Meet Santa on the train from Melksham

A couple of pictures from a successful Santa trip on Sunday ... a platform that was comfortably crowded, a 153 that was (on two runs) filled with guests attached to the regular train, and just under a dozen volunteers during the day - for both trips with Santa, and for passenger counts being conducted in parallel on all 5.5 return trips. And with the numbers of childen we had, just about perfect for Santa to see them all without having to either rush or dally.

For us, the surrounding publicity and getting newcomers to use the train (and do so again) is just as important as the even itself - and little things confirmed to me that many of our customers on Sunday were new to train travel and to Melksham station where we started from. Our main station car park is separated from the station by one other property, and standing at the entrance directing traffic in it was clearly somewhere that most of them had never been before. Many people 'amused' by single door operation as the platform isn't long enough for 2 x 153. And again - many people delighted with the ticket wallets and minitimetables we were handing out on the return journey; a colurful and informative message to use the train - and the parallel bus services - right through to next May.

Presents provided by the local Toy Shop in Melksham, who are given free reign within a budget to select the right toys based on age and gender - they give us a good price, they know children far better than I / we do, and I suspect it helps them sell a final few odd toys at the end of batches that are looking lonely on their shelves. Santa helped all around!

A big "thank you" to the Melksham TIC^▸ for selling the tickets, to the local press for the publicity, to Lisa for doing the posters, tickets, and booking sheets ... and also the ticket wallets, 2 year celebration cards and minitimetables themselves. Special mention for Peter and Margaret too, who donated adult drinks, and ran the "buffet" with them (hard on a 153!). And thanks to the whole team on the train, and to Great Western Railway for the extra carriage.

Facebook after the event recorded a number of "Thank you"s and that really helps make it worthwhile. Alas, there was also a single expression of disappointment (which the author must have thought better of because it was soon deleted) - but that certainly acts as a reminder that we should always be checking our publicity to make sure we're not overselling, and that we have the best product available. At 10 pounds a head (adult) and 5 pound (children), with a 4 pound presnt budget, minced pies, soft drinks, train tickets ... we simply can't afford to hire a steam train, and health and safety preclude cab visits, taking over the tannoy system, or decorating the train in a way that could interfere with its operation of its return to normal service after the event. I have explained the issues to our brief critical complainer, explained the issues and invited her to help / bring along fresh ideas next year, when we'll probably run Santa on the final Sunday of our 3 year trial service.