YEARS ago my young Godson sent me a postcard at about this time of year with a neatly penned request for 'Annie and Clarabel — the carriages'. It may as well have been written in Japanese for all the sense it made to me.

These days I am much more familiar with all things Thomas. And last week all the Thomas paraphernalia in our house (plenty of it, courtesy of my son's own Godfather) was ceremoniously set up in the sitting room in anticipation of our visit to Devon's answer to Sodor, Woody Bay. Or more precisely Woody Bay Station on the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway.

Given that half the fun of these sorts of outings with children is anticipation, we set off on this adventure with lots of choo-chooing and high good spirits. The good mood did not diminish.

The drive gets prettier and prettier as you approach Woody Bay — no matter which direction you come from, and the railway is easy to find. The turn-off is also well-marked by a sign with a nice illustration of a steam locomotive on it, just in case the excitement levels have flagged.

And, from the moment you get out of your car, it only gets better. Woody Bay Station is the first station on the original Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, which closed in 1935, to be fully restored, and every detail has been attended to.

There are luggage trolleys piled with leather trunks and cases, rows of shiny red fire buckets (that's Fireman Sam buckets for the parents), nice old-fashioned signs, and benches, and pots of flowers and plenty of station staff with smart uniforms and cheery smiles. Call me sentimental, but I don't think you have to have grown ups buying Fry's chocolate out of cast-iron machines to find this sort of thing charming.

Of course the real icing on this nostalgic cake is the utterly thrilled expressions of the visiting children. The trains run quite regularly (about every 45 minutes) and we timed our visit to arrive in time to see the 11.15 depart.

This meant that 'Sid' (lovely shiny green engine) was sitting next to the platform puffing merrily when we got there. My son, at two and a half, was pretty delighted with this, but two other little boys, about five and seven, were close to hyperventilation with excitement. The atmosphere was infectious.

Once Sid had set off, with all the appropriate pulling-out noises and smoke-billowing, we went into the little station café. It is painted in those utility type forest colours and has wooden tables and fresh flowers in vases, so the atmosphere remains well and truly rooted in the good old days.

We ordered some coffee and cake and a nice ham sandwich and were served by one of the station's many volunteers, who told us that she had gone to work herself on the steam train for years. When she said this she stared off into the middle distance with a bit of a glaze in her eyes, so the nostalgia obviously stays with you even if you're a regular.

After we'd eaten there was just enough time to pick out a postcard and a pocket-money wind-up toy from the gift shop before Sid came chuffing back, to be inspected all over again before our departure at noon. The ride itself is a bit bumpy and smoky and windy and completely fabulous. The kids are bouncing out of their skins by the time the whistle blows and the adults are all grinning.

The train takes you through a little stretch of the glorious North Devon rolling countryside for about 10 minutes and then stops at the platform at Killington Station, for a few minutes. At this point the engine has to move to the reverse end of the train and hook up to the carriages for the return trip. Cue more excitement. And, it is worth noting that the little girls are as delighted with the whole business as the boys.

Railway trustee, Tony Nicholson, points out that seeing the reactions of the children is one of the real pleasures of being involved with the railway. And, since we're getting near to the season of lit-up children's faces, he suggests that it is well worth booking in advance for the 'Santa Specials'. These run on December 12 and 13 and then again from December 19 to December 24 and include a steam train ride and a visit to Father Christmas in the station.

Tony says that, if children's names and ages are given when booking, appropriate presents will be labelled for them, which adds a particularly personal touch. He stresses, though, that just showing up is likely to lead to disappointment, and exactly the type of expression that you want to avoid seeing on your children's faces, so check the website first, or telephone for booking details.

In addition to the Christmas activities there are other events at the station throughout the year. This year there was a Mother's Day special along with a Jazz Festival event and a Real Ale day, so there is a fair bit to keep the adults smiling too.

The Railway have great plans for expansion and are keen to extend the line. Here's hoping that they can raise the funds needed because a taste of old-fashioned, romantic train travel is quite a tonic, especially when compared with most modern mass transportation methods. And, with free parking, and children under five and the first child travelling free, it is quite a reasonable day out compared with other attractions in the area.

Then, if you're keen to sustain the mood when you get home (after you've put the exhausted kids to bed with one last 'All aboard!') you can always cosy up and watch Brief Encounter with as much Fry's chocolate as you can handle. Bliss.

CONTACTS:

● Lynton and Barnstaple Railway: 01598 763 487.

● 'Santa Specials' booking line: 01598 763 683.

www.lynton-rail.co.uk