Dare you ride? Exbury’s Ghost Train takes to the rails . . .

It’s all aboard the Exbury Ghost Train this coming half-term, for a 35 min “Phantom-mime” for Halloween!
Passengers will encounter numerous scary characters, spooky trees – and Southampton scouts! It has been revealed that many of the ghastly and ghoulish ghosts, scarecrows and skeletons, peeping out from behind the bushes and flitting through the dark tunnel, are scouts, putting on the performance of their lives.
From Mon 25 Oct through to Sun 31 Oct, Halloween itself, the Ghost Train, decorated with lanterns and pumpkins and hosted by the skeletal Napoleon Bone-aparte and his scary sidekick Batty the Vampire, puffs out of Exbury Central, and it is then the scouts do their scary best.

“Many of the weird and wonderful characters you see around the track are played by scouts between 13 and 18 years old,” said Geoff Johnson, explorer leader for Southampton City Scouts.
“The cast changes every day with as many as 60 young people taking part throughout the week. They are learning discipline and timing as well as working with adults as part of a team. They must enjoy it because some come back year after year,” he said. “Every year Exbury introduce new characters and roles for the Scouts to play – which keeps everyone – including the Ghost Train passengers – on their toes. This year will see the introduction of a “Ghoul School”!”

After the terrible jokes and puns and scary moments aboard the Ghost Train families can enjoy a nerve-calming walk around the Gardens full of flaming autumn colour and the exhibition of jewel lilies and wild autumn art in the Five Arrows Gallery. Children can follow a trail to discover lots of spooky trees on a trail, including the ‘Chinese Coffin Tree’, The ‘Devil’s Walking Stick’ and ‘Ghost Tree’, and learn about the customs and folklore surrounding some of this country’s ancient trees, such as the yew and oak.  There is a special Halloween Menu throughout the Ghost Train period being run in Mr Eddy’s Restaurant.
The Ghost Train runs from Monday 25th October to Sunday 31st October, Halloween itself. Tickets for the Ghost Train are £3.50 plus additional Gardens admission costs. It is advisable to book on 023 8024 5750, especially for the weekend.