On Sunday 16th December a number of TME members and their wives helped out on a very cold afternoon at the Annual Santa Special Steam Trains event held in Vivary Park - so cold in fact that the steam coming out of the cylinders was freezing on the ground!

Both Chris and Phil were kept busy with their locomotives most of the afternoon and at the end of the session the total amount raised by donations in lieu of tickets came to £140 which was passed to the Children’s Hospice South West.

On the following Saturday, the 22nd December, Santa make his first appearance at the Creech Railway in the playing fields, Creech St Michael.
Setting up and ready to go at Creech! Tony ’s GWR 2-8-0 Locomotive with the first train of the day in the station and awaiting passengers.
Santa (alias Gerry talking to the first passengers of the day!
Even though it was not quite as cold as the previous week-end, the number of visitors was very low although there had been considerable local advertising before hand. The total of donations in lieu of tickets amounted to just over £41. Despite this those families who did arrive had a good afternoon. We had four steam locomotives in action with the petrol loco on stand by which created a great deal of interest and with the possibility of more new members joining us.

It was nice to see some of our junior members helping out with station duties and with some of the loco shunting as well.

Members are now looking forward to the start of the next public running season commencing on the Easter Bank Holiday week-end.
Maurice with his 0-4-0 Koppel at the Santa Steam-ups at Creech.

Santa trying his hand at “Guard” duties!
Mike preparing his LNER K3 at Creech
Simon Gates preparing the Wren for the Santa Specials