Intrepid2: Q About Your Steam Train Driving
Feb 16th, 2006, 12:33 PM
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Intrepid2: Q About Your Steam Train Driving
Since you're on now how about illuminating a thing you mentioned a few days ago about going to UK this spring to learn how to drive a steam train. This sounds so intriguing - where, how much, etc.
Sincerely PB
Sincerely PB
Feb 17th, 2006, 09:29 AM
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I am taking the two-day course on the Bure Valley Railway (BVRR). I fly to London on 18 April and will stay in the city until Friday 21 April. Taking the train to Norwich on the morning of the 21st where I will rent a car; staying in a local hotel in Norwich.
The course is based at the Aylsham terminus of the BVRR and runs all day Saturday and Sunday. I'll spend Sunday night in Norwich and train back to London on Monday the 24th for one more night; leaving from Gatwick on the afternoon of 25 April.
The cost of the course is 250 Pounds.
If this goes well I will probably return and take what I believe is a five-day course in Yorkshire...probably in 2007.
The course is based at the Aylsham terminus of the BVRR and runs all day Saturday and Sunday. I'll spend Sunday night in Norwich and train back to London on Monday the 24th for one more night; leaving from Gatwick on the afternoon of 25 April.
The cost of the course is 250 Pounds.
If this goes well I will probably return and take what I believe is a five-day course in Yorkshire...probably in 2007.
Feb 17th, 2006, 09:43 AM
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Intrepid1 - jealous with envy - though steam trains aren't necessarily my bag to drive any train would be a dream. Good luck and we expect a full report.
Below is my response to someone a few days ago going round-trip to Norwich - i'll repeat as it seems the LondonPlus pass may save you money - use it both ways on Gatwick Express and to Norwich and back. You might check www.nationalrail.co.uk again as i made just a quick search and may have missed some cheaper Norwich fares.
Author: PalQ
Date: 02/15/2006, 04:33 pm
I just visited Norwich last December for the first time and it's a lovely town in a bucolic region - a great base for visiting nearby Cambridge, Ely and the coastal areas. I used a LondonPlus railpass which you should strongly consider if you are going there twice or more or doing any other train trips in 100-mile radius of London. For example a 2 day (unlimited travel midnight-midnight) pass good for any two days of travel in an 8-day period - the so-called flexipass, costs just $70 or $35 a day. A 4 day flexi our 8 days $132 or $33/day - or 7 days out of 15 days costs $176 or $25/day - in second class - first class passes for same durations cost about 40% more.
Here are fares London-Norwich from www.nationalrail.co.uk (where you can get schedules and fares for all UK trains):
APEX single = 19.50 pounds or about $35 - this requires 7 days advance purchase and is largely non-refundable, non-changeable for the specific train you select - no flexibility
this is the cheapest one way fare - do this 4 times = $140 or $8 more than the $132 pass which can be used as a walk up basis on any train any time - no need for reservations just show up.
An open one way fare for walk up use if 35.80 pounds! or $63!
1st class one way has a single price of 57 pounds or over $100!
Thus the pass can save lots of money and give you flexibility. You can also use it on the Gatwick Express from Gatwick airport and if you do this the same day you go to Norwich it's all on one day of a pass (Gatwick Express costs 14 pounds or $25.
For details on the pass i always recommend BETS (800-441-2387; www.budgeteuropetravel.com) who i've dealt with for years - they're British rail experts and though they work thru RailEurope as nearly all agents do and who markets this pass (not sold in UK) they don't charge RailEurope's handling fees. Ask for their excellent free European Planning & Rail Guide that has a good chapter of English trains and places to go.
http://www.visitnorwich.co.uk/
Below is my response to someone a few days ago going round-trip to Norwich - i'll repeat as it seems the LondonPlus pass may save you money - use it both ways on Gatwick Express and to Norwich and back. You might check www.nationalrail.co.uk again as i made just a quick search and may have missed some cheaper Norwich fares.
Author: PalQ
Date: 02/15/2006, 04:33 pm
I just visited Norwich last December for the first time and it's a lovely town in a bucolic region - a great base for visiting nearby Cambridge, Ely and the coastal areas. I used a LondonPlus railpass which you should strongly consider if you are going there twice or more or doing any other train trips in 100-mile radius of London. For example a 2 day (unlimited travel midnight-midnight) pass good for any two days of travel in an 8-day period - the so-called flexipass, costs just $70 or $35 a day. A 4 day flexi our 8 days $132 or $33/day - or 7 days out of 15 days costs $176 or $25/day - in second class - first class passes for same durations cost about 40% more.
Here are fares London-Norwich from www.nationalrail.co.uk (where you can get schedules and fares for all UK trains):
APEX single = 19.50 pounds or about $35 - this requires 7 days advance purchase and is largely non-refundable, non-changeable for the specific train you select - no flexibility
this is the cheapest one way fare - do this 4 times = $140 or $8 more than the $132 pass which can be used as a walk up basis on any train any time - no need for reservations just show up.
An open one way fare for walk up use if 35.80 pounds! or $63!
1st class one way has a single price of 57 pounds or over $100!
Thus the pass can save lots of money and give you flexibility. You can also use it on the Gatwick Express from Gatwick airport and if you do this the same day you go to Norwich it's all on one day of a pass (Gatwick Express costs 14 pounds or $25.
For details on the pass i always recommend BETS (800-441-2387; www.budgeteuropetravel.com) who i've dealt with for years - they're British rail experts and though they work thru RailEurope as nearly all agents do and who markets this pass (not sold in UK) they don't charge RailEurope's handling fees. Ask for their excellent free European Planning & Rail Guide that has a good chapter of English trains and places to go.
http://www.visitnorwich.co.uk/
Feb 17th, 2006, 10:01 AM
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Actually, I got an Apex fare R/T to Norwich from Liverpool Street for 20 Pounds. I deeply appreciate your recommendations for tickets/passes etc. I'm going to be using a travel pass while in London for Tube riding. I know the busses are "faster" and you can "see more" from them according to some folks but they obviously don't share the allure of RAIL travel so I am very happily "wasting" my money!
In terms of rail travel, I much prefer to travel behind electricity rather than steam but I've also been fascinated by having an actual "footplate" experience and there is a plethora of these driver's courses in the UK...I had some difficulty deciding which one to take. Unfortunately none of them are "under wire" and if there was one I would definitely have signed up and regardless of the expense.
The one in Yorkshire is much much more expensive but it is also much longer and the locomotives used are much larger. The BVRR is a 15" narrow ga. route and I thought this would be a good way to start out.
In terms of rail travel, I much prefer to travel behind electricity rather than steam but I've also been fascinated by having an actual "footplate" experience and there is a plethora of these driver's courses in the UK...I had some difficulty deciding which one to take. Unfortunately none of them are "under wire" and if there was one I would definitely have signed up and regardless of the expense.
The one in Yorkshire is much much more expensive but it is also much longer and the locomotives used are much larger. The BVRR is a 15" narrow ga. route and I thought this would be a good way to start out.
