A brass band playing in the carriages is the sound most families remember from the East Lancashire Railway's Santa Specials, along with the Ice Princess waiting in a decorated Bury Bolton Street station before you board. Steam trains run up the Irwell valley to Rawtenstall and back on twelve dates in 2026, and Santa stops for photos with every child. Weighing it against other lines? Our UK Santa train finder lists them side by side.
The short version
- Dates: 28 and 29 November, 5, 6, 12 and 13 December, then 19 to 24 December 2026
- Departures: from Bury Bolton Street, most dates from 9.30am to 4.10pm, with different times on 21, 22 and 23 December
- Fares: children from £24.50 and adults from £25 on the opening weekend, plus a £2.50 booking fee per order
- Booking: online or on 0333 320 2830; arrive 30 minutes before departure
- Tip: parking at Bury is very limited, so use the free car park at Heywood and the diesel shuttle
East Lancashire Railway Santa Specials at a glance
- Railway
- East Lancashire Railway
- Departs from
- Bury Bolton Street station, Bury, Greater Manchester (return trip to Rawtenstall). Free parking at Heywood with a diesel shuttle of about 15 minutes.
- 2026 dates
- Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November; Saturday 5, Sunday 6, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December; Saturday 19 to Thursday 24 December 2026
- Times
- Most dates: departures from Bury between 9.30am and 4.10pm. 21 December: 10.20am, 12 noon, 1.40pm and 3.20pm. 22 and 23 December: every 40 minutes from 10am to 3pm.
- Duration
- Train about 80 minutes; whole experience about 1 hour 30 minutes
- Fares
- Adult / child / adult with under-3 on knee: 28 and 29 November from £25 / £24.50 / £39; 5 and 6 December from £30 / £29.50 / £44; 12 and 13 December from £34 / £33.50 / £48; 19 December from £34 / £33.50 / £48; 20 December £41.50 / £41 / £59; 21 December £35 / £34.50 / £51; 22 and 23 December from £31 / £30.50 / £45; 24 December £41.50 / £41 / £59. Booking fee £2.50 per order. One free carer per party, booked by phone.
- Booking
- Online through the railway's ticketing site or by phone on 0333 320 2830. Pay in 3 is available through PayPal. The ELR booking site listed no sold-out Santa dates on 4 November 2026.
- Checked
2027 ticket alert
Santa trains sell out fast
The best dates are often gone weeks before December. Leave your email and we will write once, the moment 2027 bookings open in North West England.
The train story to read before you boardRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a little corgi’s first train ride to see his grandparents, hand-painted in real watercolour. For ages 0 to 5.
Bury Bolton Street, the Ice Princess and the run to Rawtenstall
Getting to Bury and checking in
The railway asks families to arrive 30 minutes before departure, and on this line that half hour is part of the fun rather than just waiting time. Parking right at Bury is very limited, so many families leave the car at Heywood, where parking is free, and take the diesel shuttle into Bury. The shuttle takes about 15 minutes, so add that to your journey when you work out what time to leave home.
If you plan to come by tram or bus, the Santa page does not give public transport advice, so check your route into Bury for the date and time you have booked. Allow extra time on a Saturday in December, when town centre roads and car parks around Greater Manchester are at their busiest.
A walk through the decorated station
Before boarding, families go through a festive walkthrough of the decorated station at Bury. Elves, Mrs Claus and the Ice Princess are part of the welcome, which means children meet a few characters before they ever reach their seats. For younger children this gentle start is useful, because it lets them get used to the costumes and the noise before the train sets off.
The buffet and the Trackside bar are at Bury if you want a coffee or a quick bite before you board. The railway mentions gluten-free and dairy-free options, and there is a vegan mince pie, which is worth knowing if anyone in your group has dietary needs.
Steam, brass and Santa on board
The train is steam-hauled up the valley to Rawtenstall and back. The railway notes that the locomotive may be changed and that a substitution does not give a right to a refund, so treat any particular engine as a bonus rather than a promise.
On board, a brass band plays, which gives the trip a very northern Christmas feel. Santa comes through the train to visit every child, with time for photos, and each child receives a gift chosen for their age. Under-threes are given a teddy. There is also an activity book for children, and adults get a free mince pie and a festive tipple.
The train ride lasts about 80 minutes, and the whole experience, including the station walkthrough, is around an hour and a half. That is a good length for most children from about two upwards: long enough to feel like an outing, short enough that the novelty does not wear off.
Back at Bury
When the train returns to Bury, you can head straight home or back to the shuttle for Heywood. If you parked at Heywood, check the shuttle times for your return before you board, so you are not left waiting on a cold platform.
