Full Day Driver Experience

  • Guest driver on footplate experienceThe Guest Driver arrives at Pendre Station, Tywyn, at 07:00hrs and is met by the driving instructor;
  • The Guest Driver is given a safety briefing, helps to prepare the loco and is shown around the works, blockpost and carriage sheds at Pendre;
  • Any accompanying guests must arrive at Pendre Station by 09:05 hrs. They are able to travel in a carriage of the special train which will otherwise not carry members of the general public;
  • The Guest Driver collects their train - a coal-fired steam locomotive and passenger carriages with Guard's van - at Pendre Station and under supervision drives the 7 miles to the end of the line at Nant Gwernol (scheduled to take about 50 minutes);
  • Water is taken on at Dolgoch Station on the outward journey where the Guest Driver will assist in the operation;
  • The loco is run round the carriages at Nant Gwernol by the instructing crew before the Guest Driver starts the return journey;
  • On the homeward journey, the train arrives at Abergynolwyn about 5 minutes after leaving Nant Gwernol. A refreshment break is taken here where a selection of biscuits, tea and coffee is provided;
  • The train, driven by the Guest Driver, leaves Abergynolwyn after the short refreshment break and arrives back at Pendre taking a further 40 minutes;
  • The loco is serviced (coaled and watered) and again run round at Pendre by the TR crew before setting off on a second outward trip to the end of the line - the Guest Driver will drive under supervision as before;
  • Water is again taken on at Dolgoch Station where the Guest Driver will assist;
  • On arrival at Abergynolwyn on the second homeward journey, a comfort break of approximately 10 minutes is taken where refreshments are collected which are then consumed within the train on its arrival at Quarry Siding;
  • All refreshments for the Guest Driver and up to three other guests will be provided (+ additional guests by arrangement). Lunch will consist of a selection of sandwiches, cakes and tea or coffee;
  • The train, driven by the Guest Driver, leaves Quarry Siding after the short refreshment break and arrives back at Pendre taking a further 30 minutes approx.;
  • The day experience finishes at Pendre Station at around 15:00hrs.

It may be possible to choose which locomotive is driven, depending upon which of our fleet of six steam locomotives is available at the time. The day course is available all year round except during peak services (green and pink timetables) - only one such course is available on any one day and this is booked on a first-come, first-served basis