This page last updated 12 November 2004
December 18 and 19 saw the return of Santa Claus after an absence of three years.
Having been approached by Houghton and Hetton Round Table, through John Young, Bowes Railway agreed to open up the site and provide trains and operating crew as our half of a joint venture, with the Round Table organising booking, tickets and entertainment on the days.
Inevitably there were some grey areas where responsibility was not 100% clear cut, but we had two days of realistic wintry conditions and lots of full trains steaming up to Blackham's Hill to take children to see Santa in his grotto.
Particular thanks must be extended to the Junior Firefighters without whom we would have been unable to stage the event. They provided a fire tender to ensure that No 22 was topped up with water whenever necessary throughout the two days.
Additional attractions included:
House of Fun
carousel rides
steam traction engine
PA system with constant Christmas music heard throughout the Springwell site (and probably half of the village too!)
face painting
Christmas Fayre in the Kip and Dish
We even had real snow falling which gave the event a Christmas Card look at times.
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This page last updated 12 November 2004 |