THE "BR era" is being celebrated with a special event at York's National Railway Museum (NRM) - taking place 40 years after the controversial report which saw rail services drastically cut across the country.

The "Cab It" event, which takes place this weekend, will see rare access offered to the cabs and footplates of 15 former BR locomotives and engines.

The BR theme for the event follows the launch of the NRM's latest exhibition, covering 50 years of nationalised railways - including the highly contentious cuts announced by Dr Richard Beeching in March 1963.

Visitors during the weekend will be invited to step up to the driver's seats of Evening Star, the last steam loco built by BR, the newly restored High Speed Train prototype, and an EM1 from Britain's first all-electric main line.

Old favourites like the record-breaking Mallard and BR's most powerful steam loco, Duchess of Hamilton, will also have special footplate access.

The revolutionary Advanced Passenger Train, or tilting train, will also be open, and the 1961 English Electric Company Class 37, called National Railway Museum, will be giving rides.

The NRM is also planning a big surprise for one lucky visitor - the chance to cab it for real with a ride on the footplate when the museum's V2 Class engine, Green Arrow, is in action at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) later this year.

A quiz will be open to all visitors to the exhibition aged between 17 and 70, with the first prize of a return footplate ride, between the NYMR stations at Pickering and Grosmont, with the crew of the 1936 locomotive.

"The BR era was one of the most important periods in the history of the railways and a natural choice for Cab It," said Bob Gwynne, programmes development manager.

Updated: 10:22 Tuesday, March 18, 2003