They're Getting Steamed Up in North Yorkshire

A quick heads up for you to check your diary for the weekend of 12th, 13th and 14th October when the North Yorkshire Moors Railway will be holding its ever popular Railway in Wartime Festival, offering everyone young and old the chance to relive how times really were in Britain in the Second World War. This year it has expanded into the Pickering Show Ground, providing a Park and Ride system and even more attractions.

This is much more than a celebration aimed at the so called steam train “anoraks”, starting on the Friday when there will be an “evacuation” of local school children, plus the flag raising ceremony on Platform One.

Saturday has a Parade plus an “Air Raid” at Pickering Station, and Sunday includes another air raid, a wreath laying and the flag lowering ceremony.

Events will take place along the line and include a replica Spitfire, fire displays, soup kitchens, dances, a Tiger Moth air display, an Anderson shelter and stalls and parades. Not forgetting that there were two sides to the war, there will be displays of Waffen SS training, plus the “rescue” of a crashed German fighter.

Great entertainment for all the family, which helps to answer the eternal question “What was the War like Grandad?" A handy telephone number is 01751 472508, and the railway can be e-mailed on info@nymr.co.uk.  Best be quick, I understand that the Wartime Dance on the Saturday is already a sell out.