Spooky activities planned for local railway over Halloween

Spooky activities planned for local railway over Halloween

24 October 2012

THERE’LL be something spooky going on at the Downpatrick and Co. Down Railway this Halloween.

Ghosts will be patrolling the platform while there’ll be ghouls in the carriages, marking the return of the popular Halloween Ghost Trains.

Railway chairman Robert Gardiner says anyone who visits the Downpatrick station this weekend and again next Wednesday is in for a double treat.

He has revealed that in addition to travelling on a vintage train, children and adults who dare to get off at the at the “forbidden platform” will be granted an audience with the Great Wizard in his own haunted Grotto train.

“Those who dare to enter Merlin’s domain pass his tests, then the children will receive a mystical gift,” Robert continued. “And of course children can turn the tables and scare Merlin by coming in ghostly fancy dress themselves.”

Also during the railway’s Halloween celebrations there will be an opportunity to visit a Viking Graveyard over Halloween?

The special trains will be stopping at the grave of King Magnus Barefoot on its travels and passengers are being warned as ghoulish things will rise out of the ground before their very eyes.

This weekend, doors at the local railway open on Saturday and Sunday from 2pm until 5pm and the spooky night time train runs again next Wednesday evening between 5pm and 8pm for those brave enough to venture out when it’s dark.

Refreshments will be served onboard a buffet carriage at the Loop Platform during the Halloween events and car parking is free. Fares are £6 for adults, £8 for children and £4.50 for children under three and senior citizens.

People planning to ride the Halloween specials are also reminded to wrap up warm.

Full details of the Halloween event are available at the railway’s website, www.downrail.co.uk. The railway’s Facebook address is www.facebook.com/downrail, while the Twitter address is @downrail.