Children usually come off the train clutching their gift and the activity book, and the walk back is a good moment to let them tell you about Santa while it is fresh. If you have time before the next shuttle, the buffet at Bury is a warm place to wait.
Which Bury Santa Special suits your children and your budget
Babies and under-threes
Under-threes sit on an adult's knee on a combined ticket and receive a teddy. The railway's own FAQ mentions both under two and under three in different places, but the fare grid uses under three, so check with the booking office if your child is close to that age. Every train has a buggy carriage, and the railway describes a pram route that avoids stairs, which makes this one of the easier Santa trains for families with a baby. An early weekend departure may give you a quieter station walkthrough.
Children aged three to seven
This is the sweet spot for the ELR's Santa Specials. Children of this age love the Ice Princess and Mrs Claus, and the brass band keeps energy up in the carriage. Mid-morning and early-afternoon trains suit most families. If your child finds crowds tricky, the railway runs a separate SEND Family Santa Special, which we have not checked; look at that page on the railway's website for details.
For a child who is nervous about meeting Santa, the station walkthrough is a good rehearsal. Let them watch the elves and Mrs Claus from a little distance first, and by the time Santa reaches your seats on the train, the costumes will feel familiar.
Older children on the East Lancs Santa train
Older children often enjoy the steam engine and the brass band more than Santa himself. The later departures run into the December dusk on the way back from Rawtenstall, which makes the trip feel more like an adventure for children who are starting to outgrow the magic.
If you have children of very different ages, pick a mid-morning train: it suits the youngest, and older ones can be put in charge of the camera for Santa's photo stop, which gives them a job and keeps them involved.
Fares and dates
Prices vary a lot by date. The cheapest weekend is 28 and 29 November, with children from £24.50 and adults from £25. The most expensive days are 20 and 24 December at £41 for a child and £41.50 for an adult. Midweek dates on 22 and 23 December are cheaper than the weekend just before, from £30.50 for a child, and trains run every 40 minutes, which gives you plenty of choice.
On a wet Manchester day, the station walkthrough and the train are covered, but the walk to and from the shuttle or car will not be, so bring coats you can take off on board.
From Victorian valley line to volunteer railway up the Irwell
The line the Santa Specials use opened in 1846, built by the original East Lancashire Railway company, which existed from 1844 to 1859. For more than a century it carried passengers and goods through the Irwell valley between Bury and Rawtenstall.
As with many lines in the north west, decline came in the second half of the twentieth century. British Rail withdrew passenger services between Bury and Rawtenstall on 3 June 1972. Coal trains to Rawtenstall kept the track in use for a few more years, but these ended in 1980, and the commercial line closed on 17 March that year, with formal closure following in 1982.
Volunteers had other ideas. The East Lancashire Railway Trust secured a light railway order on 31 March 1986, which allowed public services, and on 25 July 1987 the first heritage trains ran between Bury and Ramsbottom. The line was extended from Ramsbottom to Rawtenstall in 1991, with the infobox on the railway's Wikipedia article giving 27 April 1991 as the date.
The next big step came in September 2003, when the railway extended east from Bury to Heywood. That extension is the reason families can now park for free at Heywood and take a shuttle into Bury for the Santa Specials. A new station, Burrs Country Park, opened on 13 October 2016.
For families on the Santa Specials, the history is easy to spot from the window. The train leaves Bury Bolton Street and heads north up the Irwell valley through Summerseat and Ramsbottom, the first section that volunteers brought back in 1987, then on through Irwell Vale to Rawtenstall, the stretch reopened in 1991. Each station along the way marks a step in the long restoration, carried out over many years by the trust and the preservation society.
Today the heritage railway runs just over 12 miles, with seven stations: Heywood, Bury Bolton Street, Burrs Country Park, Summerseat, Ramsbottom, Irwell Vale and Rawtenstall. It is run with the help of volunteers from the East Lancashire Railway Preservation Society.
- 1846The line opens, built by the original East Lancashire Railway company
- 1972British Rail withdraws passenger trains between Bury and Rawtenstall on 3 June
- 1980The last coal trains run and the commercial line closes on 17 March
- 1986A light railway order is granted on 31 March
- 1987Heritage trains start between Bury and Ramsbottom on 25 July
- 1991The line is extended to Rawtenstall
- 2003Trains reach Heywood, east of Bury, in September
- 2016Burrs Country Park station opens on 13 October
To tell a six-year-old: this railway stopped carrying people a long time ago, so volunteers mended it bit by bit, first to Ramsbottom, then all the way to Rawtenstall, and now Santa rides on it every December.
