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Free Chocolate at the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway

Easter Sunday - 12th April 2009

The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway is celebrating Easter Sunday with free chocolate...... but you've got to find it first!

Hundreds of chocolate eggs are being hidden around the Engine Sheds in Porthmadog, and visitors will be able to find them in an egg hunt with instant rewards.

The train takes passengers on a short ride from Porthmadog through the countryside, before stopping at the Engine Sheds on the way back. James Hewett, Chairman of the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway, said: "it won't necessarily be easy to find the eggs! We've spent the whole winter thinking up clever new places to hide them, so there could be chocolate in all sorts of places."

Professor Pop the balloon man will also be creating free balloon models for everyone - children and adults and Rufus the Rabbit will be travelling on the train to help people find the chocolate.

Train crews at the WHHR will also be joining in the fun, blowing bubbles as the train steams along. And watch out for extra mayhem: Rufus can be a mischievous rabbit sometimes, and is often known to steal the guard's green flag so the train can't go...... only to run off when the Controller discovers who the culprit is!

The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway also has a number of other special events for children during the year, including the Teddy Bears Picnic (May 30th and 31st), Welsh Dragons Weekend (July 18th & 19th) and a book signing session with children's author Alan Cliff (Bank Holiday Weekend, 30th & 31st August).

Throughout the year, the WHHR makes special effort to accommodate families. The Engine Sheds have expanded in size for 2009 to become a new interactive museum, where there's chance to climb on the steam and diesel engines and see how things work. Climb into the cab of steam locomotive "Karen" and find out what makes her a tank engine. Meet "Beano" the horse and see how narrow gauge railways worked before steam locomotives came along...... You can also sit at the controls of a small blue shunting locomotive and discover why you drive it sideways. Or you can sit in the driver's seat of one of the largest narrow gauge engines in the UK.

The WHHR is situated on the A487 at the edge of Porthmadog Town Centre, next to the main line railway station. SatNav - LL49 9DY.