Santa Specials

Every effort will be made to ensure that steam locomotives haul our Santa Specials services. However, should a steam locomotive be unavailable, the East Lancashire Railway reserves the right to substitute a diesel locomotive without prior notice. We reserve the right to suspend, reschedule or cancel services if operational circumstances or safety make this necessary.

All Santa Special steam trains start and end at Bury Bolton Street Station. We recommend starting your experience at Heywood Station where there is plenty of parking. Simply book on the Santa diesel shuttle which operates from Heywood to Bury. Heywood Shuttle Tickets available soon.

The round trip experience from Bury Bolton Street Station lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Passengers must remain on board their Santa Special train at all times.

Toilet facilities are available both on the train as well as on the platform at Bury Bolton Street Station.

We are providing gender neutral gifts based on age range rather than gender. Under 3’s will receive a teddy; all other age brackets will receive age appropriate gifts.

Unfortunately gifts cannot be changed on the day.

All “Adults with under 3” tickets will receive a gift, under 3 gifts are a lovely teddy and suitable from birth. If you choose an adult only ticket, your child will not be provided a gift.

Bolton Street Station and the surrounding area has very limited parking. You can find further information on parking here.

An alternative would be to book the Santa diesel shuttle service and start your experience from Heywood where there is a free car park. Santa diesel shuttles are scheduled to arrive to ensure you have plenty of time to board your Santa Special steam train. Heywood Shuttle tickets available to purchase soon.

We recommend that you arrive at least 30 minutes before your Santa Special Steam Train departure.

On each train we have a buggy carriage where you can leave your pram, you will be given a ticket to collect it on your return.

There is a pram route that will let you avoid the stairs to the platform.

Bury Bolton Street has a well stocked Buffet on Platform 3 that will be serving drinks, snacks and warm pies as well as lots of goodies for the little ones.

Refreshments are also available at the Whistlestop Café in Heywood (if you are travelling on the Santa Diesel Shuttle between Heywood and Bury) and the Trackside Bar in Bury (Platform 2).

You are more than welcome to bring your own food, otherwise there are plenty
of other options available, as listed above.

You can exchange your Festive Tipple for an alternative soft drink on the day, just ask your train steward.

There is a gluten-free biscuit alternative to the mince pie upon request. The Mince Pie is suitable for vegans. Also, a dairy-free alternative to the chocolate is available on request.

Every Santa Special Steam Train has a specially adapted carriage for people who require wheelchair assistance. We offer this as a private carriage to one family at a time. Our accessible carriage allows direct access by wheelchair. To make a booking, call 0333 320 2830 and we will do the rest for you.

Carriage – A is located next to the engine and the entrance to the event and involves the least amount of walking.

Carriage – G is the last carriage on the set and is the furthest away from the entrance to the event.

Carers only qualify for a free ticket whilst undertaking their caring duty. ELR offers one free carer ticket per party in these circumstances. Please contact our booking line on 0333 320 2830.

One seat is included, with the child under 3 seated on the lap of the adult.

Unfortunately dogs are not permitted at the Santa Special event, with the exception of guide dogs.

While every effort is made to operate advertised services with the scheduled locomotive, the Company reserves the right to substitute the advertised locomotive with another heritage locomotive (steam or diesel) at its discretion and without prior notice.

Substitutions may be necessary for reasons including, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions (e.g., high fire risk), mechanical issues, operational constraints, or safety considerations.

Such substitutions shall not constitute a significant alteration of the service and do not entitle passengers to a refund, partial refund, compensation, or transfer, provided the advertised journey, catering provision (if applicable), and other core elements of the experience are fulfilled with reasonable care and skill.

By purchasing a ticket, passengers accept that locomotive substitutions are a recognised possibility inherent to the operation of heritage railways and do not diminish the service’s overall value when delivered per these terms.