Trustworthy, administrator
6,661
edits
Changes
m
In On 23 and 24 December 1973 two days of 'Santa Claus' specials ran with three coaches between Bridgnorth and [[Hampton Loade]], hauled by [[WD 193 Shropshire|'Austerity' 0-6-0ST WD 193]]. The weekend marked the SVR's first [[Christmas services | Santa services]].<ref>SVR News 29,32</ref>
Total Reported total passenger numbers for Christmas services are given below. In some cases these are approximations. Where totals only include Santa trains and exclude post-Christmas services, numbers are in ''italics''.
Details added
The below is an incomplete page.
Christmas services are a huge part of the SVR’s services, accounting for approximately 35,000 of the 200,000 [[SVR Passenger numbers|tickets sold annually]]. By tradition, the SVR's services close at the end of the services after New Year's Day and therefore includes the immediate post-Christmas trains.
Services are a volunteer lead projectunder a Santa committee, headed by Dianne Malyon.It is almost a twelve-month project: presents are ordered in March, and bands and choirs by May.<ref>SVR News 171, 203</ref>
==Early years==
The South Devon Railway relates that [[Kitson & Co 5474 'Carnarvon']] carried Santa in 1969. <ref>[http://www.southdevonrailwayassociation.org/Caernarfon.html South Devon Railway website]</ref> There is no record of the event in either SVR News or Chris ''Severn Valley Railway Memories''.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Magner's book(1997)]]. </ref> Since the [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1970-1979#1970|Light Railway Order]] was only granted in 1970, it could presumably only have been a static event at [[Bridgnorth]], and so it would not have been classed as a 'Santa service'.
On 20 December 1982 Santa arrived at Bewdley by helicopter, before travelling to [[Santa's Grotto|his grotto at Arley]] by train.<ref>SVR News 67</ref>
==Recent operation to 2018==
The mainstay operation is was the Santa Special operation. This operates operated half hourly all day, typically weekends from late November/early December until Christmas DayEve. This necessitates necessitated a five-train operation, all steam hauled, with a sixth locomotive providing train pre-heating and acting as standby. The trains operate operated between [[Kidderminster]] and [[Santa's Grotto]] at [[Arley]], with trains picking up and setting down at [[Bewdley]] on the return leg only. In addition the [[Class 108 DMU]] runs ran staff trains, and a late afternoon service for late-returning passengers. Setting up took place at the beginning of October, with clearing away taking place before year end. A typical day's operation needed around 100 volunteers, excluding crew and signalmen. There were 96 Santa turns for the Santa Specials.
On 23 November 2018 the SVR made a 'Black Friday' discount offer of unsold Santa Special tickets.
A secondary operation are was ‘Santa Heralds’, with Santa travelling on the train to distribute presents. These are typically steam-operated midweek services.
Carol Trains are an evening DMU service, running from Kidderminster to [[The Engine House]]. Christmas Carvery DMU services also run to The Engine House where a meal is provided. Dining Trains also operate. Schools steam services run in midweek.
Post-Christmas services normally begin on Boxing Day and run daily until at least New Years Day.
Stations and platforms at Kidderminster, Bewdley and Arley are decorated. At both Kidderminster and Arley live seasonal music is provided by local groups. Carriages are not usually decorated, locomotives may carry headboards, wreaths or other decoration.
It is was also an important part of activities for other groups. [[SVR Apprentices]] dress in animal character costumes to entertain the waiting youngsters at [[Arley]]. Several [[List of preservation groups|preservation groups]] roast and sell chestnuts.
==2019 operations==
In June 2019 the SVR announced there will be a refresh of Santa Specials, no longer featuring a Grotto but instead including the addition of departures : *Santa Specials from Kidderminster *Premium Santa Specials from both Kidderminster and [[Bridgnorth]] . These services operate to Highley on a decorated steam train with Santa meeting every family on the train handing out gifts and posing for photographs. Operationally both are top and tailed, the Bridgnorth-originating services with steam and the Kidderminster services steam and diesel. A 'Steam in Lights' evening illuminated steam service operates from Bridgnorth. This does not feature Santa. Carol Trains, Christmas Carvery, Dining Trains, Schools steam services and post-Christmas services continue. The Bridgnorth services are the first time in many years and operations from Bridgnorth during the evenings. These will make , making use of the new facilities afforded by the [[Bridgnorth#Bridgnorth_Development_Project|Bridgnorth development project]].
