Bluebell railway - car picnic or rely on getting lunch there?

[Egwar]

We're taking our 1 1/2 year old on the Bluebell Railway in a couple of weeks since he is obsessed with trains and loves going to see new things/being busy. All the train times fall around lunch, though, and I've heard there isn't much you can get to eat around there. Do I need to be massively organised and sort out a car picnic (with the current freezing weather), or are there toddler-friendly eating places around there somewhere?

Hi, I took DC on it during the summer and there was a buffet car although we only bought drinks and crisps, not sure they do much more than that.
Depending on where you board the train will give you different options. We got on at the 'main' station (can't remember the name, having blonde moment) and just a few miles down the road was a lovely Llama park that had a nice restaurant so we had lunch there. If the weather is good, might be a nice little additional thing to do. They did kids meals (hot and cold) and had high chairs and changing facilities.

Fantastic - thanks Mumoverseas :) I was getting worried about what to feed him, and he's a fussy eater at the best of times!

You are welcome
I have several fussy eaters but they really enjoyed the food at the Llama park (it has reindeer too which he may like!) They did various sandwiches and hot options and did llama shaped cookies which the kids loved.
Hope you have a fabulous time

Thanks - we had a great time. He enjoyed his ham sandiwch and, although the Bluebell Railway was brilliant, we were pleased to get away and find somewhere else for lunch. The railway cafe would have been very busy with the number of children going on the 'santa specials' train service. He loved the llamas too - we got lots of 'llama, more! llama, more!'