1998 Santa Special Success

NEWS RELEASE From: Andrew P.M. Wright. Swanage Railway Press Officer: December 29th 1998

Elated Swanage Railway yolunteers are celebrating the best New Year present they could hope for - record-breaking 9,500 passengers riding their festive Santa Special steam trains during December.

ELATED Swanage Railway volunteers are celebrating the best New Year present they could hope for - the equivalent population of Swanage town riding their festive Santa Special steam trains over ten days during December.

Nine per cent more people rode the festive trains along the six mile relaid Purbeck Line to meet Father Christmas this year compared to last year.

And in a new service, 4500 people rode the special heritage diesel shuttle service linking Norden's park and ride station with Swanage and the start of the Santa Special trains which were started back in 1984 when they ran over just one mile of track.

"All the Santa Special volunteers who made the trains happen - from locomotive crews to Santa's helpers - are tired but very happy because of what's a brilliant performance," said Swanage Railway's delighted Passenger Services Manager David Green.

"All the profits from the Santas are ploughed back into the development of the Swanage Railway and the constant strive to improve train services.

"The heritage diesel shuttle service between Norden and Swanage was an experiment that worked very well. It meant Santa Special passengers didn't have to drive all the way into Swanage to find a parking place and that the public train service for non-Santa Special passengers was maintained.

"The diesel shuttte was much more popular than we anticipated. Next Christmas it will be greatly improved with ess waiting around time for the public - especially in the early afternoons.

"Our Santa Specials are very popular because of their quality, value for money and friendly atmosphere which is like one large family. More than 60 per cent of our Santa Special passengers have travelled on the festive trains in previous years. That speaks for itself.

"The public is not getting bored with Santa Specials which have been running since 1984- far from it - and we've seen no evidence of any recession either among our passengers." added Mr Green.

Next Christmas, the Swanage Railway volunteers plan to run more Santa Special steam trains - extending the ten days of operation by one day to 11 days while the total number of festive trains will go up from 40 to 44.

"The Santa Specials mean a great deal of work by the volunteer teams of people that make them happen - right up to the evernng of Christmas Eve," explained David Green.

"But it's all worthwhile when you see the expressions of wonder and delight on the children's faces. It would melt the heart of even the coldest cynic."

We're delighted to have carried 9,500 Santa Special passengers this year - an extra pat on the back for our dedicated volunteers - and hope the public will keep on coming each year. We always strive to improve and make them even better." added Mr Green.

This year's Santa Special steam trains were composed of five passenger-carrying carriages with a steam locomotive at each end.

Over the ten operating days - three weekends and the four weekdays up to and including Christmas Eve - the festive trains steamed a total of 480 miles; the equivalent distance from Swanage to northern Scotland or Swanage to Bordeaux in southern France.

While on board children received their wrapped age-relevant present from Father Christmas while the adults were served festive refreshments and freshly baked mince pies.