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Tuesday 10am - 4pm Wednesday 9:30am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 9:30am - 5pm Sunday 9:30am - 5pm

The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

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The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

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Join us for scenic journeys, events and a taste of railway history
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The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway is Derbyshire’s longest heritage railway, running steam and diesel trains through the beautiful Derwent Valley between Wirksworth and Duffield.

30/10/2026

Make Christmas memories at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway! 🎄✨

Join us for Santa’s Enchanted Journey and enjoy a festive steam train adventure with Father Christmas, Mrs Claus and their mischievous elves!

🍪 Hot chocolate and cookies for everyone
🎁 A special gift for every child
🎶 Christmas stories, songs and elf-led fun
🚂 Choose our Standard Experience or treat your family to a private compartment with our Premium Experience

Bring the family, settle in and let the Christmas excitement begin! ❤️

📅 Selected dates from 28 November to 24 December 2026
📍 Departing from Wirksworth Station

🎟️ Find out more and book: e-v-r.com/santa

30/10/2026

Psst… a little Christmas magic is coming to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway! 🚂🎄

Whispered Christmas wishes, excited little faces and a special day together… those are the moments that make this time of year so wonderful. ❤️

This Christmas, gather your favourite people and join us for Santa’s Enchanted Journey — a festive steam train adventure with Father Christmas, Mrs Claus and their mischievous elves!

Put on your Christmas jumpers, wrap up your little adventurers and make time for a day filled with anticipation, laughter and festive fun.

🎄 Let the excitement begin at Wirksworth Station

Before you board, join the elves for Christmas sing-alongs, add a wish to our platform wishing tree and send a letter to Santa with a little help from his festive friends.

What will your little ones wish for this year? Something from their Christmas list, a surprise, or perhaps something only Santa is allowed to know? Have those wishes ready!

🚂 Then it’s all aboard our steam-hauled Santa special!

Settle in for a journey filled with Christmas stories, singing and games led by the elves. Meet our interactive baby reindeer puppet, share your wishes with the magic elf and look out for the toy elf bringing colouring books to life.

Mrs Claus will be joining the fun too — and, of course, Father Christmas will be visiting with a luxury present for every child. 🎁

There’s something special about sharing that excitement as a family: watching the children look out for Santa, joining in a familiar Christmas song and seeing their faces when the moment they’ve been waiting for finally arrives. Keep your camera ready, but leave a little time simply to enjoy it all together.

☕🍪 Choose your Christmas experience

Our Standard Experience includes seating in an open coach, hot chocolate and cookies for everyone, time with Father Christmas and a luxury present for each child. It’s a lovely way to share the festive atmosphere with fellow passengers.

For an extra-special family occasion, our Premium Experience offers your own private compartment, hot chocolate and cookies, more time with Father Christmas, a photograph with him and a luxury gift for every child.
📅 Join us on selected dates from 28 November to 24 December 2026.

📍 All Santa services depart from and return to Wirksworth Station, Derbyshire.

Whether it’s a treat with Mum and Dad, an outing with the grandparents or a chance to bring the family together before Christmas, we’d love Santa’s Enchanted Journey to become part of your celebrations.

Choose your date, gather your little believers and give everyone something magical to look forward to. ✨

🎟️ Explore the experiences, view train times and book your tickets:

e-v-r.com/santa

Who will you be sharing the Christmas magic with? ❤️

29/10/2026

30 DAYS UNTIL THE MAGIC BEGINS! 🚂🎄

The countdown is on! In exactly 30 days, our first Santa’s Enchanted Journey train of 2026 will depart from Wirksworth Station — and we can’t wait to welcome you aboard!

Gather the family for a steam train adventure filled with Christmas stories, songs, laughter and special moments with Father Christmas, Mrs Claus and their playful elves. ❤️

There’s plenty of festive fun waiting for you:

🎁 A luxury gift for every child, delivered by Father Christmas
☕ Hot chocolate and cookies to enjoy along the way
🎶 Christmas sing-alongs, storytelling and games with the elves
🦌 An interactive baby reindeer puppet to meet
✨ Christmas wishes and a little elf magic!

The excitement starts before you board, too! Join the elves for a sing-along at Wirksworth Station, add your Christmas wish to the platform wishing tree and write a letter to Santa with a little help from his team.

🚃 Choose your Christmas experience:
Enjoy the festive atmosphere of our Standard Experience in an open coach, or make the occasion extra special with our Premium Experience — your own private compartment, extra time with Father Christmas and a photograph with him.

📍 Departing from and returning to Wirksworth Station, Derbyshire
📅 Selected dates from 28 November to 24 December 2026

Make time for a little Christmas magic together. 🎄

🎟️ Find out more and book your tickets: e-v-r.com/santa

Who will you be bringing aboard? Tag your Christmas crew below! 👇

29/10/2026

🚂 LOCOMOTIVE UPDATE – TODAY’S SERVICES

Due to a technical fault with our Class 47 locomotive, Class 33 No. 33103 ‘Swordfish’ will be taking over today’s services.

We’re sorry for any disappointment this change may cause, but we’re delighted that Swordfish is available to step in and keep our trains running.

We look forward to welcoming you aboard!

e-v-r.com/

27/10/2026

ONE LAST DIESEL FIX BEFORE THE NEW YEAR!

