The Ultimate Father's Day Gift: Drive Britain's Newest Steam Locomotive

A Driver Experience Day at Barrow Hill Roundhouse, Chesterfield with 60163 Tornado, star of Top Gear's 'Race to the North'

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, the registered charity behind famous new steam locomotive 60163 Tornado, in conjunction with Barrow Hill Roundhouse, is pleased to announce that Tornado will be taking part in driver experience days on Friday 13th and Sunday 15th June. Opportunities to drive and fire this unique locomotive are very rare indeed and places are strictly limited – making this the ideal Father's Day gift for the Dad who has everything.

The cost of the Driver Experience Day is £550 per person. A1 Steam Locomotive Trust Covenantors and Barrow Hill Society Members are entitled to a £50 discount on this price. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. To ensure every guest gains the most from the experience, a maximum of four people will be allowed to take part.

The day will start at 09:00hrs with breakfast, a safety briefing and an introduction to the two locomotives guests will be firing and driving – new Peppercorn class A1 Pacific 60163 Tornado and the 0-6-0 Peckett 2000. The group will then be split into two pairs and each pair will take it in turns to fire and drive both locomotives throughout the morning. There will be a break for lunch and a tour of the Roundhouse after which the driving and firing turns will continue. The day will finish at 16:00hrs.

Please note that participants must be over the age of 18, in good health and able to climb on and off the locomotive. At the end of the course participants will receive a commemorative certificate, signed by representatives of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust and Barrow Hill Roundhouse.

Guests are also offered the opportunity to bring a partner or friend to share the day's experience at a cost of £50 per person. They will join the participant for breakfast and lunch and the tour of the Roundhouse. They may wish to spend the day observing the guest's driving and firing prowess from the Coaling Stage in the yard or perhaps take a break in one of the carriages being hauled by the Peckett.

Mark Allatt, chairman of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, said:

"To drive a steam locomotive is a dream of many boys – big and small. This is a very rare opportunity to drive Britain's newest steam locomotive and star of Top Gear, the now famous Tornado. The ideal Father's Day gift for the Dad who has everything."

You could be in the driving seat at Barrow Hill - Tornado is seen at the shed on 2013 - Alan Weaver

Half day footplate experiences are also available on Thursday 12th and Saturday 14th June. The cost of is £100 per person with A1 Steam Locomotive Trust Covenantors and Barrow Hill Society Members entitled to a £20 discount. There will be two sessions per day starting at 10:00hrs and 14:00hrs and the experience will last for two hours. The session will start with a safety briefing and introduction to A1 Pacific 60163 Tornado. Guests will then spend time on the footplate with the driver and fireman running up the Springwell branch at Barrow Hill. The session will also include a tour of the Roundhouse site.

To book a place on this unique driver experience course please call Barrow Hill Roundhouse on 01246 472450 or email enquiries@barrowhill.org.uk. Cheques should be made payable to "Barrow Hill Limited" and sent to Barrow Hill Roundhouse, Campbell Drive, Barrow Hill, Chesterfield, S43 2PR. Payment may also be made by credit or debit card – please contact Alexa Stott at alexa.stott@a1steam.com for further details.