Earlier this month, the Bluebell Railway invited RailAdvent down to Sheffield Park to ride onboard the SteamLights service.

SteamLights is a special performance that starts at Sheffield Park as the 1000s of lights on the train are lit up.

Our loco for the trip to Horsted Keynes was 73082 Camelot which was also decorated in special lights.

Once the train was lit, we boarded the train and found our compartment. SteamLights is something you have to see to really understand how breathtaking it is to see the lights in the dark countryside.

As we steamed through the countryside, the carriage lights turned off, and the train slowed as we passed through a number of festive scenes.

Music plays at these scenes at show continues with narration as we steam towards Horsted Keynes.

At Horsted Keynes, which in itself is also decorated superbly with lights, 73082 Camelot ran around its train and waited in the station for around 30 minutes, which allowed for photos to be taken of the station (and train) all lit up in the darkness – a real spectacle to see.

Whats really nice to see is on the return trip to Sheffield Park, the train again slowed at the different scenes, allowing you to take it all in again – or see the scenes you may have missed first time round.

The narration finishes as we approached Sheffield Park and thanks us for collecting the stars – a real treat for the whole family.

SteamLights runs on selected dates until the 8th January. A table for four adults starts at £125 but rises to up to £210 for a 1st Class Compartment in the Christmas Week.

You can book your tickets for SteamLights over on the Bluebell Railway website.

A big thank you to the Bluebell Railway for inviting us down for a trip.