My family and I are planning to visit Ireland and England next summer (we often visit family there every 18 months). When I visit the UK, I usually manage to visit the Watercress Line (aka the Mid-Hants Railway -- <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.watercressline.co.uk:80/Home">http://www.watercressline.co.uk:80/Home</a><!-- m --> ) near Winchester. Well, we've finally worked out our dates for visiting this summer and I've actually booked a footplate ride! I wanted to do this in 2009 but they were all sold out -- you have to book months in advance.

I'm really looking forward to this as I haven't ridden in the cab of a steam locomotive since I was a kid.

Has anyone else been able to have footplate / cab rides recently -- either over here or overseas? Just curious to compare notes. I'll be sure to take lots of pics.

Rob