• James Hopkins Trust and Riding for the Disabled youngsters enjoy day out • Public trains now sold-out • Trains run until Christmas at weekends and 20th-23rd December
The GWSR is justly proud of its Santa Specials which, every year, are a sell-out. As has become traditional, the 2025 season began with a special day for children represented by local charities and the public trains to visit Santa in his grotto are under way.
This year, youngsters from James Hopkins Trust, which cares for life-limited and life-threatened young people and Riding for the Disabled Association, enjoyed a day out with Father Christmas on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR).
Public trains, which run every weekend until Christmas, plus 20th, 22nd and 23rd December, are now fully-booked.
The special charity train presented a fresh challenge to the volunteers who put on such a special occasion, when an area of Greet, where Winchcombe Station is located, suffered a major power outage. Plans were quickly changed and instead, the special trains ran to Broadway, with Father Christmas riding along on the train.
Chris Blake, a volunteer in the railway’s Steam Department who originally took the initiative to organise what has become an annual event, said: “Despite the difficulty presented by the sudden change of plan, the day was wonderful, everyone enjoying the atmosphere on the train with Father Christmas presenting lovely gifts to the children. Our charities said they enjoyed a very happy time meeting everyone involved with the railway, from station staff, locomotive crews, on-train catering and, of course, Santa and his many elves.”
The train includes carriages specially adapted by the railway to provide comfortable accommodation for those confined to a wheelchair and their carers.
Catherine Johnson, the railway’s Marketing Manager added: “I’m thrilled with how our Santa Specials have developed over the years to become what I firmly believe is the best traditional Christmas experience in the Cotswolds – and it is all organised and run by volunteers.
“The transformation of Winchcombe station to the ‘North Pole’ is magical. The whole experience of travelling by steam train to visit Father Christmas, enjoying the conviviality of mulled wine and mince pies and, of course, top-quality gifts for the children, really makes Christmas special for families who visit from miles around.”
The 48 ‘Santa Express’ trains are now fully-booked.
