Looking for a different diesel experience? Compare with our Class 47 driving experience at Chinnor or explore all options on our train driving experiences page.
Looking for a Class 37 driving experience in the UK? This is not a simulator or a museum display. You are in the cab of a real Class 37 diesel locomotive at the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway, taking the controls under expert supervision.
For classic traction fans, this is the one with bite: English Electric Type 3 character, heavy Co-Co presence and that famous “tractor” note when the locomotive starts working. It is a diesel train driving experience built for people who know why Class 37s matter.
Set in the industrial landscape of Blaenavon, the experience puts the Class 37 exactly where it belongs: sounding purposeful, feeling substantial and giving the driver a proper taste of British diesel heritage.
Buying a Class 37 driving experience gift? The premium 16 mile package is especially strong because an observer can join the driver in the cab, turning the experience into something a partner, friend or family member can share rather than simply watch from the sidelines.
Imagine arriving at Furnace Sidings, stepping into the cab of D6916 / 37216 and settling beside the controls while the locomotive comes alive under instruction. It feels hands-on, mechanical and atmospheric — a proper South Wales diesel day rather than a generic gift voucher.
Choose from 4, 8 or 16 mile diesel train driving packages. The simplest way to choose is by occasion: 4 miles for a first taste, 8 miles for the best all-round gift, and 16 miles for the full enthusiast experience with observer appeal.
A brilliant first taste of driving a Class 37. Choose this for a shorter gift, a first railway driving experience or a lower-commitment introduction to the cab.
The strongest balance of cab time, value and occasion. This is the safest choice for most gift buyers and the easiest package to recommend.
The full enthusiast option, with maximum cab time and the deepest Class 37 driving experience. The key upgrade is the observer appeal: one person drives, while a partner, friend or family member can join them in the cab.
Package details can change, so always confirm the latest restrictions, dates and exact inclusions with the provider before booking.
The Class 37 is not just another diesel. Built as the English Electric Type 3, the class became a cult favourite thanks to its rugged Co-Co stance, hard-working reputation and unmistakable soundtrack. Enthusiasts know it as the “tractor” — and when it gets under load, that English Electric thrash is exactly the point.
For a railway fan, this is the attraction: the cab, the controls, the weight of the locomotive responding under instruction and the sound of a proper heritage diesel around you.
For a gift buyer, the appeal is simple: this feels real, memorable and unmistakably different from an ordinary experience day.
A Class 37 driving experience is the raw, characterful choice for serious classic diesel fans. A Class 47 driving experience usually feels smoother, broader and more mainline in character, which can make it the safer all-round gift for a first-time driver.
The recipient loves noisy, hard-working British Rail diesel traction, English Electric sound, industrial atmosphere and the famous “tractor” reputation. It is the stronger choice for a serious diesel locomotive enthusiast.
You want a smoother Brush Type 4 diesel, wider British Rail mainline nostalgia and a train driving gift with broad appeal for a first-time driver, dad, grandad or railway-loving partner.
A Class 37 is not just “a diesel locomotive”. It has a very specific appeal within the wider world of heritage diesel driving experiences: rugged English Electric character, a distinctive exhaust note and a reputation that serious classic traction fans recognise immediately.
Best for: raw English Electric Type 3 character, “tractor” sound, rugged Co-Co diesel feel and serious classic traction appeal.
Best for: smoother Brush Type 4 mainline nostalgia, broad gift appeal and a strong first-time diesel train driving experience.
Best for: express passenger diesel power, a big mainline feel and strong enthusiast recognition.
Best for: iconic high-prestige diesel appeal, rarity and a famous soundtrack if a driving or footplate opportunity is available.
Best for: classic Sulzer Type 4 character, 1960s mainline presence and a heavier old-school diesel feel.
Best for: Western Region hydraulic appeal, distinctive enthusiast character and a very different flavour from diesel-electric traction.
This comparison is about locomotive character, not a list of specific railways. Availability changes, so always check the provider details before booking any diesel locomotive driving experience.
The exact day can vary by package and operating requirements, but the Class 37 experience is built around a supervised, hands-on diesel driving session at Blaenavon. The confirmed strengths are clear: briefing, cab familiarisation, instructor guidance, light engine running and a choice between shared shorter packages or a private 16 mile session.
