Hire a Train

Steam Train Driving Courses - The Perfect Present - With a Difference!

Have you ever wanted to take the controls (and shovel!) of a steam locomotive? This is a dream that few people get a chance to realise, and if you've ever wanted to learn how to drive and fire a steam locomotive, well, we can teach you.

It's always difficult to try and find that special gift to tell that special someone how much you care for them. The Downpatrick & County Down Railway is offering you the chance to get a present that's a little bit different.


A lucky member of the public gets to take control of a steam train	Taking on board water is just one of the jobs you will master	As is getting up and close to the power supply of a steam engine!

The first photograph is one of our satisfied footplate experience customers at the controls of a steam locomotive for the first time. The full day's course was a present from his family who were able to travel in a train headed by the locomotive he was driving.

Our Footplate Experience courses - unique to Northern Ireland - are the perfect present for your dad, your husband, grandfather, boyfriend or even your wife or girlfriend! Our Footplate courses are very popular gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas and other special events, so what better way can you express your feelings to your better half than getting a day to remember were the lucky person gets to learn to drive a steam train? Courses can be purchased individually, or as gifts for family or friends. Courses are open to anyone aged 18 or over.

Listen to what happens on a Footplate Experience Course!

When you book a course you will get a voucher confirming your booking, and then choose which of our running days you want to have your course on (depending on availability).

Each course costs £135/€200, and participants also receive an A4 colour certificate to prove to their friends that they really did drive a steam train - and a free year's membership of the society - complete with all the perks that go with it.

The courses are open to anyone, male or female, aged 18 or over, and can be booked by ringing 077 9080 2049 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 10am and 2pm or through the Contacts page on this site.

Schools & Group Discount

If your school, group or society are planning a visit to the railway on an advertised running day you can receive a 10% discount on your total fare if you book in advance. Contact us now! (mininum group size: ten).

Please note, this offer refers to groups wishing to travelling on an EXISTING public service train, with no bespoke alterations.

This is particularly popular with primary schools, Scouts of all ages, Boys/Girls Brigade, Probus groups, local historical societies and coach tour operators.

(Note to teachers: If your school wants to visit on a non-operating day, walking tours can be arranged - or if enough pupils (say three classes or two years) are guaranteed, trains can be arranged by prior arrangement, provided three weeks notice is given. These talks can be tied in with the curriculum on request).

Do you have a birthday party coming up? Business conference or corporate entertainment such as team building required? Then why not let the train take the strain! The Downpatrick & County Down Railway offers a number of exciting possibilities for your event.

We offer special hire of coaches, trains or other facilities for birthday parties, hen nights, or even weddings have been catered for already. Our buffet service offers a range of catering, starting from basic snacks to a buffet style meal. A two carriage train will hold around 100 people, a single carriage will hold anything from 30 - 60 people (depending on the carriages required for the event).

Your event can be held at either of our stations, and can be static or can have a train service provided - steam or diesel. How long the event lasts is up to you - the DCDR is not bound by a commuter service timetable that can limit your event!

Whatever you're organising our crew will ensure a great experience for all, and have attractive rates to suit your needs. Executive Packages and Bespoke Programmes can be arranged on request - Contact Patricia

*All price above are for guidance only and are not to be taken as a definitive quote for the hire of the train.
The DCDR reserve the right to increase or decrease the hire figure depending on the nature of the event being planned.
Prices are exclusive of buffet carriage hire for either snacks or meals - individual quotations for these will be given.
It may not always be possible to hire the train or ensure steam on a specific date due to exisiting public operations, prior bookings
or essential maintenance, in all cases the DCDR will notify you of this and suggest alternative arrangements.

Scenes from the Spike Milligan film 'Puckoon' and various BBC NI documentaries and light entertainment programs were shot at Downpatrick.

As the Location Manager for your shoot, you are obviously looking for somewhere where your crew can set up in their own time and the train movements can be instructed by the Director/First Assistant Director and not the national railway operators, who have public timetables to look after.

This means that your crew have the creative flexibility to set up the shots you want, wherever you want, and film as many takes and different angles as required. You can also get access to the lineside (under supervision) to get low shots - a clear advantage in not having to rely on the national network.

Our stations represent periods from Victorian times to the 1950s, with a rural town station setting, an interchange station and small line-side halts. Downpatrick station also features traditional signalling, booking office, etc., and can represent any station/line in Ireland.

We have a large variety of operational locomotives, steam and diesel, ranging from the Victorian and Edwardian period, right up to more modern diesels which ran until the 1970s.

There is vast selection of carriages, from authentic vintage Victorian and Edwardian rolling stock (no more 1960s vehicles masquarading as turn-of-the (19th/20th) century wooden-body coaches!) to 1950s vehicles which ran to the 1990s. Therefore we can accurately portray any period from the late 19th Century to the late 20th Century.

Details of currently operational locomotives are available here, and carriages here. Additionally it may be possible to make some of those listed as being on static display available if required.

Many of our members are experienced as extras, whether as passengers, station-master, engine-driver or train guard. We can also advise on the historical accuracy of the period required, and provide props for studio recording.

A Potted History of Armagh (BBC NI 2006) - location
Rain (Short - 2005) - location
Flight to Freedom (BBC NI 2005) - location
Puckoon (2002) - location
Children in Need Quiet Man Spoof (BBC NI 2001) - location
The Railway Station Man (1992) - provided props

"It's the perfect period setting for us. The carriages that we've been given are wonderful, it's as if they came out of works today. The people have been so helpful as well, they've bent over backwards to help us. It's a wonderful and great choice" Terence Ryan, Director, 'Puckoon'.

The Downpatrick & County Down Railway can also provide you with an expert to give a public talk or after-dinner speech on a wide variety of railway based topics. From our own history to the history of the Belfast & County Down Railway, to other railways in Ireland, the history of competition between road and rail - if you want an entertaining evening, but learn a little something as well, we can tailor something to your needs. Whether you are a local historical society or a local business, there's something we can do for you.

Talks usually consist of either a slideshow or a powerpoint presentation, and we can provide our own equipment - all you need to do is bring the people! Questions and answers sessions are welcome.

No charge is made for these talks, although a donation to the society is welcome.

For further information on our hire services, fill out the form in the Contacts page or please contact Patricia at:

By Post:

By Telephone:
(Lines open 10am till 2pm Mon, Wed & Fri only)

By Email:

By Post:

By Telephone: (Lines open 10am till 2pm Mon, Wed & Fri only)

By Email:

By Telephone:
(Lines open 10am till 2pm Mon, Wed & Fri only)

By Email: