RailAdventure recruiting Qualified Steam Drivers - have they said anything publicly about entering the charter market or similar?

Kentish RYS · 17 Jul 2026

I have seen RailAdventure that they put on Facebook two days ago that they are recruiting Qualified Steam Drivers. As the title says have they said anything publicly about entering the charter market or similar?

*edit to add Facebook advert text to 1st post as I realised I hadn't put it here by a Mod and it is now lost in the middle*

Fully qualified main line steam driver(s) required for new contracts – full, part time and zero hours available.

RailAdventure UK Limited is a fast-growing neutral service provider to the rail industry, assisting renowned passenger and freight operators to overcome their specific challenges. We are in a very exciting growth stage and are seeking exceptional individuals to join our Train Driving team.
You must hold a current, valid TDL, PTS and have a minimum of five years fully qualified train driving history. You will be a fully qualified steam driver on the main line.
You will be able to demonstrate flexibility and skill in safe operations.
Assessor/Instructor qualification useful and we offer a competitive salary package.
If you are interested in joining us, please apply with full CV with traction and route knowledge to HR@railadventure.uk

RailUK Forums

andyjhatton · 17 Jul 2026

Can't be a massive market to "recruit" from, drivers with a steam traction rating that aren't fairly tightly aligned to one of the few operators that operate them.

theblackwatch · 17 Jul 2026

It could be for light engine movements. They are already in the charter market, albeit not steam - today's private charter with the 125 Group HST was operated by RailAdventure.

Kentish RYS · 17 Jul 2026

As I understand it there is an extra licence/permission to run steam over and above the standard licence but no idea on details. It may be they are recruiting to get it or have got it and now need the staff, I don't know how the process is laid out but you'd think they aren't just going to recruit staff with no plan. It is probably all internal though, I just wandered if they'd said anything publicly in case anyone knew.

SECR 65 · 19 Jul 2026

When they say "qualified steam driver", does this just mean someone who drives steam engines somewhere i.e. heritage railway etc? Or are they expecting mainline qualifications?

Kentish RYS · 19 Jul 2026

I'm not entirely sure what the rules are, it may be operator specific once they have the main license (so potentially could have a Mainline licence plus experience from a heritage railway in steam) or it may be a bit more prescriptive. Any Mainline drivers of any flavour able to comment on how traction specific the process is?

The advert doesn't specify as I assume the sort people they are after will know.

For completeness here is the test from their Facebook post:

Fully qualified main line steam driver(s) required for new contracts – full, part time and zero hours available.

RailAdventure UK Limited is a fast-growing neutral service provider to the rail industry, assisting renowned passenger and freight operators to overcome their specific challenges. We are in a very exciting growth stage and are seeking exceptional individuals to join our Train Driving team.
You must hold a current, valid TDL, PTS and have a minimum of five years fully qualified train driving history. You will be a fully qualified steam driver on the main line.
You will be able to demonstrate flexibility and skill in safe operations.
Assessor/Instructor qualification useful and we offer a competitive salary package.
If you are interested in joining us, please apply with full CV with traction and route knowledge to HR@railadventure.uk

ExRes · 19 Jul 2026

SECR 65 said:
When they say "qualified steam driver", does this just mean someone who drives steam engines somewhere i.e. heritage railway etc? Or are they expecting mainline qualifications?

The wording on their facebook post states "Fully qualified main line steam driver(s)" ..... "you will be a fully qualified steam driver on the main line"

martin butler · 20 Jul 2026

It is what it says, main line qualified steam drivers, most likily using eastern rail's stock I would think they are going to be the operators for flying Scotsman and Tornado on the main line as well as doing contract moves for engines that are not signed up to either West Coast, or LSL.

Amos390 · 20 Jul 2026

martin butler said:
It is what it says, main line qualified steam drivers, most likily using eastern rail's stock I would think they are going to be the operators for flying Scotsman and Tornado on the main line as well as doing contract moves for engines that are not signed up to either West Coast, or LSL.

I think last time Scotsman ran it was RA locos (20007+205 on a drag T&T I think), however the last time it did a tour was with DB (this was post-LSL/WCR stuff), so not sure what that means. As for Tornado, that has ran with DB every time since to my knowledge. Wonder if this means that there’ll be a change in operator for Tornado, or whether it’s just for FS (that is if it is for the 2 kettles at all)

LittleRedTrain · 20 Jul 2026

Amos390 said:
As for Tornado, that has ran with DB every time since to my knowledge. Wonder if this means that there’ll be a change in operator for Tornado, or whether it’s just for FS (that is if it is for the 2 kettles at all)

Tornado has most recently been operated by Vintage Trains, and is planned to be again on 26th September:

The Great Northern | Vintage Trains

Saturday 26th September Destination: Carlisle Departing from: Birmingham New Street, Coleshill Parkway, Tamworth, Derby, Wakefield Kirkgate Classes of Travel: Pullman, First Class & Standard (Non-Dining)

vintagetrains.co.uk

This Autumn, we welcome back 60163 Tornado back as she heads our train The Great Northern.

Departing from Birmingham in the morning we head via the East Midlands to Yorkshire, where our train will then head West to join the world-famous Settle & Carlisle line to Carlisle.

