bringing the steam up to pressure. The locomotive will then be driven out of the loco shed, pick up available coach stock or wagons and propel them up to Nantyffin Road Station approximately 1.3/4 miles. From there the trainee will take over the control's of the locomotive and drive the train over the full length of the track as many time as he/she wishes.

After lunch the trainee will continue with his/hers drivers experience culminating at Upper Bank Loco Shed where he/she may assist in dropping the fire and cleaning out the ash box and finally putting the loco to bed.

Finally, if the organizer of the event would wish to invite family and friends we would be able to accommodate up to 20 guests for a nominal fee between 12.30 and 2.pm.

The Driver experience course on our Vintage 3 car D.M.U. Set is another very enjoyable experience, although, it is not so hot and dusty, and you do not have to wear gloves and overalls, the machine is a formidable beast to master and control in a short space of time. As with our Steam Driver Experience Course our Chief Diesel Driving Instructor will demonstrate the controls in the Driving Cab and also the responsibility of the driver to observe at all times the safety of his train, the track and immediate surroundings before setting off. The driver will introduce you to the train Guard, who will explain his/her duties on the day.

Having completed all the preliminaries, the train will move off from the shed at Upper Bank to Nantyffin Road Station approximatly1.3/4 miles where the recipient will take over the controls and drive as many times as possible the full length of the track.

At the end of (I am sure a very enjoyable day) the train will be driven back to Upper Bank and as we say "put to bed".

Finally if the organizer wishes to invite family and friends.we would be able accommodate 20 guests for a small donation between 12.30 and 1.30pm