Santa specials on Britain's heritage railways: a family guide

Santa specials are Christmas train rides on Britain's heritage railways, where Father Christmas visits the children on board or at a station along the way. Each child usually gets a small present, and the train is often pulled by a steam locomotive. Most lines run them on weekends from late November and on extra days just before Christmas, and the best dates tend to sell out early, so book as soon as your chosen railway opens its Christmas bookings.

They're one of those family traditions that stick. Small children get Santa, and the grown-ups get a heritage train ride and somewhere warm to sit.

What happens on a Santa special?

Details vary from line to line, but a typical trip goes something like this. You board an old train at the railway's main station, often behind a steam engine and sometimes behind a heritage diesel. The train sets off up the line, and at some point Santa (often with a few helpers) works his way through the carriages, or the children meet him in a grotto at one of the stations.

Each child usually gets a present suited to their age. Many railways also offer grown-ups a mince pie and a hot drink or something stronger. The ride itself is often fairly short, up the line and back, which suits small children who've been awake since six with excitement.

Some lines run themed trains instead of, or as well as, a classic Santa special. Names and formats change from year to year, so read the description before you book.

When do Santa specials run?

Usually from late November through to Christmas Eve. Weekends are the core of it, and many railways add weekday trains in the final week or so before Christmas.

Each railway publishes its own dates, often months ahead, so the only reliable way to know this year's timetable is the line's own website. Don't go by what they did last year.

Which heritage railways usually run Santa trains?

Most of Britain's larger heritage lines run some kind of Christmas train for families. A few well-known ones, along with the National Rail station where you can change from the main network:

There are plenty more, from Cornwall to the north of Scotland. For a fuller list, region by region, see our guide to heritage railways in the UK.

How do you book a Santa special?

Through the heritage railway's own website, in almost every case. Some quick tips:

• Book early. The weekends nearest Christmas go first.
• Pick a weekday if you can. Where railways offer them, they're often quieter and easier to get.
• Check what's included. Ask whether adults need a ticket, what age range the presents are for, and whether there's a set seat or table.
• Ask about access. If you're bringing a pushchair or wheelchair, check the railway's advice on carriages and stations before the day.

Tips for the day itself

Wrap up warm. Old carriages can be draughty and you might spend time on an open platform, so hats and gloves are a good idea.

Arrive early, especially if you're driving. Car parks at popular lines fill up on December weekends, and most lines have stations at both ends, so check your ticket for which one your train leaves from.

Keep a phone or camera handy once the train sets off. Santa's visit to each carriage can be quick, and that photo of a small face meeting him is the one everyone will want.

If you're going by train, check your connection the day before and again on the morning. Heritage trains don't appear in National Rail's live data, but the main line train that gets you there does. A live board at home, like TrainTicker set to your local station, shows whether your train is on time while you're hunting for the second glove. Or open the free live demo on your phone and pick the station.

One more thing worth knowing: the national network stops completely on Christmas Day, and most operators run nothing on Boxing Day either. If your plans stretch into the holiday itself, read do trains run on Christmas Day? first.

Is a Santa special a good Christmas present?

For a family with young children, it's a lovely one. Tickets bought early and tucked into a card make a good surprise, and because the trip happens before Christmas Day, it stretches the excitement out a bit.

For older train fans, the same railways often sell footplate experiences, dining trains and gift vouchers. Our guides to train experience gifts in the UK and train gifts for kids have more ideas along those lines.