AS old steam trains are always very popular on this page, I’ll remind readers that there’s one more weekend left to catch Santa on the Lapland Express at the Downpatrick and Co. Down Railway, before he has to return to the North Pole to get ready for Christmas Eve.
Railway Chairman John Wilson told me: “If you haven’t been down yet, you’re really missing a Christmas treat as Santa really gets everyone into the festive mood on board his Workshop Train teaching the children how to go ‘ho ho ho’.” The steam train will be leaving the railway station this coming Saturday December 22 and Sunday 23 at 2pm and then approximately every 40-45 minutes till 5pm, but if you want to beat the queues Mr Wilson advises people to arrive at 3 o’clock or 4 o’clock as tickets cannot be booked in advance.
There’ll be Yuletide refreshments on the buffet coach at the Loop Platform, and “admission to see Santa in his workshop is also dependant on children having been good throughout the year!”
And after Christmas Day is over, you can steam into the New Year with the railway’s Mince Pie Specials on New Year’s Day!
Further information is on the railway’s website at www.downrail.co.uk