Talyllyn Railway is linking with the Magic Lantern Cinema, Tywyn on Easter Monday, March 28 to provide a unique opportunity to experience a film based on one of the best loved children’s books.

Nesbit’s The Railway Children has been a firm favourite for years, having also been immortalised in the 1970 film directed by Lionel Jeffries.

More recently a special stage production has been developed which has been seen at both the National Railway Museum in York and in London to much acclaim, including winning a prestigious Olivier Award.

Now a film has been made of this production, which features one of the locomotives from the original 1970 film. This is to be premiered in 400 cinemas in the UK and Ireland, one of which is the Magic Lantern in Tywyn.

To celebrate the event, the cinema and Talyllyn Railway have combined to offer a unique train ride experience featuring a complete trip on the railway, including a re-enactment of one of the famous scenes from the book. The train then returns to Tywyn in time for people to be able to take their seats for the cinema showing.

The train will leave Tywyn at 12.45pm, with the cinema showing commencing at 4pm. Combined tickets for both the train and cinema cost £20 for adults and £12 for children under 18, with other concessions available. They can be booked online via the Talyllyn Railway website at www.talyllyn.co.uk, or by phone on 01654 710472.

A spokesperson for the railway said: “E. Nesbit’s story is an enduring memory for many which has lived on down the years. Therefore to have the opportunity to work with The Magic Lantern Cinema to give people this unique experience was too good to miss.

“We hope that people will thoroughly enjoy their trip along the railway and the chance to see this wonderful new production.”

If people do not wish to ride the train, tickets for the film only will be available from The Magic Lantern Cinema.