Santa Claus is coming to town (From Gazette & Herald)

Santa Claus is coming to town

SANTA and steam may not seem the likeliest of companions, but the Santa Specials certainly fit the bill at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

The trains will again be running along the moors railway line, starting from December 6 and continuing each weekend until Sunday, December 21.

Santa will be appearing on trains running from both Pickering and Grosmont.

Trains will set off from Pickering each day at 9.45am, 11.30am, 1.45pm and 3.15pm, while departures from Grosmont are at 10am, 11.30am, 1.45pm and 3.15pm.

While on board, grown-up travellers will receive coffee and a mince pie, while the under-12s can take a trip into Santa's grotto.

Tickets cost £7.50 per person, and demand is always very high, so early booking is recommended.

To book, write to NYMR Santa Special, Pickering Station, Pickering YO18 7AJ.

Alternatively, telephone (01751) 472508.

Please note, it is not possible to join the train at either Levisham or Goathland.

Meanwhile, there are only two weekends left to enjoy the regular train schedule before Christmas.

The normal service, with trains running between Pickering and Grosmont, concludes on Sunday, November 23.

Trains start from Grosmont at 10.50am and continue until 3.50pm, including the Moorlander lunch train at 12.50pm. The return route from Pickering starts at 11.20am and finishes at 3.20pm, with the Moorlander lunch train starting at 2.20pm.

Updated: 12:10 Wednesday, November 12, 2003