It’s full steam ahead for Cumbria’s Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway this Christmas, with two special Heritage Train Weekends planned, alongside daily scheduled services during the festive period.
Taking place on the weekends of 26-27 December and 2-3 January, the Heritage Railway Weekends will give passengers the chance to pre-book open carriage journeys on two vintage locomotives: Katie – who dates back almost 125 years – and the railway’s well-loved Atlantic-type locomotive Synolda, built in 1912.
These are rare opportunities to recreate the same atmospheric train experiences people would have enjoyed when they made the scenic journey between Ravenglass and Dalegarth in the heyday of steam travel, more than a century ago.
Each trip also includes two static photo opportunities – a ‘must do’ for everyone from young families to heritage enthusiasts alike.
Both locomotives are usually housed at the Ravenglass Railway Museum, as part of the free attraction’s diverse collection of more than 3,000 artefacts chronicling the railway’s history since the 1870s.
As well as the Heritage Railway Weekends, a special Christmas timetable has been unveiled for regular daily services running between Boxing Day and Sunday 3 January 2021.
Taking in panoramic views of the Cumbrian coast and dramatic mountain scenery, the route links the Lake District National Park’s only coastal village in Ravenglass with Dalegarth in the spectacular Eskdale Valley.
A newly introduced food app will also allow passengers to pre-order seasonal foodie treats to take away and enjoy on their travels.
“It’s fantastic to be combining the magic of Christmas with the magic of steam travel over the festive period,” says Rachel Bell, the head of marketing and development at Lake District Estates.
Full details of the festive timetable, along with the Heritage Train Weekends, is available at www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk/
In line with government guidance, all passengers must wear face coverings. Tickets must be pre-booked.
