Tanfield Railway Launches Steam Driver Experiences

Tanfield Railway, the world’s oldest railway, is offering visitors the rare opportunity to step onto the footplate and take control of one its industrial steam locomotives with the launch of its new Steam Driver Experiences.

These hands-on sessions place participants at the controls of the railway’s unique fleet of industrial locomotives, including the iconic Sir Cecil A Cochrane and Keighley Corporation Gas Dept No.2. Unlike the sleek express engines, these "workhorses of the North" were built for raw power and grit. Manufactured by legendary Tyneside firms such as Robert Stephenson and Hawthorn Leslie, these engines provide a real life glimpse into the North East’s industrial past.

Each 40-minute session under the expert guidance of a qualified crew allows "trainees" to learn the art of driving a living, breathing machine. The experience is no Sunday stroll; participants will have to master the regulator to tackle the demanding 1-in-40 grades that have challenged engine crews for centuries. To complete the immersion, participants will don traditional footplate attire, including a flat cap and boiler suit, to truly feel part of the crew.

"Our experience packages have been incredibly popular over the past few years, and the response from the public has been nothing short of fantastic," says Euan Sharp, Tanfield Railway’s Visitor Experience Lead. "However, the Steam Driver Experience is the one we’ve been working so hard to offer, and I’m thrilled it’s finally here. It provides a true, hands-on experience of our industrial railway heritage, and you never know, we might even get a few more volunteers out of it too!"

Included with the experience is a special Tanfield goody bag and Complimentary Day Travel for the participant and one guest, allowing them to enjoy unlimited train travel for the remainder of the day.

Dates for these experiences are limited and expected to sell out quickly. Online booking is available now at www.tanfield-railway.co.uk. Dates are currently scheduled for May 25, July 5, August 1, and August 31. Participants must be aged 21 or over and meet basic fitness requirements to access the locomotive cab.

Laying claim to the title of the world's oldest railway, the Tanfield Railway follows a route first established as a wooden waggonway in 1725 to transport coal from the Tanfield area to the River Tyne. Today, Tanfield is a vibrant living museum, preserving the atmosphere of the 1920–1950 industrial era. Visitors can explore Marley Hill Engine Shed, the oldest working engine shed in the world, in use since 1854, and walk across the iconic Causey Arch, the world’s oldest surviving single-span railway bridge. The railway remains a labour of love, operated and maintained almost entirely by a dedicated team of volunteers.