What is a footplate experience?

What is a footplate experience?

This experience includes a full round-trip on the line – duration around 1 hour. Whatever the special occasion, a footplate experience will create memories to last a lifetime. Availability: Any day when trains are running.

Can you drive a steam train?

Driving a steam locomotive requires years of practice and apprenticeship, along with knowledge of the route. For those who might sit in the engineer’s seat of a museum steam engine, and wonder what they actually did to run it, here’s what you’d have had to do.

What do steam train drivers wear?

Comfortable casual clothing suitable for the weather is key. If you’re driving a steam train you will probably be given overalls to wear and other protective items like gloves will be provided for you.

What is the footplate on a train?

A footplate provides the structure on which a locomotive driver and fireman stand in the cab to operate a British or continental European steam locomotive. It comprises a large metal plate that rests on top of the locomotive frame, usually it is covered with wooden floorboards.

How do train drivers know where to go?

The railways use a train detection systems which can tell signallers exactly where every train is and how fast they are going. There are also systems that can automatically stop trains if the driver doesn’t take the correct course of action or passes through a red signal.

How many people drive a steam train?

two people
A steam locomotive is normally controlled from the boiler’s backhead, and the crew is usually protected from the elements by a cab. A crew of at least two people is normally required to operate a steam locomotive.

How long can a train driver drive for?

Working hours are subject to what are known as the Hidden Regulations* which specify that you cannot work a shift longer than twelve hours and then only if there is no driving involved after the eleventh hour. You must also have a minimum of twelve hours off between shifts.

Why do trains idle all night?

Engines may be left idling to maintain important safety related functions such as maintaining engine temperature, air pressure for the brake system, the integrity of the starting systems, the electrical system and providing heating or cooling to a train’s crew and/or passengers.

Where do train engineers go to the bathroom?

Other than a refrigerator/watercooler and a bathroom there are almost zero ammenities on a locomotive. Only way a engineer can go to bathroom is by stopping his train or if the conductor is a certified engineer he could run for while.