A Santa Special is a special Christmas rail service, common on heritage steam railways (or sometimes on mainline railways, as is done by the RPSI in Ireland), where children are given the opportunity to meet "Santa Claus".
The revenues derived from Santa Specials make an important contribution to the finances of the railways as they attract large numbers of families during the off-peak winter period.
Common features of Santa Special services are
- Meeting "Santa Claus" (This commonly, but not always, takes place on the train)
- Each child receiving a gift from "Santa Claus"
- Refreshments provided for adults - for example, a Mince Pie and a Seasonal Drink
- Entertainment provided for adults and children - for example, Juggling and Balloon Sculpting
Read more about Santa Special: See Also
Famous quotes containing the words santa and/or special:
“On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe.”
—Johnny Mercer (1909–1976)
“Fashions change, and with the new psychoanalytical perspective of the postwar period [WWII], child rearing became enshrined as the special responsibility of mothers ... any shortcoming in adult life was now seen as rooted in the failure of mothering during childhood.”
—Sylvia Ann Hewitt (20th century)