Start with a welcome, safety introduction and explanation of how the experience will run.
Get introduced to the Class 37 cab, driving position, controls and the feel of the locomotive.
Drive under the guidance of an experienced instructor, with no previous train driving experience required.
This is a real Class 37 diesel locomotive experience, not a simulator or static museum exhibit.
Choose from 4, 8 or 16 mile options depending on budget, occasion and desired cab time. Published product details describe around 30 minutes at the controls for 4 miles, around 60 minutes for 8 miles, and around two hours for the private 16 mile option.
The premium 16 mile package is the key shared-gift option, with observer appeal for partners, family and special occasions.
No previous driving experience is needed. The experience is supervised, structured and designed to give the participant a memorable time in the cab without pretending they already know railway operations.
The Blaenavon setting gives the day extra character, with the railway linked to locations such as Furnace Sidings, Blaenavon High Level, Big Pit, Whistle Inn and Coed Avon. It helps the experience feel rooted in a real South Wales railway landscape rather than a generic gift voucher location.
D6916 / 37216 belongs to one of Britain’s most distinctive diesel locomotive classes.
The Class 37 was built for British Rail’s diesel modernisation era and became known for versatility, reliability and a sound that made it famous with generations of enthusiasts.
Blaenavon gives the experience a setting that feels right for a Class 37: industrial, atmospheric and full of South Wales railway character. Furnace Sidings, Big Pit, Whistle Inn and Coed Avon give the route a sense of place, making the driving day feel like part of a railway landscape rather than just a product on a list.
The Class 37 is the strongest option when the recipient already loves railways, diesel locomotives or classic British Rail traction.
Buying as a gift? Choose 8 miles for the safest all-round option. Choose 16 miles if you want the day to feel more premium, shared and memorable thanks to the observer appeal. You can also compare wider train driving experience gifts before choosing.
Best for anyone who knows why a Class 37 under load is special — and wants to experience it from the cab.
A memorable gift for birthdays, retirements, Father’s Day and classic traction fans, especially if they already talk about “proper diesels”. The 16 mile package has extra appeal because an observer can join the driver in the cab.
Ideal when the gift buyer wants to be part of the moment too. The 16 mile observer option makes this feel less like a solo gift and more like a shared railway experience.
A look at 37216 / D6916 and related Class 37 heritage traction.
37216 / D6916
Classic preserved Class 37 diesel locomotive.
Class 37 pair
Two English Electric Type 3 locomotives together.
Working heritage
37216 on railtour duties.
Useful answers before choosing a Class 37 driving experience.
Yes. This Class 37 driving experience lets you drive a real Class 37 diesel locomotive, D6916 / 37216, at the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway in South Wales under expert supervision.
The Rail Away Days Class 37 driving experience is based at the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway, making it a strong option for anyone looking for a Class 37 driving experience in South Wales or near Cardiff.
The 8 mile package is the strongest all-round choice for most buyers, balancing cab time, value and occasion. The 16 mile package is best for serious enthusiasts, couples and special occasions because it gives the driver the longest experience and adds the important observer appeal.
Yes. It is especially well suited to railway enthusiasts, diesel fans, dads, grandads, partners and anyone who would appreciate a distinctive classic traction experience. The 16 mile package has extra gift appeal because an observer can join the driver in the cab.
A Class 37 is usually the rawer, noisier and more characterful diesel enthusiast choice, with English Electric Type 3 heritage and the famous “tractor” sound. A Class 47 is generally smoother, more mainline in feel and often works well as a broader first-time driving gift.
No. Full instruction is provided and the experience is supervised. The participant does not need previous train driving experience.
The premium 16 mile package has observer appeal, allowing someone to join the driver in the cab. This makes it especially strong for couples, partners, family members and special occasion gifts, and it is the main reason many buyers may choose the 16 mile package over the shorter options.
Choose your package and experience one of Britain’s most iconic diesel locomotive classes from the driving seat. For the strongest shared gift, choose the premium 16 mile package with observer appeal.
Always check the official provider information for current availability, prices, dates, restrictions, accessibility and terms before buying or travelling.
