The Santa Express: Christmas movie starring Peter Purves and filmed on North Yorkshire Moors Railway will be 'proudly Yorkshire'

For York-based screenwriter David C. Thorp, the production marks the moment his latest work – The Santa Express – begins its journey from page to big screen. He and director Daniel Coll recently came face-to-face with one of the film’s major stars: Repton, a Southern Railway Schools Class 4-4-0 steam locomotive.

"At over 100 tons she is certainly the biggest star we have ever worked with, and at 92 years old she is probably the oldest too,” says Coll. “But she is still elegant, graceful and very beautiful. And she fits the story perfectly.”

The Santa Express is a modern-day fantasy adventure following 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.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is working with Picture Point Films to bring the story to life against the spectacular backdrop of Yorkshire's heritage railway and countryside and with former Doctor Who companion and Blue Peter presenter Purves in the starring role.

"It is such a pleasure finally to have the go-ahead on filming this lovely script,” he says. “It is nice, at my age, to be doing something totally new.”

Purves says the appeal of the role lies in finding the character behind one of the world's most familiar festive figures and placing him at the heart of a proper family adventure.

"Father Christmas is one of those characters everybody thinks they know, but there is still room to discover the man inside the red suit. I want him to have warmth and humour, with just a little mystery - someone children can believe in and adults can remember believing in."

"Steam railways and Christmas belong together,” he adds. “The sound, the movement and the sense of travelling towards somewhere magical give the film an atmosphere that is impossible not to enjoy."

Thorp describes the film as a story about childhood, nostalgia, loss and love - and about rediscovering wonder for adults and children alike. Romance, comedy, excitement and danger run through a festive journey filled with memorable characters, heroes and villains.

"The film is about the enchantment of Christmas past. 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?" he says. "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."

Coll is producing and directing the film. His screen work includes Braveheart, Emmerdale, The Crown, EastEnders, Coronation Street, Gentleman Jack and Netflix's Red Rose, whilst on stage he’s worked on Les Miserables and the original West End production of Billy Elliot.

"For me, the attraction of The Santa Express is that it can be spectacular without ever losing sight of the people at its centre,” he says. “The steam locomotive and the Yorkshire locations give us scale, but the story is really about family, second chances and finding your way back to wonder.

"As an actor as well as a producer and director, I care deeply about creating the space for performances to feel honest. We are building a magical Christmas world, but the emotion has to be real. If audiences laugh, feel moved and leave wanting to believe again, we will have done our job.

"York and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway give the film an identity no studio could manufacture. We want to make something proudly Yorkshire, unmistakably British and capable of travelling to families around the world.

Filming is scheduled to begin shortly in York and at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, ahead of a planned Christmas 2026 release.