Santa Specials — East Lancashire Railway

The East Lancashire Railway says it has hosted Santa Specials for almost 40 years. The experience begins with a walk through Bury Bolton Street Station, transformed into a winter wonderland with decorated festive scenes (the operator warns of some flashing lights), where passengers meet colourful characters such as elves, Mrs Claus and the Ice Princess before boarding a heritage steam train.

The train makes an approximately 80-minute round trip from Bury to Rawtenstall through the Irwell Valley, with carols from a traditional brass band, a mince pie and a festive tipple for adults, and a visit from Santa with extra time to talk and take photos. Every child receives a Christmas gift selected by age band, plus a high-quality activity book.

For parking, the railway runs a Santa Shuttle diesel railcar from Heywood to Bury Bolton Street, a journey of about 15 minutes, sold on an open-return basis. A British Sign Language interpreter can join selected departures.

A winter wonderland walk-through at Bury Bolton Street Station, about 80 minutes on a heritage steam train to Rawtenstall and back, carols with a brass band, a mince pie and festive tipple for adults, and a visit from Santa. Every child gets a gift by age band and an activity book. Some of the station scenes include flashing lights.

Boards at Bolton Street Station, Bury, Lancashire BL9 0EY. Parking at Bolton Street Station and around it is very limited; the railway suggests starting at Heywood, where there is a free car park, and taking the Santa Shuttle diesel railcar (about 15 minutes) to Bury. Prices vary with the date and a booking fee is applied per order, not per ticket. A British Sign Language interpreter is available on selected dates by emailing the events team. The railway also runs separate SEND Family Santa Special departures; this series is the standard Santa Special.