Join us at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway this Friday and Saturday as we round off our diesel running for the year with two days of classic traction!

Thursday – Class 47
The Class 47 takes the spotlight on Thursday. Whether you’re a dedicated diesel enthusiast or simply enjoy travelling behind a classic locomotive, come along, settle into your seat and enjoy a journey through the valley.

Friday – Class 20
On Friday, it’s the Class 20’s turn to take charge, bringing its distinctive character and familiar sound to our final day of diesel running before the New Year.

🍂 With autumn scenery to enjoy along the way, it’s a lovely opportunity to bring the family, meet up with friends or spend a day indulging your enthusiasm for heritage diesels.

🎟️ Make a day of it with a Day Rover ticket, giving you the freedom to hop on and off at our stations and enjoy more of the railway. Please check the timetable when planning your visit.

These will be our final diesel runs until the New Year, so if you’ve been meaning to join us for a diesel day, this is your chance!

👉 Get your Day Rover tickets here:
https://wyvernrail.digitickets.co.uk/category/16223

We look forward to welcoming you aboard!

25/10/2026

ALL ABOARD SANTA’S ENCHANTED JOURNEY 2026! ✨🎄

Make Christmas memories with a festive steam train adventure at Ecclesbourne Valley Railway! Gather the family and join Father Christmas, Mrs Claus and their cheerful elves for a journey filled with stories, songs, surprises and seasonal magic. ❤️

e-v-r.com/santa

🎄 THE FUN STARTS AT WIRKSWORTH STATION
Join the elves for Christmas sing-alongs, send a letter to Santa and make a wish at the platform’s wishing tree. Reindeer food will also be available to buy for those all-important Christmas Eve preparations!

Feeling peckish? Visit the Candy Cane kiosk for hot drinks, mince pies, hot sandwiches and festive treats, including mulled w**e and Baileys hot chocolate.

🚂 A MAGICAL JOURNEY ON BOARD
Enjoy Christmas stories, singing, games and interactive entertainment with the elves. Meet a baby reindeer puppet, discover magical colouring-book surprises and help keep Rudolph’s famous red nose shining!

Mrs Claus will be joining the fun, and Father Christmas will spend time with families and deliver a present to every child. 🎁

✨ CHOOSE YOUR EXPERIENCE
🍪 Standard: Travel in an open coach, enjoy hot chocolate and cookies, and meet Father Christmas, with a luxury present for children.
🎅 Premium: Enjoy your own private compartment, hot chocolate and cookies, plus extra time with Father Christmas, a photo with him and a luxury gift for children.

📅 2026 dates:
28–29 November
5–6, 12–13 and 19–24 December
🕥 Listed departures: 10:30, 12:40, 14:50 and 17:00
📍 Departing from and returning to: Wirksworth Station, DE4 4FB
⏱️ Train journey: Approximately 75–80 minutes

Full event details
🎟️ Ticket options advertised:
• Standard table for three: £50–£70
• Standard table for four: £67–£92
• Premium compartment for six: £92.50–£130

Prices vary by date, with a £1.50 booking fee listed. Premium compartments can accommodate up to eight people with additional-person tickets.

👉 Choose your date and book your Christmas adventure
Who would you bring along for some Christmas magic?

Tag your festive travelling companions below! 🎅✨

e-v-r.com/santa

22/10/2026

All aboard for The Monster Mash Ball Murder Mystery! 🦇

The ringleader of the Undead Council has been murdered… can you unmask the culprit before the evening reaches its deadly conclusion? 🔍

Gather your fellow ghosts, ghouls and vampires and join us at Ecclesbourne Valley Railway for an evening of murder, mystery and monstrous fun — with a three-course meal aboard our heritage carriages!

📅 Saturday 31st October 2026
🕡 Departs Wirksworth at 6:30pm, returning at 9:30pm
🎟️ £60 per person, booked by the table. £2.50 booking fee applies.

Dare to join us? Book your table here 👇
https://www.e-v-r.com/monster-mash-ball/

20/10/2026

Santa’s Enchanted Journey returns for Christmas 2026!

Join us at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway for a magical steam train adventure filled with festive fun, friendly elves and a special visit from Father Christmas! ✨

🎄 There’s plenty to look forward to:
🎁 A luxury gift for every child, delivered by Santa
☕ Hot chocolate and cookies
📖 Christmas stories, sing-alongs and games with the elves
🦌 Meet an adorable baby reindeer puppet
🤶 A visit from Mrs Claus on board!

The magic begins at Wirksworth Station, where you can join the elves for Christmas songs, send a letter to Santa and make a wish at the platform wishing tree. The Candy Cane kiosk will also be selling festive food and drinks. 💌

🚃 Choose your experience:
Standard: Seating in an open coach, refreshments and time with Santa.
Premium: Your own private compartment, refreshments, extra time with Santa and a photo with him.

📅 Selected dates from 28 November to 24 December 2026
📍 Wirksworth Station, Coldwell Street, DE4 4FB
Bring the family together and make Christmas memories to treasure. ❤️

🎟️ Find out more and book your tickets
https://www.e-v-r.com/santa/

18/10/2026

https://wyvernrail.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/60890?catID=58955&

Address

Station Road
Matlock
DE44FB

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	9:30am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 5pm
Saturday	9:30am - 5pm
Sunday	9:30am - 5pm

Website

http://www.e-v-r.com/

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