It was a day of double celebration at Longleat as the estate’s famous miniature railway marked its 60th anniversary – and team member Shannon Croker became its newest train driver.
Shannon, who has worked across several roles at Longleat over the past three years, passed her driving test on the very day the first train journey took place six decades earlier, on 27 August 1965.
The 15-inch narrow gauge line opened eight months before Longleat made history as the first safari park outside Africa. Today it carries thousands of visitors each year on its 1.25-mile route, which transforms into a festive express to Santa’s grotto at Christmas.
Shannon is the first female driver on the line for around a decade. She spent more than two months training in everything from signalling to line inspection before stepping up to the controls.
She said:
“I wanted to do something completely different, challenging but also fun. I love seeing guests’ reactions as the train passes, especially at Christmas when we take children to see Santa. Hearing the gasps of delight as we emerge into the snow-covered wonderland is going to be very special.”
To mark the anniversary, Shannon and her fellow drivers staged a whistle-up three times a day, with every train sounding its horn in unison – echoing the nationwide celebrations earlier this year for the 200th anniversary of the first UK passenger train journey.
The railway’s milestone was also celebrated with souvenir tickets handed out to passengers during Longleat’s Summer Carnival, which concluded on 31 August.
Scott Ashman, Head of Operations, said:
“Shannon’s assessment success on the actual anniversary was the silver lining for our milestone celebrations. Guests have also told us how much they enjoyed the whistle-up and the commemorative tickets.”
Train rides are included in the standard day ticket. More information is available at longleat.co.uk.
