Steam Locomotive Driving Experience

With the completion of the restoration of “Peter” the Museum is at long last able to offer its Steam Locomotive Driving Experience on the railway. To test it out, our new Director, Paul Hashfield (on the right in the picture), was put through his paces (or was he putting us through ours?) on Sunday 19 July along with Sonia Oakey, one of the railway volunteers. The date had originally been set for the winner of the prize in last year’s Friends’ Prize Draw as, of course, with “Peter” out of action, this could not be offered immediately. The winner was not able to make the date hence the participation of the Director and an existing volunteer. However, the time was not wasted as it enabled us to iron any small problems and, of course, enabled Paul to see exactly what the course entails. Both students enjoyed their day immensely. Dates for the courses to be run in 2010 are:- Our steam locomotive driving course dates for 2010 are:- Sunday 18 July (Fully booked) Sunday 29 August (Fully booked) Sunday 5 September (Fully booked) Sunday 26 September (Fully booked) Sunday 3 October (Fully booked) Cost is £150.00 per person. If you want to know more about the course then please use the Museum's on-line enquiry form. Head your enquiry "Steam Loco Driving Experience" and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. So here are the pictures. The course tutor is John Stanton. First a quick trundle around the industrial line and triangle. Slowly through the facing points. John explains the workings of the steam injectors. A short pause at Redcar Sidings Paul prepares to take Peter up the Pottery line. Through the 3-way point ..... ..... and back again. This is followed with a bit of practice with some wagons. And it's important to keep the fire going too. Out on to the main line - of course we have a longer line available now. Peter awaits the passenger train to clear the single line to Cragside. To round off the day our two pupils climbed aboard Cloister for that souvenir photo opportunity. More satisfied customers. The pictures from the old course can still be viewed HERE.