With the advent of the New Year, the Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust has been looking back at notable events during 2025, especially the last three months of the year, which were the railway’s busiest time.

Starting the last quarter’s events was ‘Halloween at the Station’, which emulated the success of its 2024 Halloween event. This is always a popular event, and to enable more people to join in the spooky fun, both morning and afternoon sessions featuring “The Haunted Express” had been arranged. It featured a diesel multiple unit (DMU) that had been transformed with cobwebs into a haunted experience, where ghouls, ghosts, and skeletons lurked among the spider’s webs.

To accommodate visitors of a more sensitive nature, Mk.1 coaches had been transformed into a Harry Potter train, with the added attraction that children dressed in Halloween fancy dress could travel free.

A few weeks later, Santa Specials launched the start of the festive season. Mk.1 coaches decorated with a festive theme transported visitors for a train ride before returning to Midsomer Norton station to visit Santa in his grotto, where all children received a present from Santa. Afterwards, the adults were treated to festive drinks and mince pies, whilst the children received a goodie bag.

New Year’s Day marked the end of the 2025 season with the diesel multiple unit operating Mince Pie Specials. The weather was dry and chilly, but inside the DMU it was warm, while visitors enjoyed a drink and mince pie in the RMB Buffet.

Another major event of the year was the return to its spiritual home of 0-4-0 saddle tank Kilmersdon, which was built in 1929 by Peckett & Sons, in Bristol, for the Somerset coalfields.

The Trust expresses its thanks to everyone for their support last year and hopes they enjoyed the railway and its special events. Services resume at Easter, when there will be another exciting program of special events. Although the railway is closed until then, the work continues. The railway relies on volunteers, and without them, nothing would be possible, especially with all the hard work they put in throughout the year.