A great day out for the whole family!

  We took our 4 Yr and 5 months old boys on the santa train yesterday. Lovely festive feeling from the moment we stepped onto the platform, getting hot chocolate from... read more the cafe (which is converted train carriages) to stepping off again. Elf Marc provided our entertainment singing and dancing and getting everyone whipped up on the way to the station (North Pole) where santa boarded and greeted each child by name as he walked down the carriages and gave them a gift. Adults also recieved a pen. The grotto in carriage C was lovely and once we got back into the station we were able to visit santa again and take pics. Wonderful experience and will definitely be going again next year.

  We (my two friends and I) visitied Sunday last (13th Spet '20) after having to postpone the week prior and wer elucky enough to getthe last 'compartment' :) We had... read more a lovely time and everyone was so friendly and the staff and volunteers are to be commended for making us feel so welcome. Yes, the railway is (for now) only a short ride there and back, but it was so relaxing and for all of us (as we are of a certain age (!) very nostalgic...the 'safety' (virus) arrangements were really efficiently done too; each 'party' had a compartment for themselevs so no problem there :) I think those old Mk1 carriages should be made compulsory on today's railways :) So comfortable compared to the awful claustrophobic seating etc on modern railway stock..well done to you all and we will visit again :) Regards John D and Co x (Sheffield)

  Visited for the Santa train today with three young children (2,3 and 6) and I cannot believe how bad it was. The children were given presents in a plastic bag,... read more Santa’s beard was falling off, his outfit was old and dirty, and the elf who ‘entertained’ us was just odd.

There was no effort put into any of it. It lasted around 30 minutes and the presents that the children received were cheap and not age appropriate. The adult ‘gift’ was a pen advertising the railway.

To try to make at least one part of it enjoyable for the children, we went to the cafe afterwards for a hot chocolate...to find that they had run out and it was only 2.30pm.

It was all a shambles. Extremely badly organized and nothing like it was advertised.

  We visited this for the christmas railway visit with our children and their grandparents
The location is fine, plenty of off street parking nicely set, I love old steam... read more trains and carriages and you know its nice to have a bit of christmas cheer

We got our drinks settled down and then off we set along the track, the kids got a little present each which was decent

The carriages show their age, but hey you know what your getting when you go along to an old station

Santa came and saw the kids then a gent dressed as an elf turned up did some songs and we came back into the main station

My main issue was that in some of the wood sections you could see people had scrapped abusive words into the wood which was a bit annoying and it had been painted over rather than removed
It was a bit of cheesy fun though and highly recommended for people
Makes a nice break

  What a great couple of hours spent with family at a volunteer run station and train. The station is great, a flash to a bygone era and we had a... read more look in the small museum and shop before having a hot drink and a snack in the cafe carriage, whilst we waited for our departure time. The outbound journey to the North Pole was good and the kids and adults all seemed to be enjoying themselves. Santa came through the carriages giving gifts to the children and the adults each got a pen, which was an unexpected touch. On the return journey the elves got everyone involved in a sing and dance, which was great cheesy fun. Once back at the station, there was a photo with Santa and then we had a look at the engine and our youngest was very happy to have his photo with the driver on the loco footplate. All round good fun and for a great volunteer workforce, I salute them.

Not sure what experiences others had, but we for sure had a great time and highly recommend. I guess it's all about expectations and attitude. Keep up the good work.

  We had a lovely morning trip out on the santa train. My children (3 and 5) loved it. Marc the elf was jolly and enthusiastic and got our carriage into... read more the spirit of things with singing and dancing which made the trip so much fun.

It is a short train ride but we knew this already and saw this as a positive as our little kids won't sit still for long anyway. The toys were age appropriate and both were played with for the train journey and car journey home. I would without a doubt recommend to others with young children.