==Passenger numbers==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !! No of passengers!! Location !! Reference !! Notes
|-
| 1973 || style="text-align:right;" | || Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade. || || 1 weekend of Santa trains
|-
| 1974 || style="text-align:right;" | || Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade. || ||
| 1993 ||style="text-align:right;" | 48,485 || Kidderminster to Arley || SVR News 109 || Santa trains 41,501, Mince pie specials 6,984.
|-
| 1994 || style="text-align:right;" | || Kidderminster to Arley || ||Not reported in SVR News.|-| 1995 ||style="text-align:right;" | || Kidderminster to Arley || SVR News 117||Predicted Santa trains 32,000; final number not reported.
|-
| 1995 1996 ||style="text-align:right;" | || Kidderminster to Arley || ||Not reported in SVR News.
|-
| 1996 1997 ||style="text-align:right;" | >33,000 || Kidderminster to Arley || SVR News 125 ||
|-
| 1997 1998 ||style="text-align:right;" | >39,258 || Kidderminster to Arley || SVR News 129 ||December 38,258, plus >1k on New Years Day
|-
| 1998 1999 ||style="text-align:right;" | 37,876|| Kidderminster to Arley || SVR News 132 ||
|-
| 1999 2000 || style="text-align:right;" | >33,000|| Kidderminster to Arley || SVR News 135 ||33,000 weekend Santas, other midweek services not reported.
|-
| 2000 2001 ||style="text-align:right;" | || Kidderminster to Arley || SVR News 139 ||Santa trains not reported; 5,100 after Christmas.
|-
| 2001 2002 ||style="text-align:right;" | || Kidderminster to Arley || ||Not reported in SVR News.
|-
| 2002 2003 ||style="text-align:right;" | || Kidderminster to Arley || ||Not reported in SVR News.
|-
| 2003 2004 ||style="text-align:right;" | ~43,500 || Kidderminster to Arley || SVR News 149 ||Santas 35.5k, Diners 1k, Other 7k (approx)
|-
| 2004 2005 ||style="text-align:right;" | ~43,200 || Kidderminster to Arley || SVR News 152 ||Santas and other 42k, Diners 1.2k (approx)
|-
| 2005 2006 ||style="text-align:right;" | || Kidderminster to Arley || SVR News 156 ||Not reported (Santas were 5k more than budget)
|-
| 2006 2007 ||style="text-align:right;" | || Kidderminster to Bewdley|| ||[[2007 Storm Damage]]. Numbers not reported.
|-
| 2007 2008 ||style="text-align:right;" | ''~29,000'' || Kidderminster to Arley || SVR News 164 ||
|-
| 2008 2009 ||style="text-align:right;" | || Kidderminster to Arley || ||Not reported in SVR News.
|-
| 2009 2010 ||style="text-align:right;" | || Kidderminster to Arley || SVR News 172 ||26,529 advance tickets sold, final number not reported
|-
| 2010 2011 ||style="text-align:right;" | ''30,369'' || Kidderminster to Arley || Pete Cherry ||Not reported in SVR News. Number of advance tickets sold for Santa Special, Herald and Sleigh services. Final number not reported
|-
| 2011 2012 ||style="text-align:right;" | 47,038 || Kidderminster to Arley || SVR News 181 ||
|-
| 2012 2013 ||style="text-align:right;" | ''33,205'' || Kidderminster to Arley || Pete Cherry ||Not reported in SVR News. Number of advance tickets sold for Santa Special, Herald and Sleigh services. Final number not reported
|-
| 2013 2014 ||style="text-align:right;" | ''32,213'' || Kidderminster to Arley || Pete Cherry ||Not reported in SVR News. Number of advance tickets sold for Santa Special, Herald and Sleigh services. Final number not reported
|-
| 2014 2015 ||style="text-align:right;" | ''33,319''|| Kidderminster to Arley || <ref name=SVRH>SVR(H) AGM presentation</ref> ||
|-
| 2015 2016 ||style="text-align:right;" |''33,319364''|| Kidderminster to Arley ||<ref name=SVRH>SVR(H) AGM presentation</ref> ||
|-
| 2016 2017 ||style="text-align:right;" |33''31,364962'' || Kidderminster to Arley ||<ref name=SVRH/> ||One day lost due to weather.
|-
| 2017 2018 ||style="text-align:right;" |31''36,962 104'' || Kidderminster to Arley || <ref name=SVRH/> || One day lost due to weather.
|-
| 2018 2019 ||style="text-align:right;" |36,104 '''' || Bridgnorth and Kidderminster to Arley Highley || || <ref name=SVRH/> ||
|}
