The Wensleydale Railway is celebrating the return of its festive The Polar Express train ride.

There were no trains last year due to the pandemic, but this year over 42,000 passengers have booked and the event is a sell-out.

Trains will be hauled by ex-LMS Black Five 45407 The Lancashire Fusilier. The first train ran on 19th November, helping passengers to experience a very magical Christmas as they travelled to the North Pole.

Following its return from the North Pole, The Lancashire Fusilier will haul two mince pie specials on 27th and 28th December, with an additional diesel-hauled mince pie special on the 29th December behind Class 14 D9523.

The journeys will allow passengers to blow away their Christmas cobwebs and enjoy a festive journey in beautifully decorated Yuletide carriages complete with a complimentary mince pie.

The Wensleydale Railway is a 22-mile line that connects Northallerton with Redmire, but the Christmas trains will only be operating between Leeming Bar, Bedale, and Leyburn stations.

Trains will run on 27th, 28th, and 29th December, with an additional diesel running day using Class 37 37250 operating between Leeming Bar and Constable Burton on 24th December.

Tickets can be booked in advance by calling the Wensleydale Railway on 01677 425805, or booking via the railway’s website at www.wensleydale-railway.co.uk

Chris Williams, General Manager, Wensleydale Railway, said “Following an extremely difficult eighteen months and after having to cancel our services last Christmas, we are thrilled to be welcoming a Black Five to the railway. Not only will the engine work throughout the sell-out Polar Express Train Ride events, it will also operate on two days between Christmas and New Year. This is the first time a Black Five has visited us here at Wensleydale and we are anticipating that this will be an extremely popular event”.

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