Heywood pupils board the Santa Special steam train

Councillor Keith Whitmore, Chairman of GMITA, and Heywood North Councillor Peter Rush, who is a member of the East Lancashire Railway Trust, with the special guests who joined them for a trip on the East Lancashire Railway's Santa Special on Saturday.

Heywood Primary school pupils got into the festive spirit at the weekend by taking a ride on the East Lancashire Railway’s Santa Special.

Councillor Keith Whitmore, Chairman of Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA), joined Heywood North Councillor Peter Rush, the five youngsters and their parents to travel from Bury to Ramsbottom on a vintage steam engine.

Santa also came along for the ride and handed out special gifts to all the passengers.

Councillor Whitmore said: “It’s great to see the East Lancashire Railway providing these special trips once again. They have proven to be extremely popular in recent years and I hope they continue long into the future.

“We have a close relationship with the ELR and it’s great to see it going from strength to strength.

“It was a really festive occasion and I was delighted to be able to share it with Councillor Rush, the youngsters from Heywood Primary and their parents. I encourage everyone to make a trip on the Santa Special a festive ‘must’!”

The party travelled to Bury on a special shopper shuttle service from the ELR’s Heywood station. The shuttle services take around 13 minutes and run at regular intervals.

Councillor Rush, who is a member of the ELR Trust, said: “I’m really pleased that, by providing the Santa Special services, the East Lancashire Railway has become part of people’s Christmas celebrations.

“The railway is such an important part of our history and I’m proud to be associated with it.”

The Santa Special, which is a one-hour round trip, will be running every Saturday and Sunday until 20 December, and then on Tuesday 22 December, Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24. It is the 22nd consecutive year that festive services have run on the line.

Andy Coward, East Lancashire Railway’s General Manager, said: “Every year, our dedicated team of volunteers work really hard preparing for the arrival of Santa and the combination of a steam hauled train and a visit from Santa is truly magical.

“Seats on the services are selling fast and advanced booking is essential, so don’t delay if you want to join in the fun.”

Trains will leave Bury at 10am, 11.15am, 12,30pm, 1.45pm and 3pm (apart from Christmas Eve, when the last service will be 1.45pm). On 12, 13, 19 and 20 December, the last service will leave at 4.15pm.

Tickets, priced £11.50 for adults, £9.50 for children and £6.50 for unseated children under 3, can be bought from Bolton Street Station in Bury.

For more details, contact the East Lancashire Railway from 10am until 4pm, seven days a week, on 0161 764 7790 or visit www.east-lancs-rly.co.uk.