Footplate Friends Experience

Experience an authentic Rattler Journey aboard the footplate with our drivers!

In purchasing this experience you are contributing to the preservation of heritage rail in Queensland.

This experience operates on our Sunday All Stations Train, and is also available as a gift voucher!

ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE

This premium experience includes a morning briefing with the train crew, morning tea, return steam train footplate cab ride, Mary Valley Rattler high vis vest, cap, pin and lunch with the crew. All guests will be included in the Footplate Friends Gallery on this page.

Due to our comprehensive safety measures at the Mary Valley Rattler, guests must be 18 years of age to partake in the Footplate Friends Experience.

PURCHASE HERE BUY AS A VOUCHER

FOOTPLATE FRIENDS

4th November, 2019

ANDREW FARRISS

Thank you to all the Mary Valley Rattler team for a truly fantastic footplate experience! A once in a lifetime and thoroughly enjoyable opportunity to ride a living, fiery steam engine working from the footplate… beyond amazing!!

26th December, 2019

SAM FREWEN

I appreciated the experience and would do it again!

29th December, 2019

JASON AYERS

It was amazing to see how the mechanics of the steam engine work! The drivers were really informative.

5th January, 2020

GERRY WIESNER

The entire experience was awesome – especially helping ‘fire’ as we came up the bank!

19th January, 2020

MARK MCDONALD

I had a very enjoyable time doing the footplate experience, both drivers were very friendly& happy to share their knowledge!

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1st March, 2020

MIKE BELFIELD

“It was a great experience, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

4th March, 2020

CALEB SCOTT

A brilliant day and another footplate day added to my list of engines around the world. A great team to work with!

13th September,2020

JIMMY TARBIT

The drivers go out of their way to make you feel like you’re part of the team, and keep you in the loop with everything they’re doing while driving the engine. It’s absolutely the best seat to have on the Rattler.

4th October, 2020

JOHN RICE

I absolutely loved it, it was worth every cent!

11th October, 2020

ALLANA

Best day of my life. The staff and volunteers were so kind, knowledgeable and friendly.

17th October, 2020

LAURA WATERS

Wow, what an experience. I had no idea there was such an art to driving a steam train. I learned so much sitting up front, and then it was awesome to indulge in a little luxury in the Club Car on the return. A great day out. Thank you.

8th November 2020

GARY WHIGHT

I was very impressed by the friendliness and curtesy shown to myself, brother and sister by all volunteers and staff, we felt everyone wanted to be there and make or day as enjoyable as possible.

13th December 2020

ROSITA DAY

I had a great day on the Rattler. Very, very cool! A super fun experience. Thanks to Adrian and Darryl for sharing their knowledge with me and to all the friendly staff at Mary Valley Rattler. I wouldn’t mind doing it again!

3rd January 2020

WILL GOULD

It was a great day! I would do it all over again.

24th January 2021

PAUL ABBOTT

All the staff were very helpful and friendly but special thank you to Peter and Chris for the amazing experience. I highly recommend

14th February 2021

CATHY JAMES

The Footplate Friend Experience was a Valentine’s Day present and was just the best day ever. Riding the Rattler is always a great day, but on the Footplate is just a whole different level altogether. The experience is just absolutely amazing – I wore ‘The Rattler Grin’ all day long!

28th February 2021

Stuart Adcock

I was lucky enough to get the A team of drivers Peter and Adrian, their years of experience was brilliant to watch with both driving and firing. I have been a railway enthusiast all my life and I’m lucky enough to own a miniature live steam locomotive that I run on a small railway on my property. I had an idea on what the day would be like and I’m happy to say it was better than I had ever imagined. A truly fantastic opportunity, if you are reading this and thinking maybe, just book it, you won’t be disappointed.