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Cab rides
- Thread starter JoeGJ1984
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33056
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Found another one in Switzerland from the SZU (Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn), click here .
The line up to Uetliberg is rather scenic to say the least.
The line up to Uetliberg is rather scenic to say the least.
If you're thinking charity fundraiser, then I'll give you a benchmark. The NYMR charge £300 for a 36 mile round trip, on what is the nearest thing to a mainline in preservation (not in terms of speed, but in the fact that they are not pussy footing about with the locos). These sell out year after year, and demand considerably outstrips supply (usually one slot per day, mon - fri).
As a mainline pass is something that can only be arranged on a once in a blue moon basis, you could price accordingly. I'd go for at least a grand. There are well healed enthusiasts out there that would go for that, certainly if you advertised it in the right places, and if the money raised were going to a worthy cause. The guy that was trying to auction GBRF passes last year made a hash of it. He should have got exposure in the magazines, and he made the mistake of indicating that there could be other opportunities, rather than marketing it as a one off.
strange6
Established Member
A grand is higher than I would have said but thinking about it, I'd probably pay a grand if I could get a cab ride on the whole of the Wrexham & Shropshire route from Wrexham to London Marylebone both ways. I think W&S are in need of money (they had to go from 5 to 4 to 3 trains a day...) so this could prove a nice little earner for them if the surplus revenue is ploughed back into W&S (there have been people on this forum who say that W&S's days are numbered, so something to secure the future of W&S, which IMO is a well-needed service and is not given any subsidy would be a good thing). I think that for a grand for a return cab ride on the whole route, there are people who would go for it. I wouldn't see it being that difficult to set up!
The Planner
Veteran Member
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Except a grand to WSMR is a proverbial drop in the ocean.
Hmmm, they add up. After all, it's a lot more than any other passenger would pay and they run entirely off money from fares. So this could be significant. Even £10 tickets (the cheapest possible) add up.
It's interesting that they thought it was better for you to go in a loco cab than with the mail. I understand that mail security is officially taken very seriously, but so is rail safety. In any case mail security is in many areas a joke.
On the subject of cab rides, I did hear of some not only getting two cab rides on the royal train but driving it once. But then his surname was 'Edinburgh' and his middle name 'of'.
It doesn't seem to be as strict as I thought it was. I assumed the only people given a cab pass had to be there, rather than it being fun or useful.
Simon Poole
Member
When Watching Michael Portillo Great British Railway Journey he had an pass which looks like an Rail Ticket which allowed him to ride in the cab? it was an Class 365 to Kings Lynn wondered how you get them?
Picture capped from BBC I Player but the Card in his hand allows him to ride in the cab
Picture capped from BBC I Player but the Card in his hand allows him to ride in the cab
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Some years ago, a lad at school contacted me to see if he could have a cab ride.
I contacted the MD of Loadhaul, and he gave his permission for this to happen.
On the Thursday afternoon we took this young man on a class 37 to Crossley Evans Scrap Yard at Shipley and back to Turner Lane at Wakefield.
We were accompanied by a guards inspector, and laddo was not allowed off the engine at the customers yard.
When he was changing ends at Shipley, he was supervised by the guards inspector to ensure nothing untoward happened.
All these years later this lad is now in his 30's and is a driver of HST's for on the East Coast Mainline.
After his trip out, he wrote a nice letter of thanks to me and the MD of Loadhaul.
I contacted the MD of Loadhaul, and he gave his permission for this to happen.
On the Thursday afternoon we took this young man on a class 37 to Crossley Evans Scrap Yard at Shipley and back to Turner Lane at Wakefield.
We were accompanied by a guards inspector, and laddo was not allowed off the engine at the customers yard.
When he was changing ends at Shipley, he was supervised by the guards inspector to ensure nothing untoward happened.
All these years later this lad is now in his 30's and is a driver of HST's for on the East Coast Mainline.
After his trip out, he wrote a nice letter of thanks to me and the MD of Loadhaul.
ralphchadkirk
Established Member
Cab passes are issued by the TOC to various people. They're endorsed with different colours meaning different things. People like Driver Managers will have one to allow them to assess drivers. Drivers should not allow someone to travel in the cab without a cab pass. It does not guarantee someone a ride in the cab because the driver has the final say of who's allowed in his 'office'.
The only way you'll get one is by being Michael Portillo and getting a one-shot one or by working for a TOC!
The best bet to get a cab ride is by knowing a Driver / Operations Manager. These are the people who will make it happen, if they are keen enough!
Maybe if you know a driver, then they could refer you to a Driver Manager - if they are friendly enough.
A Driver Manager will have to accompany any visitors as they normally have a cab pass endorsed (Authorised to Escort X Persons) and you will be able to travel in the front under these regulations.
