Watercress Line to welcome return of Steam Illuminations

The special train will be in operation from Friday, November 24 to Saturday, January 6, and will be lit up both inside and out by thousands of LED lights, creating a kaleidoscope of different colours and flashing patterns.

A new addition for this year is the Canopy of Lights, adding to the Christmas atmosphere.

Steam Illuminations will return to the Watercress Line for six weeks (Image: Stephen Morley - Watercress Line)READ MORE: Alresford heritage railway announces new Christmas lantern procession

The train will also feature a “sound to light” show inside every carriage. This will be hosted by the Voiceover Man (as heard on Britain’s Got Talent and X-Factor), with memorable music, corny jokes and a singalong “FlashyOke” game on every trip.

All passengers will be given an LED wristband which interacts with the on-board music and light show. The journey will feature the seasonal sounds of the Watercress Line’s Christmas Chart Crackers DJ mix-up until Christmas Day, followed by the Pop Anthems Journey, tunes from the 1960s to present day, until January 6.

The trains depart from either Alresford or Alton and complete a round trip. The experience lasts approximately 1 hour 45 minutes. Festive treat boxes and drinks boxes can also be pre-ordered and collected on arrival.

The Watercress Line's CEO Rebecca Dalley said: “We can’t wait to see the Steam Illuminations back on track at the Watercress Line during the festive period – and we can’t wait to welcome you too.

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“Our lighting designer and volunteer train driver Simon Horn has created a fabulous GPS-enabled internal and external light display to create a journey that is as spectacular from the inside as it is on the outside.

“This fun event is very popular, so book your tickets as soon as possible.”

More information can be found on the Watercress Line website.