Inside South Devon’s most magical Christmas train

Ali McPhee is usually out and about taking pictures for the Torbay Weekly and Torbay Today.

This year he decided to take some time out for Christmas and hop aboard a seasonal phenomenon, the Dartmouth Steam Railway’s Train of Lights. It sounds as if he enjoyed the special ride…

"I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything quite like the Dartmouth Steam Railway Christmas Train of Lights. 

Even now, it’s hard to put into words because what makes it so extraordinary isn’t just what you see, but the feeling it fills you with. 

From the moment the steam curled into the cold night air and the first notes of festive music drifted along the platform, it felt as though we’d stepped straight into a Christmas story. 

The train itself was simply breathtaking. Its exterior shimmered with thousands of twinkling lights, and inside it was even more beautiful-warm, cosy, and decorated with such care that every detail felt magical. 

As we set off, the windows glowed with reflections of garlands, lanterns, and the soft sparkle of Christmas décor that surrounded us. But the journey - that was where the real magic happened. Each station we passed had its own unique, illuminated charm: sparkling platforms, glowing buildings, and trees wrapped in lights from top to bottom. 

As the train rolled by, it was as if the displays woke up just for us, brightening as though the train itself was spreading Christmas cheer. 

Then came the scenes that felt truly enchanted: playful polar bears, majestic reindeer, owls perched among shimmering branches, and all sorts of glowing, magical creatures lighting up the darkness. It was like travelling through a living Christmas dreamscape, each moment more delightful than the last. 

Between the rhythmic chuffs of the steam engine, the festive narration from Tim Dunn and Judi Spiers, the music, the lights, and the wonder outside the windows, it  created a feeling I can barely describe. 

It wasn’t just festive, it was heartwarming, nostalgic, joyful... the very essence of Christmas wrapped into one unforgettable ride. 

Our evening began at Queen’s Park Station in Paignton where the vintage carriages,  adorned with thousands of lights inside and out, felt like stepping onto the set of a Christmas film. 

Fifteen minutes later we reached Churston Station, where the show truly began. With anticipation building, we were propelled through the 450-metre Greenway Tunnel and into the enchanted forest, transformed by a multitude of lights, brand-new feature displays, and some beloved favourites. 

The spectacle ended in the most magical way: leaving the forest to see the twinkling lights of Dartmouth reflected perfectly across the River Dart. 

After a brief stop at Kingswear-complete with the chance to hop off and take photos-we began our  return journey, enjoying the entire display again from a new perspective. 

We stepped off the Train of Lights with huge smiles and full hearts, already talking about returning next year. 

If you're looking for something that captures the pure magic of Christmas, a festive experience you'll carry with you long after the lights fade, - this is absolutely it. Just wonderful. The Train of lights runs every evening from now until December 23, then everyone involved has a well deserved break, to return from the 27th to the 30th December."