The additional trips will depart from Swanage station at 5.15pm and 7.15pm for the one-hour round trip to Corfe Castle and Norden.

The steam locomotive and six-carriage train will brightly lit. Customers can also book adult and child festive picnic boxes, as well as drinks, to make their trip even more of a memorable special occasion. There will be special lighting displays at stations, as well as at three other locations along the five and a half mile heritage line.

The interiors of the cosy steam-heated carriages are also festively decorated for the one-hour round trip, which sees on-board music synchronised to the lineside lighting displays.

Steve Williams, the Swanage Railway’s volunteer commercial director, said, “The demand from the public for tickets for our new colourful, evocative and dramatic ‘Steam and Lights’ train service continues to be unprecedented which is very gratifying.

“The special trains are very important to the Swanage Railway because the profits from their operation go towards helping the heritage railway survive the potentially devastating economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are delighted to be able to run an extra day of two ‘Steam and Lights’ trains because the feedback from passengers has been very encouraging and a lovely thank you to our volunteers who put in such a lot of hard work into making the magic happen.

“One passenger loved their trip so much that he emailed me to say well done, adding that it had been ‘a magical experience’ and that ‘the production was absolutely amazing’.

“He went on to say that ‘the warm welcome everyone received from your staff made it a night to remember’ which makes all the hours of preparation, and all the hard work on the evening, worthwhile.”

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the maximum booking size is six people from the same household or care bubble. Bookings are not available to people who live in Tier 3 areas due to government restrictions.

Tickets for the ‘Steam and Lights’ trains are £20 each for passengers aged 15 and above, £15 for children aged three to 15 and free for children aged under three if they sit on an adult lap and do not occupy a seat.

Visit swanagerailway.co.uk/events/detail/steam-lights to view a preview video and book.