Shannon's Success

Longleat Railway team member Shannon Croker celebrated the 60^th birthday of the attraction by passing her train driving test.

Shannon, who has worked in several roles at Longleat over the last three years, took her test exactly 60 years after the first train ran on the Estate.

The heritage railway line runs to national rail regulations with a strict rule book to follow, said Shannon, who has trained for over two months in all aspects of the railway from line inspection to signalling to driving the train.

“I decided to move to the railway team as I wanted to do something which was completely different, challenging but also fun.

“I like seeing the reactions of guests who wave as the train passes them and at Christmas when we take children to see Santa, I’m looking forward to hearing the gasps of delight when we come through the tunnel and see a snow-covered winter wonderland.

“I also really like seeing all the native species around Half Mile Pond as well as our new arrivals, the hippos,” she said.

Shannon, who is the first female driver for around a decade, and her fellow drivers have been celebrating the anniversary with a whistle-up three times a day which features each train sounding its horn. This is similar to the one which took place nationwide on New Year’s Day this year to mark the 200th anniversary of the first passengers to board a train in the UK.

The Longleat railway first took guests around the park on 27 August 1965 and over the years has expanded to be a one and a quarter mile journey transforming into a festive express to see Santa each Christmas.

A 15-inch narrow gauge line, it opened eight months before Longleat became the first to have a Drive-Through Safari outside of Africa.

The last whistle-up will take place on Sunday 31 August, at the end of the Summer Carnival which has been running throughout July and August.

Scott Ashman, Head of Operations, said: “Shannon’s assessment success on the actual anniversary was the silver lining for our milestone celebrations which have involved the whole team.

“Guests have also fed back that they have enjoyed the whistle-up and appreciated the commemorative souvenir tickets we have been giving out to mark the anniversary.”

Train rides are included in our Day Ticket.