‘ Polar Express’toberun by South DevonRailway for the first time

THE South DevonRailway has announced that itwill operate the ‘ Polar Express’for the first time this December.

Held in partnershipwith Telfordbased PNP Events Ltd, the event, based on Chris Van Allsburg’s 1985 children’s book and subsequent blockbuster film, has beenamajor winner for heritage railways in recent years.

A railway spokesman said: “Families of all ages will be able to cast off the Covid- 19 blues and hop aboard the awe- inspiring steam train and begin the journey of a lifetime with a Christmas experience to top all others.

“We have high hopes for the Polar Express, which is already a huge success on other railways, including the Wensleydale and Mid- Norfolk, as well as our friends at the Seaton Tramway.”

Just as in the Warner Brothers movie, the event will feature on board singing and dancing chefs serving hot chocolate and cookies, the conductor stamping everyone’s tickets, and Santa coming on board at the North Pole.

Tickets at southdevonrailway thepolarexpressride. com/ went on sale on July 31.

The railway has yet to announce a date for the resumption of regular services.

However, it reopened its Buckfastleigh site on August 1, withamarked route around the children’s playground, garden railway, locomotive yard, Lee Moor Tramway shed, running shed, workshops, carriage shed and north signalbox. Visitors were asked to make a donation to follow it. However, the station museum will not be open at this stage.

Meanwhile, the line’s SOS emergency appeal at www. southdevonrailway. co. uk/ fundraising/ had raisedmore than £ 224,000 as we closed for press, nearly halfway towards its £ 500,000 target.