Shropshire Star

Full steam ahead for Severn Valley Railway Santa Special

It was full steam ahead for the Severn Valley Railway's annual Santa Specials this weekend, with families grabbing their last chance to jump abroad and see Father Christmas.

Published

More than 4,500 people boarded the Santa Steam Special steam trains from Kidderminster to Arley Station, where Santa was waiting in his grotto on Saturday.

Amongst the thousands of children were 12 year old Annie Beaven and her 10 year old sister Lucy, from Telford, who waited patiently in the queue to jump abroad the train.

Annie said: "I am so excited to see Santa and have a trip on the steam train. I have been looking forward to this since mum said she had booked tickets."

Mum Jackie said: "This is the first year we have been on the Santa Special and we hope to come again. There is a real Christmas atmosphere and everyone is smiling and laughing. It is lovely."

When the Santa Steam Special first started carrying children along the Severn Valley Railway in 1973 they gave out 250 presents.

Fast-forward 41 years and the now the heritage line books on 30,000 mothers, fathers, children and grandparents for its specials over the Christmas season.

Dave Thompson, assistant station manager at Arley station, said: "By and large it has all gone very well. We have carried more than 4,500 passengers today on 13 trains. Everyone has come away smiling and happy so I think it has been another successful year.

"The presents the children have received from Santa look lovely and everyone has worked so hard.

"It is a huge job for the staff to put together and they have done an amazing job. We started putting all the lights and making the grotto in October so it has been months of hard work. The rides have been a sell out again.

"There are around 18,500 Christmas lights at the station which make it look fantastic.

"We will have a meeting in January to see if anything needs to be tweaked for next year but we couldn't make any major changes as we can't fit any more trains. We try and improve every year to make sure everyone has the best experience."

Profits from the Sants Specials will be reinvested in the railway, which runs from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.