Lancashire Tourism Awards names East Lancashire Railway as a finalist | So Good News

Located in the heart of Bury, the East Lancashire Railway has been nominated as a finalist in the Lancashire Tourism Awards in the ‘Major Event of the Year’ category. The railway has been named after its top-rated Santa Specials event which sees thousands of visitors attend each year to capture some festive family frivolity and nostalgia.

East Lancashire Railway’s Santa Specials capture the magic of the Christmas season and provide a stroll through a wintry landscape at Bury Bolton Street Station, where families get to meet a host of festive characters. The event then sees an 80-minute round trip pulled by a traditional steam locomotive with food and drink for everyone and of course a visit from Father Christmas who has a present for every child on board and a glass of Bailey’s for the adults.

As the biggest Santa Specials event in the UK for 2021, the historic railway saw a massive 42,000 people turn out from across the country and has now become a regular festive tradition for many families with the 2022 event promising to be just as fun as ever.

The Lancashire Tourism Awards are the largest and only county-wide celebration of tourism. This year’s awards will focus on the resilience of the tourism sector for Lancashire following the pandemic.

Mike Kelly, Chairman of East Lancashire Railway, comments: “We are incredibly honored to be named as finalists in these prestigious awards.

“Our Santa Specials have been in existence for 35 years and are a vital source of income to preserve and sustain the ELR and have enabled the railway not only to survive but to thrive, even in times of uncertainty caused by closure.

“This year our enhanced Santa specials are bigger and better than ever before with more to see, do and enjoy, but none of this would be possible without our team of dedicated staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to bring the Christmas magic and experience to railways every year. And finally, a wonderful big Christmas thanks to the many thousands of families who come year after year to enjoy this unique family extravaganza.”