This year, the Severn Valley Railway has a new star for its Santa Steam Specials, which start running this weekend.

The star of the show will be an awe-inspiring puppet named Polly the Polar Bear, who is sure to delight visitors on their festive journeys as they enjoy their experience the railway’s all-new Christmas production. With Polly as the star of the Severn Valley Railway’s seasonal programme, visitors can experience nostalgia on a train ride behind a steam engine whilst enjoying a brand-new theatrical experience.

The special journeys depart from Kidderminster this weekend, Saturday 29th and Sunday, 30th November, then continue running on selected dates until Christmas Eve. Journeys on the Santa Steam Specials will take participants through the wintry Severn Valley to Arley in Worcestershire, to enjoy a live presentation of The Great Christmas Train Rescue. The show promises laughter, adventure, and truly magical festive moments, with appearances from Polly, the dastardly Victor Von Sneeze, and of course, Santa.

The famed creator of War Horse, Matthew Forbes, has designed puppetry for the performance, which will bring a new experience of a theatrical spectacle to the Severn Valley Railway. Lewis Maddox, the railway’s visitor engagement manager, expects there to be overwhelming demand for the new spectacle. To avoid disappointment, he is urging families to book their tickets as soon as possible.

For those who wish to experience the Santa Steam Specials in a more relaxed environment, they should book to travel on the specials on 7th, 14th or 21st December. Full information about the spcieals, including times and booking details, are online at svr.co.uk.

In July, Santa made a non-seasonal appearance on the Severn Valley Railway to announce two new steam services during the Christmas period, with ‘Santa Steam Specials’ from Kidderminster and the ‘Elf Express’ from Bridgnorth in Shropshire.

“Because this is a brand-new experience, demand has been incredible. Some services have already completely sold out, and many others now have only limited availability. If you’re hoping to join us, especially as we get closer to Christmas, please book as soon as you can. We don’t want anyone to miss out on this unforgettable festive experience.”

Lewis Maddox