LYDNEY TRAIN FIELD GUIDE
Take the Controls: Drive a Heritage Diesel from Lydney through the Forest of Dean
A hands-on course on the Dean Forest Railway that pairs workshop and museum tours with a guided safety briefing and time at the controls of a heritage diesel.
Take the Controls: Drive a Heritage Diesel from Lydney through the Forest of Dean.
On the Dean Forest Railway out of Lydney, the Diesel Driving Experience hands you a rare piece of living machinery: a heritage diesel locomotive routed along a classic Great Western branch. The program blends behind-the-scenes tours of the workshop, engine yard and museum with a formal safety briefing before you ride and then take the controls, letting you trade the spectator’s view for the perspective from the cab.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Behind-the-Scenes Access
The day begins with guided tours of the workshop, engine yard and the railway museum, offering a close look at restoration work and the mechanical heart of the heritage line.
Hands-On Locomotive Time
After a safety briefing and a brake-van run to Lydney Junction, participants are introduced to the crew and spend the central portion of the experience actually driving the diesel for the full length of the line to Parkend and back.
Brake Van and Guard Experience
Friends and family can ride in the brake van for the outbound and return trips, and participants may also assist the guard on the final leg for a fuller sense of running the train.
What the day feels like
What it feels like in the cab
The day moves at a measured pace: an introduction and safety briefing, a short brake-van ride to Lydney Junction, then a concentrated block of time behind the controls with the operator’s driver and secondman alongside. It’s direct, mechanical and immersive—guided instruction lets novices apply throttle and brake under supervision while the branch-line scenery of the Forest of Dean slips by.
THE WORKSHOP
Behind-the-Scenes Access
The day begins with guided tours of the workshop, engine yard and the railway museum, offering a close look at restoration work and the mechanical heart of the heritage line.
THE DRIVE
Hands-On Locomotive Time
After a safety briefing and a brake-van run to Lydney Junction, participants are introduced to the crew and spend the central portion of the experience actually driving the diesel for the full length of the line to Parkend and back.
THE RIDE
Brake Van and Guard Experience
Friends and family can ride in the brake van for the outbound and return trips, and participants may also assist the guard on the final leg for a fuller sense of running the train.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this suits—and who should look elsewhere.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
You are welcome to bring friends and family to ride in the brake van; up to four guests are included free of charge and additional guests can be accommodated at the operator’s standard ticket prices.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long does the Diesel Driving Experience take?
The full program runs for approximately 3.5 hours, encompassing tours, the safety briefing, the driving session and the return trip.
Do I need prior driving experience to take part?
No previous experience is required; guidance is provided and you can do as much or as little as you wish while supervised by the crew.
Where do participants meet for the experience?
Meet at the Dean Forest Railway (the operator’s depot) for the pre-drive tours and briefing.
Can I bring friends or family along?
Yes. Friends and family may travel on the brake van; four guests are included free and additional guests are accommodated at the operator’s standard ticket prices.
Are children or dogs allowed on the trip?
Children under 12 and dogs are not permitted to travel on this experience.
How much time will I spend actually driving?
The program includes a substantial driving block—about 90 minutes at the controls as part of the guided session.