The North Yorkshire Moors Railway brings a taste of the 1940s to York

Wednesday 26 September, 10.30am to 12 noon

York is set to get a taste of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s (NYMR) Railway in Wartime weekend on Wednesday 26 September (10.30am until 12 noon), when a scouting party direct from the 1940s makes a stop at the Monks Cross Shopping Centre during its ‘Enlistment Tour’!

The group is travelling around North Yorkshire and County Durham to let people know about the largest ever Railway in Wartime weekend, hosted by NYMR to be held on the railway from 12 – 14 October. A military jeep, soldiers and civilians – including a pair of 1940s singers – are making their way around the region to recruit new visitors to one of the largest World War II re-enactment weekends in the country!

“The Railway in Wartime weekend has been a staple event in the NYMR’s diary for many years now, and indeed, the themed activities continue all along the line from Pickering to Whitby, attracting thousands of visitors from around the country,” comments NYMR’s marketing manager, Danielle Ramsey. “This year, we’ve also taken over the Pickering Showground to make the festivities bigger and better than ever before, so we decided to spend a few days taking a taste of the 1940s around the region and hopefully recruit some more participants for the Railway in Wartime Weekend.”

During the Railway in Wartime event itself, each of the stations along the line of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway is taken over by a different group, with a traditional NAAFI open at Pickering – only open to those in 1940s dress! – wartime music and dance at Grosmont, and Goathland converted into an RAF base, supported by the Home Guard.

Levisham station will be temporarily relocating itself to the other side of the English Channel to become Le Visham, a French village under German occupation, with living history displays, vintage vehicles and period music.

With visitor numbers expected to reach an all-time high, a Park & Ride service will be in operation from Pickering Showground, with visitors welcome to browse around a range of vintage stalls, watch living history displays and even try out a Spitfire Simulator for the ultimate World War II experience. Entry is free to pedestrians or £5 per car for the full day. The fun continues in the evening with “Railway in Wartime Dances”, a very popular 1940s themed dancehall experience, running from 7.00pm to 11.30pm. Tickets cost £10 per person in advance, or £15 on the door (Saturday is already sold out; tickets for Friday are still available).

Visitors wishing to ride on the NYMR itself are advised to pre-book. Day rover tickets cost from £21 for adults, £10.50 for children and £18.00 for seniors, with a family ticket (two adults and up to four children) from £42.00 (Pickering to Grosmont day rover return ticket).

For more information, or to pre-book tickets, please visit www.nymr.co.uk/wartime or call 01751 472 508

ENDS

Media call:         Photographers and journalists are welcome to attend from 11.00am to talk to the re-enactors and take photographs of the roadshow team with the Jeep.

The tour visits:

For further media information, please contact:

Jay Commins – PRO North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Tel: 0113 251 5698

Mob: 07810 546567

Email: jay@fim.org.uk