The Santa Express, a new feature film shooting in York and on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in Pickering, is due to be released in time for Christmas.
Director Daniel Coll, left, and writer Dave Thorp aboard one of the stars of the Santa Express – locomotive Repton (Image: Supplied)
Former Doctor Who star and Blue Peter presenter Peter Purves will play Father Christmas in the film.
The production company said filming is scheduled to begin “shortly in York and at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, ahead of a planned Christmas 2026 release”.
Purves, 87, said it is “nice, at my age, to be doing something totally new”.
“It is such a pleasure finally to have the go-ahead on filming this lovely script,” he said.
Writer Dave Thorp (Image: Dylan Connell)
The fantasy adventure film, written by York-based screenwriter Dave Thorp, follows Bob Browning, a man whose dearest wish is to play Father Christmas aboard his local steam railway.
“His determination finally wins him the job of a lifetime – but it is not the job, or the world, he expected,” a description of the film by the production company said.
“Romance, comedy, excitement and danger run through a festive journey filled with memorable characters, heroes and villains,” it added.
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Thorp described the film as a story about childhood, nostalgia, loss and love – and about rediscovering wonder for adults and children alike.
“The film is about the enchantment of Christmas past,” he said. “Those delightful, magical Christmases we can all remember from back when we were maybe nine or ten years old. What happened? Where did they go?”
Thorp added: “It takes us on a sentimental journey back to recapture the delights of our childhood, when Christmas was always magical, enchanting and wonderful – and will be once again!”
Director Dan Coll (Image: Supplied)
Steam locomotive Repton, a Southern Railway Schools Class 4-4-0, will appear on screen and, at more than 100 tons, “is certainly the biggest star we have ever worked with”, according to director Daniel Coll.
Coll said that at 92 years old, the locomotive is “probably the oldest [star he has worked with] too – but she is still elegant, graceful and very beautiful. And she fits the story perfectly!”
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is working with Picture Point Films to bring the story to life against the backdrop of the county’s heritage railway and countryside.