Stations celebrate Swinging Sixties along the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 June 2013

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway will be the grooviest way to get around on 15 & 16 June, when it adds music, merriment and even a museum at its stations along the line between Pickering and Whitby to help visitors really step back 50 years to the Swinging Sixties.

At the heart of NYMR’s celebrations will be live music performing at Levisham and Goathland Stations, both of which featured in the TV series, Heartbeat.  Beatlemania  will take over Levisham, where the music from 12 noon until 4pm each day will be performed by tribute band, The Cavernites, and Whitby-based 60s group, Five Divide.  The Rock ‘n’ Roll railway also sees the welcome return of Jive Express on the Saturday and Tex Leon & Friends on Sunday, with their performances continuing into the evening at Goathland Station.  Both Levisham and Goathland will have a ‘real ale’ bar operating throughout the weekend.

“If anyone needed an excuse to root their miniskirts and Mary Quant dresses out of the back of the wardrobe, there is no better time than this, when we’ll be celebrating the Swinging Sixties in show-stopping style,” comments NYMR’s marketing manager, Danielle Ramsey.  “Alongside Pickering 60s Festival we’re also turning our education centre on Platform 2 of Pickering station into a museum packed with 60s memorabilia, so this is an excellent chance for a nostalgic trip back in time and a great way for younger visitors to step back in time to see how the world in which their grandparents grew up!”

However, for the NYMR, the 1960s was hardly a time of celebration, as the famous Beeching Report of 1963 earmarked the line for closure – and indeed, in 1965, public services between Malton and Whitby ended.  Fortunately, the tireless endeavours of enthusiasts and volunteers saw parts of the line re-open as a heritage railway just eight years later, creating the experience that 350,000 travellers continue to enjoy each year.

As services are expected to be particularly busy throughout the ‘60s Festival, visitors wishing to travel are advised to pre-book their tickets online at www.nymr.co.uk or call 01751 472508.

ENDS

For further media information, please contact:

Jay Commins – Pyper York

Tel: 01904 500698

Mob: 07810 546567

Email: jay@pyperyork.co.uk