Winter Works are getting well underway and preparations for a special visitor begin!

From an outside perspective you could be forgiven for thinking all is quite here at The East Somerset Railway in November. Our last train of the main season pulled into Cranmore on Sunday 29th October with 4110 in charge and our next scheduled service is the start of our Santa Specials on Dec 2nd.

However, if you happen to pop up onto the platform you will see a sea of orange as our volunteers are out in force working on track repairs at the end of Cranmore Station. It has been mixed working conditions for our hard-working volunteers who have had to deal with torrential rain and glorious sunshine. This is a staggered working approach further works planned after our December timetable has finished.

Speaking of December, Christmas is fast approaching and decorating has begun to ensure we are ready to receive Santa Claus himself! Our first Santa Special will run on December 2nd and with over half of all tickets now sold some trains are fully booked. This magical experience begins with a 30-minute train ride of the Santa Special train where we then cross the line to the North Pole Station where Santa Claus himself is waiting to meet you and refreshments of mulled wine and mince pies are served. Santa’s sleigh has even had a new lick of paint to ensure it is ready for the festive season!

We also have a new dining experience launching this December. Christmas High Teas are available. Served in a luxury dining carriage, this afternoon tea includes a trio of festive finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, strawberry jam and butter as well as a mince pie, billionaires brownie, Christmas cake and Rudolph’s Red nose Truffle with a hot drink of your choice. All these scrumptious treats are homemade by the wonderful team at the Station Café.

With all the hard work taking place currently on the tracks and a busy December ahead of us it is a perfect time to highlight the superb job done by so many volunteers across The East Somerset Railway team. As a charity the ESR would be nothing without the hard work, passion and knowledge of our volunteers who quite literally keep us on track!

Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers!

The work doesn’t stop just because the trains have! – follow us on Facebook or Instagram to keep up with all the day to day goings on across the site.