A former colleague, who is now on a freight company, received a complaint that a women and a buggy got trapped in the doors at a station. My ex colleague invited the husband for a cab ride to see what drivers had to do and that closing the doors like this was not done intentionally.
(Train was DOO(P) ). The said person was thrilled and enjoyed it so much, despite having no interest.
Maybe if you know a driver, then they could refer you to a Driver Manager - if they are friendly enough.
A Driver Manager will have to accompany any visitors as they normally have a cab pass endorsed (Authorised to Escort X Persons) and you will be able to travel in the front under these regulations.
A former colleague, who is now on a freight company, received a complaint that a women and a buggy got trapped in the doors at a station. My ex colleague invited the husband for a cab ride to see what drivers had to do and that closing the doors like this was not done intentionally.
(Train was DOO(P) ). The said person was thrilled and enjoyed it so much, despite having no interest.
We used to have cab passes that were just a piece of card saying that you were permitted to ride in the cab to carry out Supervisory Inspection Duties. This has been replaced with a booklet now with a lovely picture of yourself in it. Still drivers can refuse to have you in the cab if they don't want you! :P
From the picture Mr Portillo is carrying a Red Cab Pass, the person holding this type of pass is not allowed to be unaccompanied as he is not trained in PTS, rules etc. I have no doubt a Standards Manager or Inspector would have been lurking somewhere to over see the event.
I really can't see a mainline TOC being able to sell cab access in the way that heritage lines can. Note that the NYMR experiences most definitely do not extend to the Whitby branch! Even on a 25 mph operation, these pass holders can cause problems from time to time, so definitely not something for the mainline environment. The high price does act as a fairly effective idiot filter, but it's not guaranteed that you won't get one!
The only way an exchange of money could take place for a mainline pass, would be some form of charity prize, as has happened on some occasions previously. Thus the wording of my post yesterday.
AlexS
Established Member
Used to be the case years ago on the GCR if you bought a first class ticket or made a fairly substantial donation you could have a cab ride.
All been very much tightened up now though and you're meant to be signed off by a manager of some description (usually a loco inspector), unless you're booked to travel on the loco deadheading somewhere (guard picking up a train somewhere else or shunter) or road learning or similar.
Same applies to freight trains. That said, do encourage different grades to experience each other's jobs to generate mutual respect, so it's not difficult to go for a ride out if you're a regular volunteer. As a signalman I've been for plenty of rides on locos and I've always been happy to have footplate crew in the box in return.
All been very much tightened up now though and you're meant to be signed off by a manager of some description (usually a loco inspector), unless you're booked to travel on the loco deadheading somewhere (guard picking up a train somewhere else or shunter) or road learning or similar.
Same applies to freight trains. That said, do encourage different grades to experience each other's jobs to generate mutual respect, so it's not difficult to go for a ride out if you're a regular volunteer. As a signalman I've been for plenty of rides on locos and I've always been happy to have footplate crew in the box in return.
I've been quite luck and have had a few cab rides 
I volunteer for the Talyllyn Railway, so have riden along a few times.
I've also had a cab ride in a 390 to Manchester and Birmingham from London. I worked for Virgin for a year and got the first cab ride through spending a day shadowing the train manager and the 2nd cab ride as a leaving present.
I did work experience when 16 for London Underground, and spent a day on the Bakerloo trains. I got the work experience through a contact who controls the Bakerloo Line at the time.
It is possible to get cab rides as above, but unless you work for them or know people who are high up in the industry, its not really possible. It costs the company time/money as you also need a 2nd driver to look after the shadower.
I volunteer for the Talyllyn Railway, so have riden along a few times.
I've also had a cab ride in a 390 to Manchester and Birmingham from London. I worked for Virgin for a year and got the first cab ride through spending a day shadowing the train manager and the 2nd cab ride as a leaving present.
I did work experience when 16 for London Underground, and spent a day on the Bakerloo trains. I got the work experience through a contact who controls the Bakerloo Line at the time.
It is possible to get cab rides as above, but unless you work for them or know people who are high up in the industry, its not really possible. It costs the company time/money as you also need a 2nd driver to look after the shadower.
If you want to see what its like in a cab, go on a ballast train in Standedge Tunnel with 4 class 56's locomotivies up wind of you.
and your engine shut down on a nice cold night in January for 12 hours.with a chain smoking mate with you.
I recon you would never want to go near an engine again.
If you want clag 4x56 engines can give you as much as you want for nowt
and your engine shut down on a nice cold night in January for 12 hours.with a chain smoking mate with you.
I recon you would never want to go near an engine again.
If you want clag 4x56 engines can give you as much as you want for nowt
Shrub Hill
Member
did virgin not do a charity auction last year for a cab ride from crewe - holyhead in a 57 on the sat pendo drag and then a first class seat for the return, looking out for one of these and having deep pockets is probably your best bet!
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