A HERITAGE railway which became embroiled in a $3m legal dispute over the biggest event on its calendar – The Polar Express – has dropped the name to avoid further royalty costs.

Uncertainty struck Weardale Railway volunteers in April when a disagreement erupted between Iowa Pacific Holdings, which owns British American Rail Services, and Rail Events Inc, the company which licences the festive treat, which has proved a big hit with families from across the North-East and beyond.

More than 25,000 tickets for its Polar Express event, inspired by the Warner Bros film, have been sold each year since the attraction was launched in 2012 and it is credited with bringing several million pounds into the Weardale economy and creating scores of jobs.

But the companies clashed when Iowa Pacific was accused of owing unpaid royalties relating to the festive season events hosted on its railways in the US and the UK.

It is understood Rail Events are seeking payment for unpaid royalties, court costs and other expenses but Iowa Pacific had reportedly withheld the money over what it believed were unfair practices regarding competition and pricing.

However, Iowa Pacific’s president, Ed Ellis, has now confirmed the two companies have come to a “satisfactory” agreement and are expected to have it settled by the end of the year.

Mr Ellis also revealed that the company would no longer be putting on The Polar Express event at Weardale Railway and were instead replacing it with their existing Train to Christmas Town festive event which they currently run Dartmoor Railway, in Devon.

Mr Ellis said: “We expect to settle with Rail Events satisfactory for both parties in the legal dispute and we are going on with a different programme.

“We have been doing this one in different places in 2012 and we just decided this year we are going to do it in all our locations and we actually like it better than the other one.”

Mr Ellis, who is planning to ride the train himself in December, said the highlights of the festive train ride, which normally include actors dressed up and storytelling with hot cocoa and a present from Santa, would remain the same.

“Everything will be the same except the story,” he said. “It’s going to be even more exciting than it was before.”

Confirming the change of event meant the company would not have to pay expensive royalties, Mr Ellis added: “Weardale Railway is a very small railway and every pound we make is precious and so having an exciting Christmas play on a train where you don’t have to pay a lot of money to some sub of Warner Bros is helpful.”

Bill Warriner, Weardale Railway’s general manager said the new event is based on the children’s book The Train To Christmas Town and follows the story of a young girl named Janice who takes the Christmas town train each year.

The book was written by Peggy Ellis, a lifelong educator, and was illustrated by Jeffrey Lee, who is best known as the graphic artist behind the 1980’s arcade game Q*bert.

The new cast will include storybook characters including Wabash the squirrel, Zephyr the cat, and Bumblebee the bear, all going to Christmas Town on the train.

The festive atmosphere at the station and on the train includes original holiday music from the Grammy-nominated band Trout Fishing in America, hot chocolate, cookies served by jolly elves as well as carolling and a reading of the book as well as the all-important visit from Santa to pass out a special gift to each girl and boy.

Mr Warriner said: “It’s about the value of friends and family at Christmas, and how the magic of Christmas is for all ages, not just children.”

  • The event will run from Stanhope Station between November 17 and December 23.
  • Tickets for the train ride have gone on sale today, Monday, October 2.
  • To buy tickets visit weardaletraintochristmastown.com or call 01388-526203.