This is a unique opportunity to view the 21-mile line from a totally different perspective. You will travel in the cab of the DMMU with the driver on one of our scheduled passenger trains along the line. During the trip your driver will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the line, operation of the controls or the techniques employed in driving a Diesel Mechanical Multiple Unit.

Whilst sharing a 'driver's eye view' of signals, points and stations we're confident the experience will be a memorable one! The approximate journey time is 1hr 50min. The experience starts and ends at Tenterden Station

This experience is available on many days throughout the year, a list of available dates will be sent to you for a choice of date & time to be selected. Open to all 18 - 70 years.
Click here for a large image of cab interior

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An exclusive opportunity for railway enthusiasts to spend a day with a knowledgeable guide behind the scenes at England's finest rural light railway.

Upon arrival at Tenterden Station you'll meet up to five like-minded enthusiasts and your guide for the day. Starting with introductions and a safety briefing, Hi-Viz vests will be issued for appropriate use during the day. Following this, there's a visit to the Tenterden-based Carriage and Wagon workshop. Here you'll see craftsmen at work on the current restoration projects together with regular maintenance and ongoing repairs. In November 2010 the workshop benefitted from a large extension so you'll be one of the first to inspect this new facility.

The first train departure of the day will take you to Rolvenden station, home to the railway's locomotive engineering facility. Here you'll get up close and personal with our fleet of locomotives and have unique access to see staff working with heavy engineering that keeps the railways loco's rolling. A tour of the Rolvenden site includes the loco yard and a visit to the signal box and culminates in a timely fashion to enable you to watch from track level the watering of the 11:42 ex Bodiam steam service. Then it's all aboard this train back to Tenterden for lunch in our restaurant.

A visit to the Colonel Stephen's museum is straight after lunch whereupon we take you on the 2:20pm departure from Tenterden to experience the whole 21-mile round trip.

Arriving back at Tenterden at 4:15pm there's time for questions and a de-briefing over a cup of tea or coffee before the day ends at approximately 4:45pm.


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Enjoy a fully operational day in an authentic Southern Region Signalbox with a qualified signalman who will allow you a 'hands-on' experience of what's involved to operate the K&ESR safely. An initial safety and etiquette briefing is quickly followed by despatching one or two light engines for the day's duty. The principles of interlocking and block working are examined before a packed lunch is delivered along with the token on the 1:15 ex Tenterden steam service. The signaller will explain and demonstrate where possible the variety of his/her role and features of the afternoon session can include allowing the locomotives to water, the re-coaling of bunkers and token exchanges. Participants each receive a set of track and signal diagrams for each station on the line together with a certificate and souvenir mug at the end of the day.
This experience is available on many days throughout the year, a list of available dates will be sent to you for a choice of date to be selected or please indicate a date in the box below and we'll try to accomodate the request. Open to all 18 - 70 years. In order to fully enjoy the experience, you should be healthy, reasonably fit, with good eyesight and hearing. In order to avoid disappointment on the day, please advise us here of any health issues. Before confirming your booking a representative with detailed knowledge of the experience day will contact you to discuss your exact needs.
Click here for an exterior shot of Rolvenden Signalbox

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Having mastered the basic techniques with an ‘introduction' course, why not try an ‘intermediate’ experience? You will drive a train from Rolvenden to Northiam and back under the careful supervision of your instructor. You will gain first-hand experience of operating a locomotive on part of one of the most challenging lines in the Country, through varied countryside and on gradients of up to 1: 65.

Please ring the Sales Office on 01580 765155 or visit our website for more details.

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Having mastered the basic techniques with an ‘introduction’ course, why not try an ‘advanced’ experience? You will drive a goods train from Tenterden to Bodiam and back under the careful supervision of your instructor. You will gain first hand experience of operating a locomotive on one of the most challenging lines in the Country, through varied countryside and on gradients of up to 1:49.
Please ring the Sales Office on 01580 765155 for more details.

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