The spirit of Christmas is coming early, and the ELR want to encourage families to get more involved in the famous Santa Special event this year by combining two things that little ones absolutely love: Christmas and getting creative! All they need to do is design a Christmas Card related to the railway. Every entry will feature in an online exhibition, and the winner’s family will also receive four tickets to the Santa Specials! As a final bonus, the winning card will be printed out and put on display.
The Santa Specials are incredibly popular, and the winner can look forward to a memorable experience of Christmas Magic, beginning with a stroll through the beautifully decorated Winter Wonderland at Bury Station. Travellers will be welcomed by colourful Christmas characters and directed to their seat on board a genuine heritage steam train.
Once aboard, a 90-minute voyage through the Irwell Valley will commence. During the trip, travellers will meet even more festive characters, sing along with a traditional brass band and receive a visit from Father Christmas himself, who will be travelling through the train, handing presents out to the little ones.
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Chairman of the ELR Mike Kelly said:
“We prepare all year for our beloved Santa Specials, knowing just how excited families are to experience this magical time of the year.
We all love a competition, and the Christmas Card Challenge has proved very popular. This year, we are delighted to be able to publish every entry in our Christmas Card 2026 online exhibition.
So, come on, sharpen those coloured pencils and felt tips — or use whatever materials you like — and show us your best Christmas design inspired by Christmas on the ELR. We can’t wait to see what our young artists come up with!”
To enter the competition, email your card design to [email protected]. Submissions close 9:00 am, 25 September 2026. The winner will be announced shortly after this deadline.
