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Experience Diesel Driving at Rocks by Rail

For an opportunity to experience driving industrial machinery or diesel locomotives in Rutland, Rocks by Rail is the place!

If you have already visited Rocks by Rail, and they have whetted your appetite for ironstone and industrial heritage, maybe you still want to experience more! Maybe you have been on one of their ‘Driver For A Fiver’ days and have already got to grips with the controls of a diesel locomotive, and would like to try steam. Maybe you want to find a unique gift for a loved one who likes learning about yesteryear and visiting industrial heritage sites. Or perhaps you just want to try something different…

Their DIG IT days might be just the thing you are looking for.

DIG IT is a unique driver experience day from Rocks By Rail. It gives you the chance to participate in several roles which were key to running the ironstone railways which were once common in the East Midlands and helped build modern Britain.

Here is a brief description of each role…

DIG IT

Take to the controls of a vintage Ruston Bucyrus 22RB diesel face shovel to simulate digging the ore from the quarry face and loading it into the iron ore wagons in the train. This will be very different from anything you have driven before, with a cab full of levers, it really isn’t the easiest machine to operate – but you will be under the watchful eye of one of our volunteers to guide you through loading the train.

SHUNT IT

There are three tools in the quarry shunters trade – hand signals, a shunting pole, and a brake stick.

The shunter must use these three things to efficiently guide the train into the quarry, apply the brakes, and couple and uncouple the wagons in sequence to get the precious ore loaded into the train, and get it moving as quickly as possible.

FIRE IT

Its a dirty job… The Fireman is responsible for managing the boiler of the locomotive, feeding the fire with coal, the boiler with water, and making sure there is enough steam available to carry out the work that needs to be done. The Fireman also acts as a ‘lookout’ where the Driver can’t see.

DRIVE IT

An engine is nothing without a driver. You will take to the controls of a historic to propel the wagons up to the quarry and shunt them following the directions from the Quarry Shunter. The Driver is in charge of the train, so keep your wits about you!

Each DIG IT day will involve four participants, so if you book a place just for yourself, you will be given a place in a group with three other individuals to make a group of four.

The day will start at 9am with a cup of tea, introductions, and an all-important safety briefing.

In the morning, each participant will experience two of the four roles covered by the DIG IT package. Operations will stop for lunch, which is included, in the Sundew Cafe.

Operations continue in the afternoon when each participant gets to experience two further roles.

Operations will stop at 4pm.

A one year membership of the museum is included, allowing you to volunteer with them if you wish.

Find out more by checking out their website!

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