Cab Rides

Every rail enthusiast dreams of the day they're invited into the cab or onto the footplate of a locomotive or train. On the mainline, though, it's a lot rarer than it used to be, thanks to tighter security and incidents in the past. A driver caught with an unauthorised visitor in the cab can face disciplinary action, so please don't ask. If it ever does happen to you, consider yourself one of the lucky few, but it isn't encouraged by any means.

The good news is there are legitimate ways to get up front, and the best place to start is a heritage or tourist railway. Many are happy to show you where the driver sits, and some offer a proper cab ride as a paid experience.

Mary Valley Rattler

The Mary Valley Rattler at Gympie offers its Footplate Friends Experience, where you ride in the cab of the steam locomotive with the volunteer drivers on the Classic Rattler Run between Gympie and Amamoor and back. The package includes a morning briefing with the train crew, morning tea, the return footplate ride, a Rattler high-vis vest, cap and pin, and lunch with the crew. It runs on the Wednesday and Sunday Classic Rattler Run, you need to be 18 or over, and places are limited, so book ahead. It's also available as a gift voucher. Check the Rattler's website for current pricing and availability.

Other heritage railways

Queensland's other heritage operators, such as DownsSteam in Toowoomba, the Southern Downs Steam Railway at Warwick, the Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway at Swanbank and the ARHS Rosewood Railway Museum, are worth asking too. Arrangements change from time to time, so check with them directly about what they offer, whether that's a look in the cab on an open day or a ride with the crew.

References

'Footplate Friends Experience', Mary Valley Rattler (accessed October 2026)
'Get on Board - Up the Front!', Mary Valley Rattler (accessed October 2026)