Explore, Experience and Enjoy…

Name: Afternoon Tea onboard a Steam Train in Tunbridge Wells
Start: 2026-08-22T15:30:00+01:00
End: 2026-12-19T17:30:00+00:00
Location: Spa Valley Railway

all the Wonders of the Weald

Steam Driver Experience!

828 Locomotive at Spa Valley Railway Tunbridge Wells v2

2025 dates now on sale!

Drive a steam engine at the Spa Valley Railway!
We’re delighted to bring you the opportunity of driving a real life steam locomotive during the evenings at the Spa Valley Railway and have two exciting packages for you to consider as the perfect gift for someone or the opportunity to have a go at it yourself, everyone loves a steam locomotive after all!

Steam Train Driver Experience:
This experience takes place on Sunday mornings from Tunbridge Wells West where you’ll get the chance to drive a train from Tunbridge Wells West to Groombridge and return, with a little ‘light engine’ trip to Birchden Junction too.

What’s involved?
Arrive at Tunbridge Wells West for 11:00 and meet the Driver and Fireman who will welcome you onto the footplate of one of these magnificant machines, either Bulleid Pacific 34053 ‘303 Squadron’ or Caledonian Railway No. 828. You are welcome to bring up to four guests with you on this experience, one of which can also ride on the footplate during the experience too! You’ll set off from Tunbridge Wells West at 11:15 sharp heading for Groombridge with a rake of carriages in tow, at Groombridge the fireman will uncouple the locomotive from the carriages and you’ll set off ‘light engine’ to Birchden Junction.

Upon arrival at Birchden Junction you’ll change direction and return to Groombridge to pick up the carriages and with the locomotive coupled back up, the brake test completed with the Guard you’ll set off for Tunbridge Wells West again, this time climbing the hill back to the famous Spa town. Upon arrival you’ll alight from the footplate having driven one of these mighty machines through the glorious High Weald and completed a life long dream of driving a steam locomotive.

What’s included:

Drive of a steam locomotive from Tunbridge Wells West to Groombridge and return with carriages.
Drive of a steam locomotive from Groombridge to Birchden Junction and return ‘light engine’.
Space for up to four guests to travel on the carriages, one of your guests can travel on the footplate with you too!
Free travel on any other Spa Valley Railway train services operating that day.
A goody bag to remember your time with us at the end of the experience.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Steam Locomotive Driver Experience:
This experience takes place on Sunday afternoons from Tunbridge Wells West where you’ll get the chance to drive a steam locomotive ‘light engine’ (on its own, without carriages) to Birchden Junction and return.

What’s involved?
Arrive at Tunbridge Wells West for 15:00 and meet the Driver and Fireman who will welcome you onto the footplate of one of our beautiful steam locomotives, either Bulleid Pacific 34053 ‘303 Squadron’ or Caledonian Railway No. 828. You are welcome to bring one guest with you on this experience who can ride on the footplate with you too! You’ll set off from Tunbridge Wells West at 15:15 sharp heading for Birchden Junction with just the locomotive on its own.

You’ll drift gently down the line seeing parts of the stunning High Weald that are not visible from any road, but what better way to see them, than from the footplate of a steam locomotive? Deer and birds of prey are often seen around the countryside and the Weald hides many of its secrets until late afternoon so who knows what you’ll get to see as you journey down the line.

Upon arrival at Birchden Junction under the gaze of Harrison’s Rocks you’ll change direction and return to Tunbridge Wells West this time plodding back up the hill back to the famous Spa town, the fireman gently keeping the fire alive as upon arrival back at our orignal steam depot you can observe disposal begin at the end of the day if you wish or head on your way home after living the dream, from the footplate.

What’s included:

Drive of a steam locomotive from Tunbridge Wells West to Birchden Junction and return ‘light engine’.
Space for up to one guest to travel on the footplate with you too!
Free travel on any other Spa Valley Railway train services operating that day.
A goody bag to remember your time with us at the end of the experience.

Please note the following/terms and conditions applicable to ALL Driver Experiences for the participants and any guests riding on the footplate:

They must be aged 18 or over and in good health.
All steam locomotives and units are subject to availability, we cannot guarantee a specific one on a specific day.
Only one guest is permitted on the locomotive at anytime.
You or the participant must be able to climb a 6ft vertical ladder to gain access to the locomotives footplate.
You must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Non-flammable clothing that covers both arms and legs plus strong footwear are required – we recommend steel toe capped boots.
The Spa Valley reserves the right to cancel or suspend a driver experience if the participant is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs or is seen to be physically not fit enough to undertake the experience.
Please do bring your phone so you can take photos.
We reserve the right to alter the contents of a driver experience (including locomotives / units) without prior warning, this may be as a result of failure but we’ll always do our best to ensure your experience goes ahead without issue.
Please make sure you arrive 15-minutes prior to the time shown on your eTicket.
Locomotives or units are all subject to availability, some of which are over 125yrs old and from time to time suffer failures – we therefore reserve the right to alter the locomotive used on any driver experience be it steam or diesel.