- 4 hours ago
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🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:01I'm Paul, but most people call me Piglet.
00:07Steam trains are my world, and I help run one of Britain's most popular heritage lines,
00:14the North Yorkshire Moes Railway.
00:19Stretching 24 glorious miles from the traditional market town of Pickering,
00:25heading over the North York Moes, and onto the coastal town of Whitby.
00:34North Yorkshire, what's not to like?
00:37It's breathtaking.
00:40I'm proud to be part of a thousand-strong team working hard to keep this 200-year-old tradition alive.
00:47That's what's brought me back all these years, it's just one big family.
00:50Together we're facing the challenges of taking steam into its third century.
00:57It takes passion.
00:59Everything that we do I'm really proud of.
01:01Skill.
01:02When you're ready Tom, do your board.
01:05And as a charity, some serious funds to keep the wheels turning on this heritage line.
01:11Five pounds, six pounds.
01:17But when you look out over this.
01:19It's beautiful, it's absolutely stunning.
01:22And get to make people this happy.
01:24There's nothing better sight than that pulling out the station.
01:29There's nothing else I'd rather do.
01:32That's my kind of day in the office.
01:33Today, a huge moorland blaze threatens to derail our summer season.
01:40The fire services are under massive stress.
01:43Young volunteers get involved in the engine shed.
01:46Amazing.
01:47Absolutely amazing.
01:49And a chance to pay tribute to the people who have got us where we are today.
01:53She loved and tended these gardens, which are her everlasting memorial.
02:08It's the height of the summer season, our busiest time of the year and crucial for boosting ticket sales.
02:14And this year, a key part of our finances are relying on Tornado.
02:23The celebrity new build engine, I've loaned in to pull in the passengers and raise much needed funds.
02:29But just when my plan seems to be working, disaster strikes.
02:37The latest from the YorkMix newsroom power.
02:39The Langdale Moor wildfire is now consuming an area of nearly 10 square miles.
02:45A change in the weather means the fire doubled in size at the weekend.
02:52Locals have been told to pack a bag of essentials.
02:55As plans are being drawn up to evacuate residential areas if the blaze spreads.
03:00Barely 10 miles from our railway, a vast wildfire has spread across the North York Moors National Park.
03:07It's been declared a major incident and the fire crews are struggling to contain it.
03:11For us at the railway, a catastrophic event of this scale leaves us no choice.
03:17We can't risk a lineside fire caused by a spark from the engines.
03:22The fire crews are already under too much pressure.
03:25We have no choice but to pull our steam services.
03:27It's only 10 miles away and this is like, this is a big fire.
03:32We have to consider everybody in this and I think we've got a responsibility to do the right thing here.
03:38Yeah, well the fire services are under massive stress.
03:41For me, I think we have a duty of care.
03:43There's a lot at stake up there, isn't there?
03:46I mean, just for us, like, we just got Tornado.
03:49We probably lose 25% of our passengers but it is what it is, isn't it?
03:52It is.
03:53That isn't important right now.
03:54Yeah.
03:55I think the right thing to do is to run a diesel service basically.
03:59Yeah, yeah.
04:04Taking steam out of service is a huge decision for us and that includes Tornado.
04:09We do have a fleet of heritage diesel engines so we can keep the timetable running.
04:17But losing 25% of our passengers is a big financial hit.
04:22With a disaster of this scale though, safety has to be our number one priority.
04:31Over the next days, the fire became one of the biggest the area has ever seen.
04:37Declared a major incident, it spread more than 10 square miles across Langdale More.
04:43Farmers, landowners and gamekeepers did everything they could to get it under control.
04:48And fire crews from right across the country were called in to help.
04:53Among the first on the scene was our local Pickering fire crew.
04:58Go and get briefing.
05:03Morning Chris.
05:04Morning Pete.
05:05The Pickering appliance reporting for duty.
05:10Alongside other teams, they've been working round the clock to tackle the blaze.
05:15And now, four weeks after the fire first flared up, the fight to put it out safely is still ongoing.
05:22We've split the moor into seven different sectors because it's such a large area to cover.
05:27Major issues that we need to be aware of today is the unexploded ordnance that's on there after the World War II.
05:33The fire's proximity to Aria Filingdale's, a key radar base, is making operations more complex and more dangerous.
05:53The area was used as a military training base during World War II and the fire has already triggered unexploded bombs.
06:01So crews have been forced to take a more defensive approach in some areas rather than fighting the flames head on.
06:09If we can get the rest of our kit on that we need, we'll jump on the wagon and we'll head down to the forestry sector.
06:14The Pickering crew are on-call firefighters, which means they have other full-time jobs and when the fire service calls, they respond.
06:24We've had to call on national resilience, so we've had fire engines from loads of different counties just to come and help us.
06:33Because predominantly we're an on-call fire service here. We have 31 on-call fire stations, two volunteer stations and then eight hold-time stations.
