Harlington Locomotive Society

Posted on December 19, 2011 Updated on December 19, 2011

If you’ve been trying since yesterday’s Silent Sunday (billed as a trailer for today’s post!) to work out what I’m posting about today, you need wait no longer! I know that we want to ensure that More Than A Mum doesn’t become too London-centric, but I have to tell you about an amazing local place today.

Today, munchkin, Daddy and I visited a hidden gem.  We went with friends to the Harlington Locomotive Society’s Mince Pie Run.

I’d not been to the Harlington Locomotive Society  before, but the website promised mincepies and Santa, and what more could you want on the last Sunday before Christmas?

It turned out that this visit was one of the best child friendly days out that we could have asked for.  For 40p a ride (toddlers are free but have to be accompanied), we tootled round a track pulled by minature steam and diesel trains, reaching a giddy 6mph.

Trains pulled between 1 and 3 carriages behind them and each carried three or four people.  Each train had a driver and a guard and it really was good fun powering round the track with your feet dangling a few feet from ground.

The trains are  cared for by a team of chaps who obviously love their trains and love introducing them to the public. Judging by the number of people there, they are definitely doing a good job.

And, what of Santa?  Well, he was there too.  He arrived, went on a quick journey round the track ringing a bell and then sat in the tearoom. Munchkin and her friend popped to see him and let him know what they would like for Christmas. He promised to see what he could do and gave them each a sweetie.

Altogether (including tea/coffee for the adults and biccies for all round  as well as 2 rides each and Santa) we spent less that a fiver and we spent two hours enjoying ourselves, in spite of the cold.  There were all ages there, from babes in buggies  to older primary aged children with Mums, Dads and Grandparents.

All in all, I’d highly recommend a day out at Harlington Locomotive Society.  Unfortunately, there are no more mince pie runs, but there will be open days through out 2012 and you can organise children’s parties there too.

R

More Than A Mum Blog is available for Kindle too… Click here for more details