Driver Experience Courses at TSR

At Telford Steam Railway (TSR) we aim to provide memorable Driver Experience Courses based on hands on preparation, driving and firing of a steam locomotive and our unique steam tram. We are committed to providing as comprehensive an experience as possible bearing in mind that safety is our first concern and that we are at the mercy of the weather that sometimes affects the content of the day.

What to expect on your
Full Day Driver Experience Course

This course starts at 7am and finishes around 5pm.
By the end of the course we aim to give you a better understanding of:

1. Safe practice on the footplate and when working on a railway
2. The major parts of the locomotive/tram and what they do
3. How the locomotive/tram makes steam and uses it
4. The function of the main controls
5. How to fire the locomotive/tram and to refill the boiler
6. Starting and stopping the locomotive/tram safely and in the desired position on the track

In addition you may decide to get involved with lighting up the locomotive/tram which will give you a better understanding of:

1. The safety checks that precede lighting up the locomotive/tram
2. Preparing and lighting the fire
3. Oiling round the locomotive

The Full Day Course concentrates on manoeuvring and shunting, as well as running up and down the track which will give you an additional understanding of:

1. The safety issues involved in shunting stock and marshalling a train
2. Communication between the loco crew and the person shunting
3. Operation of the points (turnouts)
4. Buffering up and coupling/uncoupling stock

What to expect on your
Half Day Steam Engine Driver Course

This course starts at 7am and finishes around 1pm.
By the end of the course we aim to give you a better understanding of:

1. Safe practice on the footplate and when working on a railway
2. The major parts of the locomotive and what they do
3. How the locomotive makes steam and uses it
4. The function of the main controls
5. How to fire the locomotive and to refill the boiler
6. Starting and stopping the locomotive safely and in the desired position on the track

In addition you may decide to get involved with lighting up the locomotive which will give you a better understanding of:

1. The safety checks that precede lighting up the locomotive
2. Preparing and lighting the fire
3. Oiling round the locomotive

The Half Day Course concentrates on manoeuvring and shunting, as well as running up and down the track which will give you an additional understanding of:

1. The safety issues involved in shunting stock and marshalling a train
2. Communication between the loco crew and the person shunting
3. Operation of the points (turnouts)
4. Buffering up and coupling/uncoupling stock

What to expect on your
Half Day Diesel Driver Course

This course starts at 9am and finishes around 1pm.
By the end of the course we aim to give you a better understanding of:

1. Safe practice on the footplate and when working on a railway
2. The major parts of the diesel locomotive and what they do
3. How the engine drive is transferred to the wheels
4. The function of the main controls
5. How to drive the diesel locomotive
6. How to stop the locomotive safely and in the desired position on the track

The Half Day Diesel Course concentrates on manoeuvring and shunting, as well as running up and down the track which will give you an additional understanding of:

1. The safety issues involved in shunting stock and marshalling a train
2. Communication between the loco crew and the person shunting
3. Operation of the points (turnouts)
4. Buffering up and coupling/uncoupling stock

The course allows you to get involved with the preparation of the locomotive which will give you a better understanding of:

1. The checks that precede starting up the locomotive
2. Oiling round the locomotive

What to expect on your
Half Day Tram Driver Course

There are two options available:-
Morning Course: this starts at 8am and finishes around 12pm, and includes tram preparation.
Afternoon course: this starts at 2pm and finishes around 4pm.
By the end of the course we aim to give you a better understanding of:

1. Safe practice on the footplate and when working on a railway
2. The major parts of the steam tram and what each does
3. How the tram makes steam and uses it
4. The function of the main controls
5. How to fire the tram and to refill the boiler
6. Start and stop the tram safely and in the desired position on the track

In addition you may decide to get involved with oiling round the tram.

The morning course also offers the opportuninty to get involved with lighting up the tram, this will give you a better understanding of:

1. The safety checks that precede lighting up the tram
2. Preparing and lighting the fire

Clothing

We provide overalls and gloves but it is a good idea to wear old clothes and to either bring a change of clothes or something to cover the seat of your car for your homeward journey because we guarantee that you will get sooty and oily.

If you have steel toe-capped boots or shoes please bring them to wear on the day; if not please wear stout footwear.

What we expect from candidates

Please read our terms and conditions before booking one of our driver experience days. Candidates should be aware that the day will be quite strenuous; candidates should be fit enough to spend the day carrying out fairly physical activities in the confined space of the loco footplate, which is quite small on our industrial locomotives, and which on a hot summer's day gets very warm indeed.

Printable copy of Steam Engine and Steam Tram Full Day Course content.
Printable copy of Steam Engine Half Day Course content.
Printable copy of Steam Tram Half Day Course content.
Printable copy of Diesel Half Day Course content.

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