06:43So we very much rely on the on-call system and that's really difficult.
06:53Although the visible flames have died back, the peat is still burning beneath the surface.
06:59Is it deep there, Mickey? Is it deep?
07:03Yeah.
07:05I mean, this is where we came here two days ago and put water on this, so it's still really burning deep underground, isn't it?
07:14I think they want us to get under here and make sure this isn't going to go again.
07:17So we'll spend some time here and make a really good job of making sure it's right out.
07:23Oh, it can't get going again.
07:24Oh.
07:25All right, Matt.
07:27They're using a wildfire suppression technique called hotspotting, tackling the most active parts of the blaze first to stop it spreading.
07:35The fire's burning underneath in all that thick vegetation that's built up over time from the trees.
07:42Can I come through the middle?
07:43So the fire's burning so deep and so hot, the only way to really properly extinguish it and show it's not going to spread any further is to dig it out.
07:51So dig in, expose the fire, extinguish it with the water.
07:55So just on this edge, Mickey, I've just come across a little bit of burning, some embers in the bottom.
08:00I've jagged it out.
08:01If you could just douse it and make sure it's all right out from that edge and then maybe the bit over there.
08:06I don't think I've ever seen anything like this in North Yorkshire in any sort of operational incident and I think this is probably the biggest one in England that we've had to date.
08:17Let's get under there mate, I drag the line out, it's still burning underneath.
08:26You live in an area and you see it on a daily basis and to see how it is now, it's upsetting for a lot of people.
08:33Obviously, it's not just what we can see but it's the impact it has on the ecosystems as well and the wildlife as well.
08:41It's quite upsetting.
08:42The on-call teams have the same responsibilities as the full-time stations and it's very physically demanding work.
08:54And on top of their full-time jobs, it's been a tough few weeks for everyone involved.
08:59On one of the days when I was driving over what we call Blue Bank and you just saw the sheer scale of the incident and I just thought how are we going to put this house because it is so big.
09:10My daughters knew how big the fire had got and they were kissing me and sort of saying they love me and things like that and you go into work and thinking, I don't know what's going to happen today.
09:21But thankfully, after facing one of the biggest fires the Moors has ever seen, the fire teams are finally starting to get a handle on it.
09:29We are quite satisfied at the moment that we're on top of any major developments.
09:34We're starting to come into autumn now so we're hoping the weather conditions will run in our favour, we start to get some rain again.
09:42Cheers, Nick, see you later mate.
09:45Hats off to all the heroes who battle this fire.
09:48It will take a long time for the landscape to recover but no homes were lost and no lives were harmed and we have to be thankful for that.
09:57And so, as summer rolls into autumn, we get the all clear and steam is back on the tracks.
10:08To celebrate, I'm putting on a special 32 mile round trip for the Tornado fans, starting and finishing at the southern end of our line, Pickering.
10:22And yes, word has got out and the fans have turned up.
10:26I've been coming on the North Ocean Moors rowing for all my life basically.
10:32Brilliant, brilliant to be here today. It's a, you know, unique engine that's pulling this today and it's a lovely day for it.
10:38So yeah, very excited.
10:40As long as it makes him happy, I'm quite happy to come along.
10:44I love steam trains and I've been to lots and lots of heritage railways around the country.
10:49When I heard Tornado was coming, I decided to make a special effort and drag my family along today.
10:56Oh, take my hat off.
10:58Thank you, Eric.
11:00But while the passengers are setting off from Pickering, I'll be waiting further up the track.
11:05The train standing on back on the wall is the 10.30 departure to Gromont behind Tornado.
11:12I've already travelled the section of our heritage line that runs between Gromont, Gautheland and Levisham.
11:17So today I'm picking up where I left off, boarding at Levisham, to finally fire up Tornado for the last eight miles of the round trip.
11:32Levisham is one of my favourite stations on the line.
11:36It's just so peaceful, sitting where it's been for almost 200 years at the bottom of a huge valley, surrounded by the spectacular moorland above.
11:44All right. Living the dream, yeah.
11:48So now I just have to wait until I hear that very distinct whistle in the distance that will tell me Tornado is on its way.
11:55This is really exciting, you know, it's been really challenging.
11:58I was nervous that we weren't even going to get this engine out into service.
12:02So the fact it's here, we're up and running, you know, happy days, just hope plenty of people come out and see it.
12:08And for me personally, I mean, this is a top-link job. I'm about to get to fire Tornado, you know, when I love every minute of it.
12:14Living the dream, as I say. And there we are.
12:16Great big engine and the tiny little tooty whistle.
12:19I'm firing one of the rock stars of the steam engine world along a seven-mile stretch of our heritage railway.
12:37All right.
12:40Let's have a look at this fire a minute before we depart.
12:44On the footplate with me today is volunteer driver Gary.
12:48Right away, driver.
12:50And Andy, a member of the team that looks after Tornado.
12:53All good this side.
