She is the Chief Gnome behind Santa’s Polar Express on the steam-powered Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway. She leads the kids in singing ‘Jingle Bells, ’ stuffing Santa’s sack to ensure the prezzies don’t run out before the train reaches Kinneil, and generally organising the Great Man. A primary teacher’s life, in fact.

“I suppose it does take the organising and child-management skills of a primary teacher to be the Santa controller on the railway,” admits Andrea, who dresses for the weekends in Santa Chief Gnome hat.

“It’s not much of a break at the weekends though, what with preparing for Christmas at school during the week and then more of the same at weekends. A bit of a trainswoman’s holiday, in fact.”

The hardest part, however, is keeping the parents in order as they queue for mince pies.