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Santa Steams In!

DATE POSTED: 15 Dec 2025

Santa arrived in style at Shillingstone Station on Sunday December 14th, on board newly-refurbished steam locomotive 30075, its first official duty since the engine completed its 10 year restoration programme.  Santa was met on the platform by Mrs Santa and a group of elves before taking up residence in the Grotto and greeting nearly 50 children and their families.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apart from delivering Santa safely to the station, the loco shunted its fellow Yankee Tank, 30076 onto a siding where P62 volunteers can more easily work on it. Though both engines arrived at Shillingstone in January 2016, it’s the first time they’ve connected, and it was very much a ‘before and after’/ ‘you too could look like me’ moment. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile a live band played Christmas music for the visitors, wooden reindeer were searched for, there was a Story Corner, and the café did a roaring trade in hot pasties and mince pies. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And in the afternoon, to the delight of visitors, trailway users and passing motorists alike, 30075 steamed on to Lamb House Bridge, the first time for a steam loco since the line was closed in March 1966, nearly 60 years ago, and steamed up and down a few times before returning to the platform at the end of a day of firsts.