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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>
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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 ''Severn Valley Railway Memories''.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Magner (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 Eve. 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.
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==
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| 2018 ||style="text-align:right;" |''36,104'' || Kidderminster to Arley || <ref name=SVRH/> ||
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| 2019 ||style="text-align:right;" |'''' || Bridgnorth and Kidderminster to Highley || ||
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|}
