Juletog — Veteranbanen Bryrup-Vrads

Veteranbanen Bryrup-Vrads runs its Juletog, a Christmas train the operator calls a fixed December tradition. The operator says the tradition goes back to the old Horsens-Bryrup-Silkeborg Jernbane. The steam locomotive pulls the old carriages from Bryrup through the forest to Vrads, and the train is filled with Christmas decorations, expectant children and adults.

Santa boards the train in Bryrup and rides along to Vrads, greeting children on the way. At Vrads there is a heated tent where mulled wine, hot cocoa, æbleskiver or a sausage with bread can be bought.

Passengers can also buy this year's Christmas tree in Vrads. The tree is wrapped in netting, loaded into the train's goods wagon and handed back on arrival in Bryrup.

The railway is run by a club of volunteer members who look after the trains, the track and the buildings, on about 5 km of the former Horsens-Bryrup-Silkeborg line, which closed in 1968.

A ride of about 15 minutes each way through the forest from Bryrup to Vrads behind the steam locomotive, with Santa boarding in Bryrup. In Vrads there is a Christmas tent with mulled wine, hot cocoa, æbleskiver and sausages, and a place to buy a Christmas tree that travels back in the goods wagon. The operator says the train is usually full, so you may share a seating group with other Christmas passengers.

Departs from Veteranbanen Bryrup-Vrads, Hovedgaden 34H, 8654 Bryrup. A seat reservation is required in advance; tickets can be booked online or by phone (75 75 60 35, answered by a volunteer in the afternoon and evening). Tickets are collected at the ticket window in Bryrup; bring the booking confirmation. An information e-mail with parking and seating details is sent in the week before the trip. Dogs cannot be taken on the Christmas train. Prams and pushchairs can be taken but travel in the goods wagon, and passengers must lift them aboard. The rolling stock is almost 100 years old and poorly suited to wheelchairs: walkers and small wheelchairs can travel in the goods wagon, but passengers must be able to board without them.