Christmas in Bury and Manchester around your Santa Special
Bury is about 30 minutes' drive from Manchester city centre, so many families pair the Santa Special with a trip into town. According to Manchester's Finest and JustPark, the Manchester Christmas Markets run from 6 November to 22 December 2026 across ten city centre sites, with stalls at Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens open until 3 January 2027. Albert Square has a 50-metre Ferris wheel and a helter-skelter this year, and Skate Manchester's covered ice rink is at Cathedral Gardens. The city's Christmas parade is planned for Sunday 6 December, though details had not been announced when we checked.
Closer to the railway, Burrs Country Park has its own station on the line and is a good place for a winter walk outside the Santa season. Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall, the two larger stops up the valley, are worth exploring on another day by car or on an ordinary train when the timetable allows. On a Santa Special you travel up to Rawtenstall and back, so treat any exploring along the valley as a separate trip.
If you are visiting the city markets on the same day, go to the Santa Special in the morning and head into Manchester in the afternoon. The markets are at their busiest in the evening, and tired children cope better with the crowds in daylight. Book any rides such as the ice rink separately in advance, as those are not part of your train ticket.
For more family ideas in the city, our page on Christmas activities for kids around Manchester has a fuller list.
If you want to try a second line, the Worth Valley Elf Explorer at Oxenhope is about an hour over the Pennines, and the Ribble Steam Railway Christmas trains at Preston docks are a similar distance to the north west.
What parents ask about the ELR Santa Specials
Pushchairs and the buggy carriage
Every Santa Special has a buggy carriage, and the railway mentions a pram route that avoids stairs. This is a real advantage if you have a baby or a toddler who still naps in a pushchair. Ask the booking office how to make sure you are seated in or near the buggy carriage when you book.
A pushchair also helps on the walk from the Heywood shuttle, and it gives a sleepy toddler somewhere to nap on the way back. Fold it if the carriage gets busy and keep the gift and activity book in the basket.
Toilets and food on the East Lancs Santa train
There are toilets on the train and at Bury station. The buffet and the Trackside bar are at Bury, and the railway says it offers gluten-free and dairy-free options, plus a vegan mince pie for adults.
The railway does not mention baby changing facilities on the Santa page, so ask the booking office if you need them, either at Bury or on the train.
Heating on the East Lancs Santa train
The Santa page does not describe how the carriages are heated. Layers are the safest choice, as the station walkthrough, the platforms and the shuttle may feel much colder than the train.
If you are using the Heywood shuttle, remember that you may wait on two platforms rather than one, so warm hats and gloves are worth packing even if you plan to take them off on the Santa train itself.
Parking at Bury and Heywood
Parking at Bury is very limited. Free parking is available at Heywood, with a diesel shuttle taking about 15 minutes to Bury. Remember to allow for the shuttle when you plan to arrive 30 minutes before departure. Ask the railway what time the shuttles run on your date.
Accessibility and BSL
An adapted wheelchair carriage can be booked as a private carriage. A British Sign Language interpreter is planned on 28 and 29 November and 5 and 22 December; book by email with the railway. One free carer per party is available, booked by phone. Only assistance dogs are allowed on the Santa Specials.
Tickets, fees and changes
A booking fee of £2.50 applies per order, not per ticket, so book everyone together. If the locomotive is changed, you are not entitled to a refund. If you need to change your date, ask the booking office on 0333 320 2830 what their policy is before you pay, as the Santa page we checked does not set out the rules.
Children's tickets and adult tickets are priced separately, with only a small difference between them, so it pays to compare dates rather than look for a child discount. The midweek trains on 22 and 23 December are the cheapest choice in the final week.
Packing for a Bury to Rawtenstall Santa trip
A few things that make an East Lancs Santa Special run more smoothly.
- Your booking reference for the Heywood shuttle and the train
- A pushchair if you need one, as every train has a buggy carriage
- Light layers for the warm carriage and a coat for the platforms
- A phone or camera ready for Santa's photo stop
- Crayons or pencils for the activity book
- A spare nappy and wipes for the 80-minute train ride
- A bag for the gift and the teddy for under-threes
- Snacks for the drive or tram home
The East Lancs Santa Specials in numbers
- 1846: the year the line first opened
- 1987: the year heritage trains returned, between Bury and Ramsbottom
- 12 miles: the length of today's heritage railway
- 7: stations from Heywood to Rawtenstall
- 12: Santa Special dates in 2026
- About 80 minutes: the train ride to Rawtenstall and back
- About 15 minutes: the shuttle from free parking at Heywood
Driving to Bury from Manchester, Bolton and Rochdale
Allow about 30 minutes from Manchester and about 20 minutes from Bolton or Rochdale, without traffic. Consider parking at Heywood and using the shuttle, as parking at Bury is very limited.
| From | Drive time (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Manchester | about 30 minutes |
| Bolton | about 20 minutes |
| Rochdale | about 20 minutes |
Santa trains near Manchester and the Pennines
These are the nearest other Santa trains to Bury in our guide.
