Chugging along the Avon Valley Railway is always a lovely journey, but the trip was even more magical when a very important guest with a long white beard, rosy cheeks and sack of presents boarded the train.
Santa had made an early trip down from his home in Lapland to give presents to some very special Evening Post readers who have gone through a difficult year and deserved a treat.
The first Santa Steam Special of 2011 takes to the tracks at Avon Valley Railway in Bitton
There were wide eyes and even wider smiles when Father Christmas welcomed them on the platform at Bitton, and as the train made its way to Oldland Common there were cries of, ^where^s Santa, where^s Santa?^
One family who met Father Christmas was Myra Mitchell, 53, a cleaner from Patchway, her daughter, Hannah Mitchell, 28, from Downend and her children Teri Jay Thompson, six, and Brook, four. When Teri Jay was three she was sent for an MRI scan after abnormalities were found during an eye test. Doctors discovered she had a condition which caused tumours on her eyes, and now the little girl needs tests every six months and an MRI scan every year to check whether they are getting bigger or if she needs chemotherapy.
But yesterday she was thrilled when Father Christmas walked down the train carriage to give presents to her and her younger sister.
Myra said: ^We don^t know what the future holds for TJ, even the specialist doesn^t, so it is a case of doing as many nice things as we can now in case it gets any worse.^
When Father Christmas stopped by Riley Mills, four, and his brother Lenny, two, he gave them a special key to rub so that he would be sure to stop at their house for Christmas.
The family, with mum Melanie, 27, and dad Ryan, 28, from St George, were invited on the train because Riley suffers from moebius syndrome, which causes problems with his eyes. The little lad, who has just started school, has had three operations this year alone, and has to travel up to Manchester every three months for physiotherapy. Dad Ryan said: ^It is a big year for him so we thought it would be a nice treat for him. Lenny has hearing problems as well, so it is nice for us to come out as a family.^
Father Christmas gave Riley a wooden building block set and Lenny a cow teddy. Riley said: ^It was fun to meet Father Christmas. I touched his magic key so that he can come to our house on Christmas Eve.^
As Santa handed out the presents there were whoops of delight as youngsters unwrapped juggling balls, toy cars, teddies and games.
When the train reached the Avon Riverside stop everyone got out to see the engine driver.
Council worker Linzi Mitchell, 43, her postman husband Mark, 41, and their children Holli, nine, and Abbi, five, had come from their home in Little Stoke to see Santa. Holli was born with holes in her heart and had surgery when she was a baby and again a month ago to have a valve replaced, so it was lovely for the family to have a nice day out together. The two girls somehow managed to wait before ripping open their presents, and Holli said: ^It was exciting to meet Father Christmas and really nice to see him.^
Abbi said: ^Father Christmas has a long beard and it was nice to get a present from him, and I am glad my sister is better now.^
Back on the platform at Bitton, Archie Grafton, six, was just as excited at seeing the train as Santa. Archie, of St George, had travelled with his sister Kaitlin, three, and dad Dean, 31, and mum Tina, 26, for the day out, and loves trains so much he wants to be a train driver when he is older. Mum Tina said: ^He^s train mad, obsessed with them, so this is a lovely day out for us.^
Before he got on his sleigh to go back to Lapland, Father Christmas said: ^It^s the best job in the world, getting to see all these bright eyes and smiling faces, and it^s always a happy train. They^ve all been good boys and girls and I^ll be visiting them all on Christmas Eve ^ but they^ll have to be sound asleep so I can put their presents under the tree.^
David Cole, development manager at Avon Valley Railway, said: ^We^ve been running the Santa experience now for just over 30 years. Every year it is wonderful to see the young children having a great time, having their photos taken with Santa and receiving their presents as well. We^ve been delighted that we have been able to work with the Evening Post to help some of those children who might otherwise not have the chance to meet Father Christmas, and also give them the opportunity to travel on a steam train.^
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