Tornado Driving Experience (Nottinghamshire)

On Saturday 27th June, take the rare opportunity to drive and fire the legendary locomotive, Tornado, along the Great Central Railway (Nottingham).

On a return journey between Ruddington and Loughborough, you will be on the footplate for 16 miles (eight driving, eight firing). The journey itself takes around 75 minutes. Skilled instructors will show you the controls, brief you on how to control the locomotive and monitor your progress.

Once you have returned, you can explore the wider Transport Heritage Centre at Ruddington. 

The Great Central Railway was once a famous stomping ground of London & North Eastern Railway-designed pacific express engines like Tornado. 

The locomotive has many claims to fame. It was the first major steam locomotive constructed in Britain for decades when it was completed in 2008, operated at 100mph on the mainline and appeared in the Paddington 2 movie. 

The very limited spaces available offer you the opportunity to say "I did that"!

Important Notes:

• Participants cannot be accompanied by guest such as partners on the journey - but photographs will be taken to prove you did it, and then you can explore the site together. 
• Participants must be 18 or over, and physically fit enough to board / alight the locomotive using vertical steps from the ground.
• Please arrive around 30 minutes before your session begins for a safety briefing.
• The locomotive will be "light engine" - IE without carriages.