The Polar Express returns to Shropshire

The sold-out attraction will travel from Telford Steam Railway in Horsehay all the way to the North Pole for the first time tonight.

Passengers will listen along to the classic tale The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg, indulge in tasty treats and sing along to Christmas carols. And special guest Father Christmas will meet children to give them a silver sleigh bell, the first gift of Christmas.

Phil Neal, head of marketing for the steam trust, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming over 20,000 people to travel to the North Pole on the Polar Express this year.

“Travellers will be drinking hot chocolate and eating cookies while the chefs tell the story. Polar Express is a very important event for us as it is starting to allow us to fund our extension towards Ironbridge that we hope to start in the spring.” The steam railway risked everything to put on its first Polar Express experience last year. Because of the expense involved, organisers were told they were best not putting it on at all.

But months before the 2016 event was held, tickets were already being snapped up by families who wanted a different kind of Christmas experience.

More than half the tickets for 2017 were snapped up within three days of them going on sale in March. TNow all 20,000 tickets have been sold for the popular event, which will run until December 23.