Middlesex waterworks railway to run Santa Specials

The Hampton Kempton Waterworks Railway at Hanworth in Middlesex is making plans to run Santa Specials on two weekends in December. On Saturday and Sunday, 12th and 13th, and 19th and 20th, from 3.30 to 7.30 pm each day, the railway is promising a magical festive experience with Santa and his merry elves aboard a train hauled by the railway’s heritage locomotive Darent, which will be festooned with lights for the occasion. Tickets cost £11 for children aged 3-15 years and £8 for adults over 16, and they must be booked in advance at https://hkwr.hops.org.uk/tickets/santa-specials. There is no charge for children under 3, but for safety reasons, all children must be accompanied by an adult over 18, and there is a maximum of four children per adult. Santa will greet all children and present them with a gift, while adults will receive a hot drink and mince pies. Anyone who wishes a child under three to receive a gift must have a child’s ticket for the train. In 2023, the Hampton and Kempton Waterworks Railway was awarded the HRA Award for Infrastructure at the Heritage Railways Association’s annual awards in recognition of a new coach shed and maintenance facility that has transformed its operations and maintenance of its rolling stock from converted shipping containers to a purpose-built facility.