Ultimate Driving Experiences
Have you ever wanted to try your hand at driving a Victorian steam train or electric tram? Here at Isle of Man Railways you can do just that on one of our heritage railways.
Ultimate Driving Experiences (UDEs) are available on the Isle of Man Steam Railway and the Manx Electric Railway.
We also operate Taster Driving Experiences on the Manx Electric Railway, click here for more information.
Manx Electric Railway
Each Manx Electric Railway UDE takes a full day and includes safety briefings, history of the railway and the rolling stock, theory tuition and most excitingly hands on driving experience!
Your tram will be exclusively for the use of the Driving Experience. Each Experience gives you a minimum of full return trips on the section of line being used for the experience (Laxey - Ramsey for Beginners).
An extra round trip can be added to Beginner and Advanced Experiences at the time of booking.
There can be up to a maximum of three participants on an experience, this is also added at the time of booking.
First time participants start on a beginner’s course to get to grips with the controls, learn the line and practice your driving style.
We offer an intermediate course for participants coming back for a second experience, letting you experience driving a traditional 'tram & trailer' set along the whole line between Derby Castle & Ramsey.
On The Manx Electric Railway, we now offer an advanced course for participants who have already completed their beginners and intermediate course. On the Manx Electric Railway this involves driving Ratchet Car 14. Uniquely in the MER’s tramcar fleet, Car 14 has a mechanical hand brake to control and stop the tram, rather than the usual air brakes. Consequently Car 14 requires some physical effort to drive.
Steam Railway - New for 2026!
Our new format Steam Railway Ultimate Driving Experience has now launched for 2026. At just £395 per person, we’re one of the best value experiences available in the British Isles!
Shared between four people, this experience takes place on evenings throughout the summer months and gives you the opportunity to drive a Victorian steam locomotive on a railway like no other in the world, all under the supervision of our expert crew. Each person will get to experience approximately 7 miles of driving the locomotive.
These sessions operate over the full length of the line between Douglas and Port Erin, with an evening meal included at Port Erin while your locomotive crew prepare for the return journey.
A carriage will be brought along for the journey – why not bring guests along to ride behind you as you drive the locomotive? Adult Guests are £25, Child Guests are £10 – including their evening meal at Port Erin as well!
On return to Douglas Station after a fantastic evening experience, certificates will be presented as well as an Isle of Man Railways goody-bag of souvenirs!
We can still offer a full day experience - these are now arranged on an ad-hoc basis and start at £1400 per day - which can be split between two participants. Email iomude@gov.im to enquire.
How to book:
Book your experience online by clicking here!
Our Steam Railway Ultimate Driving Experience is currently on a "register interest" booking - if sufficient interest is made between participants in a evening, we will be in touch!
Our Electric Railway Ultimate Driving Experience is paid for at the time of booking.
For any enquiries, please email IOMUDE@gov.im in the first instance or call 01624 697433 (limited to office hours only) - limited dates are available and are allocated on a first come first served basis. Our UDEs are very popular so don't delay.
Customer Testimonials:
- 'Thank you for such an unforgettable day, if we lived in Laxey we would undoubtedly sign up for additional courses (but it's a long way from Seattle).'
- 'The UDE was everything that I could have possibly hoped for, the format of the day was perfect, and I cannot think of any way that it could be improved.
- 'I've just got back from a splendid day playing with No 7 on the MER.'
- 'Just returned home to Sweden from a short holiday, of which the highlight was undoubtedly the UDE on the MER.'