Driving Experience Days
With The
South East Locomotive Group
Updated 14/12/11

33063 on the day it received its new name, "RJ Mitchell" and sporting a fresh repaint into 'Construction' triple grey, 3/9/05. photo B.Thomas/SELG
33063

HAVE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE, DRIVING AN Ex-B.R. CLASS 33 DIESEL ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE AT THE SPA VALLEY RAILWAY (TUNBRIDGE WELLS).

THE FEE IS ARRANGED TO SUIT YOU AND STARTS AT £495.
IT'S A FULL DAY'S TUITION AND IS, AS FAR AS WE KNOW, UNIQUE IN THAT THE DAY IS ALL ABOUT YOU. ONE TO ONE, YOU DO NOT SHARE THE LINE OR THE DAY WITH ANYONE ELSE, UNLESS YOU WISH TO, AND THEN IT'S WITH SOMEONE OF YOUR CHOICE!
PLEASE USE THE CONTACT DETAILS BELOW TO CHECK ON DATE AVAILABLITY, BOOKINGS AND GENERAL ENQUIRIES ON OUR 'DRIVING EXPERIENCE' DAYS.

ALSO INCLUSIVE IN THE FEE IS ONE YEAR'S MEMBERSHIP OF THE SPA VALLEY RAILWAY AND SOUTH EAST LOCOMOTIVE GROUP (INSURANCE COVER), TEA, COFFEE & BUFFET LUNCH.
A CERTIFICATE AND PHOTOGRAPHS ARE SENT TO YOU AFTERWARDS!

37254 NOTE: Driver Experience Days on the EE Type 3 37254 are administered and delivered by the owning group. They may be contacted via the CONTACT page on the group's website www.37254.co.uk

For more details / bookings,

email : driverATselg.co.uk    (copy & paste into your email "TO" field, change AT for @)
* link to SELG Website *

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Just imagine, THIS COULD BE YOU, sat in the driver's seat!
The SELG are continually striving to improve the Experience for "drivers". You have sole use of the Spa Valley Rly. line and subject to conditions and availability, the course covers various facets of a driver's experiences but will typically include:-
  • the use of a driver's bag for the day
  • trackside safety
  • preparing the loco
  • overview of locomotive's electrical and mechanical equipment
  • driving 'light-engine'
  • and with loose coupled and/or 'fitted' wagons, shunting as required
  • then try handling the coaching stock
  • Try your hand at coupling-up and making those potentially awkward brake pipe connections.
  • Find out about and get a 'feel' for the direct air brake and train brake.
  • Dispose of the locomotive.
With over 8 years know-how of 'driver experience' days and professional railwaymen as mentors supervising you (some of whom drove Class 33's on the mainline), you'll have the very best one-to-one tuition on what is involved in diesel driving. There's a lot more to it than meets the eye and you won't believe how quickly 6-7 hours can pass by!!

DON'T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT....
.....Testimony from very happy cutomers!

One very contented 'driver' who spent his day with us on the Spa Valley Rly. at the end of March 2005 wrote . . . . . . .
"I am writing to thank you for the super and enjoyable day that I had with you on the 'Driver Experience Course' driving 33 065 at the Spa Valley Railway last Weds - I found the course to be more than I had hoped - it was exciting and very informative....... and certainly a full day - And although I did not leave the Spa Valley until 20.30 - the day still went too quick for me - I think I could have stayed on for the night shift !!. I did not fully appreciate the work,time and effort that go's into keeping the two Crompton's in running order .............. would you please pass on my thanks again to all those at the Spa Valley Railway who helped make my day a good one.....

Note : the gentleman above refers to leaving the Spa V.R. at 2030 - this was due to his good fortune in being able to stay beyond the usual 1630/1700 finish time and get involved with some real, Spa VR shunting! 7 hours hands-on became near 10!

Come and put YOUR right hand on the power handle! It WILL put a smile on your face. Take charge of our 1550hp diesel

Extracts from the East Kent Rly. Newsletter

A gentleman from Crawley who had the driving experience day as a birthday present from his family, wrote to the Group thanking us for the day he had. In extracts from the letter published in the September 2002 E.K.R. Newsletter, he says:-

"On 11th May 2002 I had the great pleasure of experiencing the above day for my 60th birthday...... Having arrived at The East Kent Railway early, my first impression was favourable by the way the other members greeted me and gladly pointed me in the right direction...... when the formal introductions were completed I was shown round the Class 33 and allowed to start the engine...... there was a constant stream of questions and answers relating to marker lights, signals, flags and of course, safety......having moved a number of wagons and coaches, we took a break."
Before and after lunch, our guest went on to operate the Crompton, including further shunting manoeuvres and traversing the line to the limit of operations. The letter closes:-,
"I would like to say that I had a wonderful day on the railway and appreciate the hard work that was put in by your staff and other members of the railway. The 'instructors' turned out to be professional railwaymen and it showed. During the instruction periods their enthusiasm and knowledge was evident......"

In Februry 2003 Mr.Walker had the Experience and wrote back to us thanking us for the excellent day he had. He went on to say, " I had a great time last Saturday and . . . . admire all the work your Group and the Railway are doing. I was most impressed by the standards and professionalism shown. . . ."

Letters like these are very much appreciated by the S.E.L.G. and are praise, indeed, for the members who contribute to the making of a 'day to remember' for the enthusiast looking for something a bit different.