The Polar Express has rolled back in to Brechin.
And you’d better believe it was a magical weekend for the first excited passengers on the famous festive train.
Brechin’s award-winning Caledonian Railway is running the movie-themed experience for the second time.
In 2021, the volunteer-run attraction became Scotland’s first railway to operate fun-filled services based around the hit 2004 animation starring Tom Hanks.
More than 3,500 golden tickets were snapped up for the train journey between Brechin and Bridge of Dun.
But this year is bigger and better.
Sell-out success
Over five weekends in the run up to Christmas the Caley railway’s carriages will haul around 10,000 visitors.
And it’s a complete sell-out.
The fun starts for the lucky passengers on the platform of historic Brechin station before boarding the train for the Polar trip.
All ages get into the spirit of the movie by coming dressed in pyjamas.
And they are treated to hot chocolate, dancing chefs, storytelling – as well as the sight of Santa making his way through the train.
Weather worries subside
The Angus storms gave the Caley Railway teams some nervous moments in the lead up to Saturday’s first services steaming out of Brechin station.
But Railway chairman Jon Gill said it had got off to a great start.
“Last year was a real coup for us and we learned so much.
“That’s why we’ve been able to increase the numbers and we’re really excited to be welcoming so many more people to the railway and to Brechin.
“It’s a real theatrical experience and families throw themselves into the occasion.
“The volunteers worked incredibly hard to make sure it went ahead despite the weather of the previous couple of days.”
The Polar Express full-house will double the railway’s passenger figure for the year.
It operated on only around half of its normal weekends as the Queen’s Award-winning railway continued the recovery from Coviod.
But it was able to put on the other big favourite on the calendar with a series of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends weekends.
It was the first time the Fat Controller had been back at Brechin since the pandemic struck.
More pics from Courier photographer Mhairi Edwards of the Polar Express fun.