- Elf Explorer on the Keighley and Worth Valley line Oxenhope, Yorkshire and the Humber
- Christmas specials on the Ribble Steam Railway Preston, North West England
- Peak Rail's Santa tables at Rowsley South Darley Dale, East Midlands
More for Christmas train families
East Lancashire Railway Santa Specials: questions from parents
When do the East Lancashire Railway Santa Specials run in 2026?
They run on 28 and 29 November, 5, 6, 12 and 13 December, and every day from 19 to 24 December 2026.
What time do the Santa Specials leave Bury?
On most dates departures run from 9.30am to 4.10pm. On 21 December trains leave at 10.20am, 12 noon, 1.40pm and 3.20pm, and on 22 and 23 December every 40 minutes from 10am to 3pm.
How much is the East Lancs Railway Santa Special?
Fares start at £24.50 for a child and £25 for an adult on 28 and 29 November, rising to £41 and £41.50 on 20 and 24 December. A £2.50 booking fee applies per order.
How do I book the ELR Santa train from Bury?
Book online through the railway's ticketing site or call 0333 320 2830. Pay in 3 is available through PayPal.
Do babies need a ticket for the Bury Santa Special?
Under-threes sit on an adult's knee on a combined adult and infant ticket, from £39 on the opening weekend. The railway's FAQ also mentions under two, so check if your child is near the age limit.
How long is the East Lancashire Railway Santa Special?
The train ride takes about 80 minutes, and the whole experience is about an hour and a half.
Where does the ELR Santa Special leave from and where can I park?
Trains leave from Bury Bolton Street. Parking at Bury is very limited, so use the free car park at Heywood and the diesel shuttle, which takes about 15 minutes.
Can I take a pushchair on the Bury Santa Special?
Yes. Every train has a buggy carriage, and there is a pram route that avoids stairs.
Are there toilets on the East Lancashire Railway Santa train?
Yes. There are toilets on the train and at Bury station.
Is the ELR Santa train heated?
The Santa page does not say how the carriages are heated. Bring layers so children can stay comfortable on board and on the platforms.
Does every child see Santa on the East Lancashire Railway?
Yes. Santa visits every child on the train, with time for photos.
What present do children get on the Bury Santa Special?
Each child gets an age-based gift, with a teddy for under-threes, plus an activity book. Adults get a free mince pie and a festive tipple.
Which Bury Santa Special is best with a baby?
An early weekend departure may have a calmer station walkthrough, and the buggy carriage means you can keep your pushchair with you.
Is there a sensory or SEND Santa Special at Bury?
Yes, the railway runs a separate SEND Family Santa Special. A BSL interpreter is also planned on 28 and 29 November and 5 and 22 December, and an adapted wheelchair carriage can be booked as a private carriage.
What is the weather like for the East Lancashire Railway Santa Special in the Irwell valley?
The Irwell valley is often cold and wet in December. The walkthrough and train are covered, but bring coats for the shuttle and platforms.
When did the East Lancashire Railway open?
The line first opened in 1846. Heritage trains started between Bury and Ramsbottom on 25 July 1987.
Can we bring the dog on the East Lancashire Railway Santa Special?
No. Only assistance dogs are allowed on the Bury Santa Specials, so pets will need to stay at home.
What can we do near Bury after the Santa Special?
Burrs Country Park has its own station on the line for a winter walk, and Manchester city centre is about 30 minutes away by car.
Is there a Christmas market near Bury in 2026?
The Manchester Christmas Markets run from 6 November to 22 December 2026, with Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens open until 3 January 2027, according to Manchester's Finest and JustPark.
Are there other Santa trains near Manchester besides the East Lancashire Railway?
Yes. Our UK Santa trains hub lists the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Elf Explorer and the Ribble Steam Railway near Preston.
2027 ticket alert
Santa trains sell out fast
The best dates are often gone weeks before December. Leave your email and we will write once, the moment 2027 bookings open in North West England.
Sources
- East Lancashire Railway: official page (eastlancsrailway.org.uk) (opens in a new tab)
- East Lancashire Railway (Wikipedia) (opens in a new tab)
- Manchester Christmas Markets 2026 (Manchester's Finest) (opens in a new tab)
- UK Christmas markets 2026 (JustPark) (opens in a new tab)
Checked on the railway’s official pages on 4 November 2026. This train is run by East Lancashire Railway. Rally Takes the Train is a children’s picture book; we are not partners with or affiliated to the railway. Book only on the official site and check dates and fares before you travel.
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