At Carlisle, a 2000 year old city with plenty of history to discover, you will have several hours to explore whether that is the Cathedral, Castle or any of the museums and galleries.

Leaving Carlisle, the train heads eastwards over the Tyne Valley Line to Newcastle. Here, Tornado is in home territory as we get to experience some fast running over the East Coast Mainline.

At Darlington, Tornado will leave the train and the remainder of the journey will then be diesel hauled.
Departing From

Birmingham New Street, Coleshill Parkway, Tamworth, Derby, Wakefield Kirkgate...

HertiageFan · 20 Jul 2026

Amos390 said:
I think last time Scotsman ran it was RA locos (20007+205 on a drag T&T I think), however the last time it did a tour was with DB (this was post-LSL/WCR stuff), so not sure what that means. As for Tornado, that has ran with DB every time since to my knowledge. Wonder if this means that there’ll be a change in operator for Tornado, or whether it’s just for FS (that is if it is for the 2 kettles at all)

Tornado was also operated by West Coast Railways in the past

martin butler · 20 Jul 2026

HertiageFan said:
Tornado was also operated by West Coast Railways in the past

There is zero likelihood of Tornado working for West Coast again, that relationship was beyond broken.

Kentish RYS · 20 Jul 2026

martin butler said:
It is what it says, main line qualified steam drivers, most likily using eastern rail's stock I would think they are going to be the operators for flying Scotsman and Tornado on the main line as well as doing contract moves for engines that are not signed up to either West Coast, or LSL.

That would make sense if that is the case. Also them not having steam drivers would make sense as to why Scotsman is dragged by them as opposed to run Under its own steam with a support coach on positioning moves

D6130 · 20 Jul 2026

Are they also recruiting firemen?

westcoaster · 20 Jul 2026

SECR 65 said:
When they say "qualified steam driver", does this just mean someone who drives steam engines somewhere i.e. heritage railway etc? Or are they expecting mainline qualifications?

says you must have a valid TDL which would be a train drivers licence, plus PTS and 5 years main line driving experience.

Jan Mayen · 22 Jul 2026

As a minor point of interest, how do drivers get the appropriate qualification?
I assume they need to be trained by an existing operator.

Sidmouth34010 · 22 Jul 2026

westcoaster said:
says you must have a valid TDL which would be a train drivers licence, plus PTS and 5 years main line driving experience.

in theory the only people available will be those already driving for WC, VT , LSL and DB which in the nicest sense will be a very small pool of people

Kentish RYS · 22 Jul 2026

Sidmouth34010 said:
in theory the only people available will be those already driving for WC, VT , LSL and DB which in the nicest sense will be a very small pool of people

Is that something you (or someone) know for a fact, as in the Steam Ticket on the Drivers Licence is a separate to Diesel/Electric one for the mainline? As otherwise a Driver both on the mainline and a heritage line would meet the criteria. I'm not doubting as it would make sense as speed and mainline environment with all a steam loco's foibles definitely makes a difference I just wouldn't know how to find that out if that is the case as it is not my area of expertise.

117 · 22 Jul 2026

Heritage steam drivers that are mainline diesel/electric drivers would still need a comprehensive conversion course. To do that you’d need to be running trains to get the handling in. To get this up and running their best bet is to poach existing drivers from the other operators or if some were able/allowed to freelance on a zero hours basis. This is appears to be exactly what they’re doing.

Won’t be easy but not impossible. Not sure I’d fancy going through all that just to be on the occasional trip with a dusty LNER pacific.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Jul 2026 ==

Kentish RYS said:
Is that something you (or someone) know for a fact, as in the Steam Ticket on the Drivers Licence is a separate to Diesel/Electric one for the mainline? As otherwise a Driver both on the mainline and a heritage line would meet the criteria. I'm not doubting as it would make sense as speed and mainline environment with all a steam loco's foibles definitely makes a difference I just wouldn't know how to find that out if that is the case as it is not my area of expertise.

Steam traction would no doubt be a specific competence on someone’s traction card.
Interestingly with steam once you’re passed for it you’re passed on everything, not loco specific like a diesel.

Kentish RYS · 22 Jul 2026

117 said:
Heritage steam drivers that are mainline diesel/electric drivers would still need a comprehensive conversion course. To do that you’d need to be running trains to get the handling in. To get this up and running their best bet is to poach existing drivers from the other operators or if some were able/allowed to freelance on a zero hours basis. This is appears to be exactly what they’re doing.

Won’t be easy but not impossible. Not sure I’d fancy going through all that just to be on the occasional trip with a dusty LNER pacific.

Steam traction would no doubt be a specific competence on someone’s traction card.
Interestingly with steam once you’re passed for it you’re passed on everything, not loco specific like a diesel.

That all makes sense, so the Traction Card is part of the Licence then and not a separate TOC/FOC managed thing? I just was wandering as in other bits of the railway the generic thing is the centrally managed bu and the specific is down to the employer (thinking the IRSE licence of whatever category which is generic combined with Authority To Work or Certificate of Competence to say technology specific)

RailAdventure recruiting Qualified Steam Drivers - have they said anything publicly about entering the charter market or similar?

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