Footplate Experience 2007

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We are pleased to offer a choice of two footplate experiences, giving you the chance to drive one of our historic locomotives.

• Full Day Footplate Experience
  Available all year round except during peak services (green and pink timetables).
  Cost: £550.00
• Daylight Evening Footplate Experience
  Available from April to September.
  Cost: £275.00

Footplate experiences can be run on dates to suit participants, subject to there not being other bookings or special trains operating. Please contact us for dates at or:

Talyllyn Railway
Wharf Station
Tywyn
Gwynedd
LL36 9EY

Phone 01654 710472
Fax 01654 711755

For all experiences, single-line operation safety requirements apply and tokens are exchanged at every block post. This allows practice at stopping and starting the train. During breaks it will be possible to discuss the history of the line, its operation and its continued development - the questions are yours to ask. At least three, fully qualified Talyllyn Railway members (a Driver, Fireman and Guard) will accompany the train and its party at all times. The experience may be tailored to your special event - a birthday surprise, for example - and we will do our utmost to accommodate any special requirements that fit with you or the occasion.

The above experiences are available to fit persons aged between 18 and 69 on the day of their experience - we regret that these Footplate Experiences are not suitable for disabled persons. We ask that a simple health declaration be signed before any booking may be confirmed. We will be pleased to welcome you and your party to the Talyllyn Railway.

As you can perhaps appreciate, however, coal-fired steam locomotives are confined and relatively dirty places on which to work and travel. The Guest Driver should therefore please wear stout footwear ("Toetectors" - steel capped shoes/boots - if at all possible) and some form of protective overall (a non-nylon boiler suit or "bib and brace"). The cost of up to 3 people accompanying the guest driver travelling in the train is included in the package. Any further people (up to a maximum of 15) may join the guest party at a price of £10.00 each to cover extra travel and refreshment costs.

As the railway is operated mainly by volunteers, we request that you give at least four weeks notice of a preferred date to ensure that we have a volunteer crew available for the event. We look forward to making this a memorable experience for you and your guests.

If you have any further questions or wish to make a booking, please contact us at or:

Talyllyn Railway
Wharf Station
Tywyn
Gwynedd
LL36 9EY

Phone 01654 710472
Fax 01654 711755