Drive an auto train!
The South Devon Railway in Buckfastleigh is offering visitors for the first time ever an opportunity to drive an ‘auto train’ – often known as a ‘push and pull’ train – as part of the line’s 40th anniversary celebrations. This unusual opportunity is on a strictly first come, first served basis with just seven places available. The driving days are on Saturday 4th April, Monday 6th April, Tuesday 7th Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th April. The cost is £350 per person for the experience which includes one round trip, plus free travel on other SDR trains that day. Auto trains were commonly used by the Great Western Railway on lightly used branch lines and could be driven from the locomotive in one direction and from the auto coach in the other, to save the engine having to change ends of the train for the journey back. Auto coaches have windows in one end and a set of driving controls that are connected by mechanical rods and pulleys to the locomotive. This means that the driver can control the train from the driving cab of the auto coach, while the fireman stays on the footplate. They have a particular association with the South Devon line as auto trains were used extensively in the branch’s early days of preserved operation as engines could not run round their trains at Totnes. This is the first time that the SDR has offered auto train driving courses and demand is expected to be high. There are only a few places and they are sold on a first come, first served basis.
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