Six of the UK’s greatest Christmas railway excursions are full of steam and glitter.

The Railway magazine’s Christmas number and the BBC’s A Ghost Story for Christmas both highlight the eerie quality of trains on wintry nights, which is the essence of the relationship between trains and Christmas.

The creator of the Community Rail movement, Prof. Paul Salveson, thinks that trains offer warmth and comfort that automobiles cannot match and help us return home to our loved ones. These days, some stations—like Paddington’s Friday-night brass band—reflect this cosiness.

Many steam-oriented heritage railways have welcomed Christmas with Dickensian relish, even though the trains are not as warm as they were when they were fire carriers. This is partly because licencing fees for other kid-friendly earners, such as Thomas the Tank Engine days, have increased. The Santa Special is available on most heritage lines, and some lines have licenced events that are not as well-known as Thomas Days yet. Professional performers are usually involved in the shows, most of which start later this month.

Family-friendly routes include the NYMR, which originates at either Pickering or Grosmont stations, and the B&W, which has been producing Christmas specials “our own way” for many years. The customary characters and gift-giving are present in the NYMR Santa Specials, but the real highlight of the experience is the scenery: the train’s lowering winter skies and the mottled hues of the moorland heather guarantee that any photo taken of one of its trains would make a perfect Christmas card.