The Ultimate Birthday Gift
Martello stands briefly at Isfield Station while awaiting her next driver.
The Introductory Course
Clive's one day Introductory steam engine driving courses are run at the Lavender Line most Saturdays throughout the year. There are two instructors; Clive Groome (an ex Nine Elms driver), and Mike Blackburn. Both are drivers on the Lavender Line and on other preserved railways around the country.
Wraithed in steam, No. 662 'Martello' makes ready for another trip up the line. |
The day begins at 8.30 a.m. in the 'Cinders' buffet where course members meet for a cup of tea, a brief safety talk and basic loco management lecture. After this, the engine comes into the platform where there is some time for further discussion and general familiarisation before course members take their turn to mount the footplate and drive the engine for the first time.
| 'Martello''s Footplate: Having identified the brake and handled the reverser and regulator, you move the engine while allowing for gradients and watching for signals from the guard. Gradually you will gain confidence and competence with the adjustment of the reverser and the braking techniques required. |
Clive explains the workings of the various controls to 'Martello''s next driver. |
During the lunch break, which is usually from about 1.00 pm, lunch is provided in the 'Cinders' buffet at Isfield station. The buffet is open all day and friends and family are very welcome to join the course participants for lunch or at any other time. Throughout the day there will also be ample opportunities for family members to look over the engine and take photographs or videos.
| Off we go again... Lunch is over and 'Martello' is back in action. |
| Next please...: Course members gather round to compare notes as the next driver gets ready to board the footplate. |
| Summer in the South: An ex London Brighton and South Coast Railway engine at an ex LBSCR Station. What better way to spend a summers day than at the controls of one of the South's best loved classes of steam engine. |
| More than a centenarian: The 'Terrier' class A1 0-6-0Ts were built at Brighton works to the designs of William Stroudley between 1872 and 1880. Many of these diminutive yet powerful engines, 'Martello' included, were rebuilt with a larger boiler in 1911 by Douglas Earle Marsh and were thus redesignated Class A1X. |
The day ends at around 4.30 p.m. back at Isfield station. During the day your aptitude and skills will have been assessed and your performance recorded. A special certificate will be sent to you along with your assessment, which can be included in a log book should you decide to expand your knowledge with further courses. The fee for the day driving a steam engine is £235.00, this includes lunch and a year's membership of the Lavender Line.
For further information: Please call Clive or Sue on (01903) 207 587 or email us with your query.
For course availability see our vacancies page.
| Gift Certificates: If the course is a present for someone else, Gift Certificates are available on request. You can either choose a specific date or ask for a 'To Be Arranged' certificate, which leaves the date open to be chosen by the course member at a later date (ideal if it is a surprise present!). |
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