The railway's showpiece event returned earlier this month for the first time in two years after the coronavirus pandemic forced plans to be scrapped for 2020.
![Eastern Daily Press: Marie and Neil Goodall with their children, Lily, 11, and Finley, eight, from Ipswich, ready to go on the Polar Express at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham.]( "Eastern Daily Press: Marie and Neil Goodall with their children, Lily, 11, and Finley, eight, from Ipswich, ready to go on the Polar Express at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham.")
Marie and Neil Goodall with their children, Lily, 11, and Finley, eight, from Ipswich, ready to go on the Polar Express at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham. (Image: Archant 2021)
![Eastern Daily Press: Conductor on the Polar Express, Paul Andrew Goldsmith, with the hero boy, played by Matt Otoo-Anakwa, at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham.]( "Eastern Daily Press: Conductor on the Polar Express, Paul Andrew Goldsmith, with the hero boy, played by Matt Otoo-Anakwa, at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham.")
Conductor on the Polar Express, Paul Andrew Goldsmith, with the hero boy, played by Matt Otoo-Anakwa, at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham. (Image: Archant 2021)
But now, thousands of families have enjoyed a magical Christmas experience already this November, with around 30,000 people expected on board throughout the six-week run.
The experience, based on the 2004 film, offers passengers the rare opportunity to travel from Dereham to the North Pole, complete with live performances on board.
Tickets for all shows have sold out once again, with this year's event the first using ex-Greater Anglia coaches, offering visitors a more comfortable experience.
The return of the Polar Express comes hot on the heels of the Flying Scotsman's historic stint in Norfolk.
![Eastern Daily Press: The hero boy, played by Matt Otoo-Anakwa, at the Polar Express at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham.]( "Eastern Daily Press: The hero boy, played by Matt Otoo-Anakwa, at the Polar Express at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham.")
The hero boy, played by Matt Otoo-Anakwa, at the Polar Express at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham. (Image: Archant 2021)
![Eastern Daily Press: Conductor on the Polar Express, Paul Andrew Goldsmith, with two of the chefs, Annie Gibbons, left, and Katherine Vince, at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham.]( "Eastern Daily Press: Conductor on the Polar Express, Paul Andrew Goldsmith, with two of the chefs, Annie Gibbons, left, and Katherine Vince, at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham.")
Conductor on the Polar Express, Paul Andrew Goldsmith, with two of the chefs, Annie Gibbons, left, and Katherine Vince, at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham. (Image: Archant 2021)
![Eastern Daily Press: An eerie Tom Cove plays the Hobo in the Polar Express at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY]( "Eastern Daily Press: An eerie Tom Cove plays the Hobo in the Polar Express at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY")
An eerie Tom Cove plays the Hobo in the Polar Express at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant 2021)
![Eastern Daily Press: Conductor on the Polar Express, Paul Andrew Goldsmith, with all the chefs at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY]( "Eastern Daily Press: Conductor on the Polar Express, Paul Andrew Goldsmith, with all the chefs at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY")
Conductor on the Polar Express, Paul Andrew Goldsmith, with all the chefs at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant 2021)
![Eastern Daily Press: Conductor on the Polar Express, Paul Andrew Goldsmith, front, with the other conductors at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham.]( "Eastern Daily Press: Conductor on the Polar Express, Paul Andrew Goldsmith, front, with the other conductors at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham.")
Conductor on the Polar Express, Paul Andrew Goldsmith, front, with the other conductors at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham. (Image: Archant 2021)
![Eastern Daily Press: The audience enjoy the show before embarking on the Polar Express at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham.]( "Eastern Daily Press: The audience enjoy the show before embarking on the Polar Express at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham.")
The audience enjoy the show before embarking on the Polar Express at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham. (Image: Archant 2021)
![Eastern Daily Press: The audience enjoy the show before embarking on the Polar Express at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham.]( "Eastern Daily Press: The audience enjoy the show before embarking on the Polar Express at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham.")
The audience enjoy the show before embarking on the Polar Express at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham. (Image: Archant 2021)
![Eastern Daily Press: The audience enjoy the show before embarking on the Polar Express at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham.]( "Eastern Daily Press: The audience enjoy the show before embarking on the Polar Express at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham.")
The audience enjoy the show before embarking on the Polar Express at the Mid-Norfolk Railway at Dereham. (Image: Archant 2021)
![Eastern Daily Press: Conductor Paul Andrew Goldsmith, chats to Ben Whittingham and his son Seb, four, from Wicklewood, on the Polar Express.]( "Eastern Daily Press: Conductor Paul Andrew Goldsmith, chats to Ben Whittingham and his son Seb, four, from Wicklewood, on the Polar Express.")
Conductor Paul Andrew Goldsmith, chats to Ben Whittingham and his son Seb, four, from Wicklewood, on the Polar Express. (Image: Archant 2021)
![Eastern Daily Press: The chefs in a musical number on the Polar Express.]( "Eastern Daily Press: The chefs in a musical number on the Polar Express.")
The chefs in a musical number on the Polar Express. (Image: Archant 2021)
![Eastern Daily Press: Four-year-old peers round her seat on the Polar Express to watch the dancing.]( "Eastern Daily Press: Four-year-old peers round her seat on the Polar Express to watch the dancing.")
Four-year-old peers round her seat on the Polar Express to watch the dancing. (Image: Archant 2021)
![Eastern Daily Press: The Conductor, Paul Andrew Goldsmith, and the chefs in a musical number on the Polar Express.]( "Eastern Daily Press: The Conductor, Paul Andrew Goldsmith, and the chefs in a musical number on the Polar Express.")
The Conductor, Paul Andrew Goldsmith, and the chefs in a musical number on the Polar Express. (Image: Archant 2021)
![Eastern Daily Press: The Conductor, Paul Andrew Goldsmith, and the chefs in a musical number on the Polar Express.]( "Eastern Daily Press: The Conductor, Paul Andrew Goldsmith, and the chefs in a musical number on the Polar Express.")
The Conductor, Paul Andrew Goldsmith, and the chefs in a musical number on the Polar Express. (Image: Archant 2021)
![Eastern Daily Press: Ivana and Julian Youngs with their children, Luke, six, and Ellie, 11, on the Polar Express.]( "Eastern Daily Press: Ivana and Julian Youngs with their children, Luke, six, and Ellie, 11, on the Polar Express.")
Ivana and Julian Youngs with their children, Luke, six, and Ellie, 11, on the Polar Express. (Image: Archant 2021)
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