Bodmin Railway has published its Santa by Steam sessions for 2026: nine dates running 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 22, 23 and 24 December. Most departures leave Bodmin General at 11:30am, 1pm, 2:30pm and 4pm, with an extra 10am departure added on 6 and 20 December.
The 10am departures on 6 and 20 December run as quiet, sensory-friendly trains for families who prefer a calmer, lower-noise journey. On the 4pm departures on 5, 13 and 20 December, children are invited to travel in pyjamas for an evening-themed trip. Every child meets Santa on board, and Judy, the railway’s Bagnall 0-4-0 saddle tank, makes guest appearances on Platform 2 through the festive season.
Bodmin Railway is a preserved heritage line running just over six miles between Bodmin General, Bodmin Parkway and Boscarne Junction. Santa by Steam runs as a single-line branch ride from Bodmin General, with a round trip lasting roughly 50 minutes to an hour.
Visitor information
Dates: 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 22, 23 and 24 December 2026. Book a specific session on the railway’s booking page.
Venue: Bodmin General Station, Bodmin, PL31 1AQ.
Admission: Ticketed by session. The booking page does not publish a price list on the event description, so check the current price when selecting a date and time.
Programme: Santa meets every child on board, alongside festive station decoration, brass band music and Judy’s platform appearances. Quiet trains run at 10am on 6 and 20 December, and a pyjama-themed evening trip runs on the 4pm departures on 5, 13 and 20 December.
Sessions can sell out close to Christmas, so book ahead rather than turning up on the day.
Where to stay
See Bodmin visitor information and browse places to stay near Bodmin.
