How do your Santa Specials run?

Thought a new topic might be best for this after I stuck my oar in elsewhere but how do different lines actually operate their Santa Specials? As far as I am aware, there seems to be 3 basic methods - unless you know otherwise, of course! These seem to be:

- Trains run from usually one end of the line to an intermediate station where Santa is seen in his Grotto. I believe the SVR do this with Grottos at Arley.
- Santa and his Grotto are on the train and passengers make their way through to see him during the train journey. This is how we work on the NYMR.
- Santa sees passengers at their seats during the journey, with his elves or other helpers conveying the presents down the train with him. I think Embsay do it this way (or certanly used to) and we have done twice with special trains from Middlesbrough on the NYMR (I was the man in the red suit!)

I am sure there are other methods or variations - how many lines have those helping Santa also in costume and does this have a theme? I would imagine all stations are decorated and trains too and there is probably Christmas music testing the Christmas spirit of all workers in the same place all day! Which railways run the whole length of their line and which have non-Santa services running at same time?

Different railways will have found different methods suit them best but I am interested to know who does it how!

Steven

 

K&ESR does option 3, Santa progresses through train with his Elves.

Trains run only Tenterden to Wittersham Rd, boarding at Tenterden.

(No other services run except the evening Pullman diner.)

I am told that all booked trains ran this weekend 19th/20th, that's 9 departures from TN each day.
(plus the Pullman on Sat.)

Mike

 

At the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, we use an interesting method. Each year the Santa Specials are themed and tie in with some kind of well known story. This year it is Treasure Island. A 20T brake van has been converted by hand to look like a ship with a proper mast and fake cannons and everything and everybody dresses up as a character from the story. The pirates usher the families onto the train and the train takes them up the 1 in 27 incline where the ship is berthed in the platform at the top. The kids meet the characters and Santa is part of the story - his grotto being in the ship (inside the brake van). It sounds kind of weird I know but it is really very well done!

This has worked very successfully for a few years now, with themes such as Peter Pan and Jack and the Beanstalk being done (that year, Santa was captured by the Giant and the kids went with Jack up the beanstalk, or the track, to rescue Santa). Crazy but cool!

By the way, if anyone fancies sampling this craziness, there are still some spaces left on Wednesday - www.e-v-r.com

 

On the Gwili we run top n tail steam/diesel to Llwyfan Cerrig (middle station) where passengers then go to see Santa in the TPO. It seems to work quite well, with the station being set in a valley with trees all around, it gives the impression of a winter wonderland. Santa has suitably dressed helpers and we also offer free mince pies/christmas cake/sherry as part of the ticket.

 

The West Somerset run:

- "Santa Specials" from Bishops Lydeard to Santa's Grotto at Crowcombe Heathfield;
- "Santa Specials" from Minehead to Santa's Grotto at Blue Anchor;
- "Santa Express" from Bishops Lydeard to Williton with Santa walking through the train

Visitors are guided, in groups, off the "Specials" to meet Santa in the Grotto.

The return "Express" tends to pass the Bishops Lydeard "Special" at Crowcombe Heathfield, whilst the outward "Express" departs Bishops Lydeard as soon as the "Special" arrives.

Steve
(WSW)

 

On the SDR we do it by the 2nd way, using a BG as the grotto. The train travels the full length of the line, on the up journey to Totnes it travels at around 5 mph, so as to give time on the journey for the 7 coaches of passengers to visit Santa, and get their gifts, and then returns at line speed on the return to Buckfastleigh. We have lots of helpers, some in the grotto with Santa, who are dressed up as elfs or reindeer or the like (I spent last years trips dressed up as the Grand Old Duke of York!!!!), and some who are handing out mince pies and drinks (mulled wine or juice depending on the age of the customer!). As well as this, on the return trip to Buckfastleigh, Santa and his helpers walk through the train signing carols with everyone, which really makes a nice finish to the trip.

Looking at another local line, the Paignton and Dartmouth take passengers to Kingswear where they then go and visit Santa in his grotto there in the station, and then watch a pantomime before return back to Paignton.

 

Swanage runs trains over the full length of the line (Swanage-Norden-Swanage), and during the up trip Santa visits the children at their seats, walking back through the train in the down direction.

