Driving Experience Days with the SELG

Driving Experience Days With The South East Locomotive Group
33065	33063
HAVE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE, DRIVING AN Ex-B.R. CLASS 33 DIESEL ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE AT THE SPA VALLEY RAILWAY (TUNBRIDGE WELLS). OTHER DIESEL LOCOs ARE ALSO AVAILABLE. (other loco's incur an additional fee, quotations on application. All locos and dates are subject to availability)

[subject to availability, there are up to 7 other diesels from which to choose]

class 73 electro-diesel	37254	class 12	class 10	class 09
	< Click on a picture for loco details, directly linked to the respective Spa VR website pages > opens in a seperate browser
'Thumper' DEMU	[photos courtesy of the Spa Valley Rly.]			Drewry 0-4-0
	ADDITIONAL LOCO NOTES AUG.08 33065 - unlikely to be available after 8/08 for a period of 5 years. 'Thumper' unit - due to the ongoing overhaul it is expected this will not become available again until late 2009. Class 10 - out of service for extended mtce.. Class 09 - out of service but nearing the end of current overhaul.

THE FEE IS ARRANGED TO SUIT YOU AND STARTS AT Ł325.
"IT'S A FULL DAY'S TUITION" AND IS ONLY ONE TO ONE, YOU DO NOT SHARE THE LINE OR THE DAY WITH ANYONE ELSE, UNLESS YOU
WISH TO! PLEASE CALL THE NUMBER BELOW FOR
AVAILABLE DATES FOR YOU TO TAKE PART IN THIS ACTIVITY. 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!

NOTE: If 37254 is selected as a loco of choice, the use of an additional loco will be required to perform shunt-release operations, due to 37254's length. Therefore, the fee for the use of 37254 starts at Ł395 which reflects the inclusion of the second loco.

For more details / bookings, phone
Chris Smith on : 01424 731103

or email : driver@selg.co.uk (copy & paste into your email "TO" field)

* 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 handle 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 professional railwaymen as mentors supervising you, 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 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.

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.

Red Cross