The crew usually end up taking it pretty slowly from Harmans Cross down to Norden to give him time to get through the train, including possibly stopping between Corfe and Norden for that extra bit of time.

We also run the DMU services taking people from the car park at Norden to the Santa start point at Swanage, and a couple of Christmas lunch trains each day as well.

 

At Embsay we have a BG in the middle of the 5/6 carriage set and Santa and his elves go from seat to seat. One half of the train is for passengers boarding at Bolton Abbey and the other half is for Emsay passengers.As it gets busier 2 santas operate on the train this allows plenty of time to speak to each individual child and have photographs taken etc. A full 3 carriages I find takes the best part of a full round trip aand having 2 santas means there is no rushing from child to child

 

At Llangollen we run them, with santa walking through the train with the elves, dishing out the presants. Then there is time to have pictures with the main man, in a sled on Carrog station, whilst the loco runs round. There is a grotto of sorts in a LMS period 1 coach at Llangollen station for when the train gets back...

This seems to work ok, as long as the santa isn't too slow! It has been known in the past for it to have taken over 50 minutes for Llangollen to Carrog.

 

Sian Corn!

The extra twist on the FfR is that the children wear a name badge, as I understand it, this is coded and tells Santa to speak English, or to be Sian Corn and talk in Welsh!
Other than that, I have no knowledge of how they are operated - not being a family type, and having other duties I keep well clear!

 

I was on the engine last Saturday, and after we completed the 2nd round trip. The station master at Llangollen said our numbers for Santas this year were 'near enough' the same as last year. So all in all it was good news to hear.

 

At Peak, Santa progresses through the train, and at same time, magicians,entertainers,travel through from both ends for the kids as well as people serving drinks and pies for the adults and sweets for the kids,

having just taken the kids for the first time, id say about no more than 5 minutes went by without someone coming to entertain us,so not bad the kids certainly didnt get the chance to get bored which i found a bonus.

 

Last Time I went on a Santa special in the mid 1990s (as a true Santa believer then!) they had the train depart Sheringham and we would visit the Grotto at Weybourne and receive a present. Things haven't changed much in all that time

 

Yeah. Depart Sheringham, people get refreshments on the train. Sit at weybourne for up to an hour while everyone goes through the groto then run back to sheringham.

 

Why not, for the sake of the Santa Specials, rename one end of the railway "North Pole" then make the train up as some sort of Christmas express? Kids have suprisingly good imaginations and could pretend they are on an actual journey to see the big man himself (no, not Jesus, Santa)!

 

Weybourne becomes santa land. The name is placed over the weybourne name board.

 

Aww ok, thats my idea done then! Bugger

Oh well...

 

Carrog is renamed for the santas at Llangollen Railway!

See pics http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/santaspecials.html

 

WHAT???? There's more than one Santa Claus???

Well thanks a bunch, you've completely ruined Christmas forever now (sob, sniff)

 

The Ravenglass method has been tried and tested for many years now, and is as popular as ever!

Steam-hauled eight coach Santa train departs from Ravenglass with one compartment of each coach empty...
Santa train gets to Miteside loop, where Rudolph the Sleigh Engine arrives hauling Santa on his sleigh wagon (from Murthwaite Siding, where the mess coach is positioned)
Santa gets off his sleigh and boards one of the coaches on the Santa train, which then sets off bound for Dalegarth.
The Santa train stops at Walk Mill Summit (3.5 miles from Ravenglass), Eskdale Green station (4.75 miles from Ravenglass) and Spout House Corner (5.75 miles from Ravenglass), where Santa gets out of a coach and then gets into another, so he can interact with the children and their families, en route.
The train gets to Dalegarth, everyone gets off and go downstairs with Santa to his grotto, where they each receive their present (pre-booked by parents), while parents have mince pies and mulled wine.
Everyone back onto the train, and it stops en route three times again for Santa to change over coaches, so that by the time the train gets back to Miteside, Santa has sat in every coach and seen all the kids.
Back at Miteside, Santa de-trains, gets back on his sleigh and disappears up the valley again.
Santa train (minus Santa) leaves Miteside, bound for Ravenglass.

(REPEAT TWICE!)