12:58All right, mate.
12:59Right, so it's actually between here and Pickering.
13:01This next section of line, Levisham to Pickering, slightly downhill all the way.
13:06So from my point of view, it's not too difficult, not a lot of shoveling, but I do need to make sure we've got water.
13:13And I do need to make sure that we still have some firing up for the lighter work that we're doing.
13:18So we've got a two-mile straight. This is actually the straightest part of the railway down here.
13:25You know, you can get a moment just to sit back, look at the scenery and enjoy it.
13:30And what is an amazing engine.
13:33As we depart Levisham, we'll set out along the two-mile-long section called Levisham Strait.
13:39We'll pass through forested gorges in a valley carved out in the last ice age.
13:44As we approach the boundary of the North York Moes National Park, I'll be keeping an eye out for the ramblers using the footpath crossings.
13:53And as this part of the line is a single track, I'll hand over the all-important token.
14:01And then we finally arrive in Pickering, the end of the line.
14:05Yeah, I mean, this is, you don't get better than this. This is as good as a steam engine gets.
14:12We're here to ride behind Tornado. I've seen it many times, photographed it many times, but never ridden behind it.
14:19It remembers the North York Moes the only way, so we come here quite often and have travelled behind various locomotives.
14:28Yeah, cruising along, 25 miles an hour. This engine's actually done 100 miles an hour, so we're barely working it, really.
14:36We've got seven coaches on behind us, but for all intents and purposes, this is just cruising along.
14:40But a really, really capable machine, this. An honour to be on it.
14:50As we steam along Levesham Strait, it's hard not to be impressed by the scenery and the landscape of the National Park.
14:58We're surrounded on both sides by dense woodland and dramatic valleys.
15:03Plenty of steam, plenty of water.
15:04Just because it's new and newly designed, the fundamentals are still the same.
15:12They're the same as they have been for the last 200 years.
15:16Boilers require a lot of maintenance, and we have to do that and carry that out.
15:20So, yeah, it's a mixture of old and new. New and old technologies on this engine.
15:25It rides lovely. Super smooth. It's like a coach. Feels good, isn't it?
15:29It's a testament to just how special this engine is, that the volunteer crew who look after it day in, day out, are among its biggest fans.
15:39I'm Jacob. I am the support crew for the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust. I look after the tornado.
15:45Just really just love it. We travel everywhere with it. Keep maintaining it so people can enjoy it.
15:50And it's just, yeah, really good fun. Just seeing everyone's faces when it sort of rolls into stations and around the country.
15:55But it's really worth it.
15:57So you've got a relatively new steam engine, completed in 2008.
16:03And it just goes to show that things like this can still be made, still be done.
16:08You know, it's an amazing thing, really, to think we're building an engine that was, you know, built years ago.
16:14And they've recreated that, a bit of missing history.
16:17And that's really good and exciting, and particularly for the new generation coming and working on these engines.
16:22We needed the new volunteers and the people that are going to look after these to keep the railways running, you know.
16:28These machines don't operate on their own.
16:31Every weekend at the engine sheds in Gromont, we have a roster of young volunteers who come along to learn how we look after the steam engines.
16:40I've had to put my jacket on before starting this morning.
16:45Did you?
16:47Aye.
16:48Freezing.
16:49Will and Jack are part of a new generation.
16:52At just 16 and 17, they're learning the same skills that once kept British Railways running.
16:58Skills that this line still depends on today.
17:01If you've got nice looking rods, it sort of makes the whole thing look a lot better.
17:06People are always willing to teach you stuff and sort of pass on that information and you can always remember who taught you something.
17:11Your grandparents were on the footplate in their steam days. You can be like them. You can look up to them and do what they do.
17:20Like many of us here, Will and Jack first caught the steam bug from their families.
17:25I've been off the railway since I was a baby, six months old.
17:30And my family brought me to the railway with my uncle and my granddad.
17:35And it was amazing. It was one of the best things I've seen.
17:40And I was like, I want to do it. I really want to do it.
17:45So as soon as I was 16, I signed up and here I am now.
17:50Working on them.
17:51My granddad was interested in it. He'd taken me to come and see them.
17:56And then when I was about six, we got chatting to a volunteer who then said,
18:01Well, you don't have to wait until you're 16. You can start when you're 10 as a junior.
18:08Here at the railway, we've been running our young volunteers scheme for nearly two decades,
18:14with around 300 youngsters taking part since then.
18:16Dozens like Will and Jack have been inspired to pursue a career in the rail industry.
18:22I'm doing rail engineering at Newcastle College.
18:25I want to work with Network Rail, so still volunteer here.
18:28Like, still get to drive the steam engines and everything.
18:31And work on the main line.
18:34Sorted. Done.
18:35We'll be all shiny for the public to see.
18:42For Will, it's not just about the work or qualifications.
18:46It's about carrying on a family tradition.
18:48His uncle Adrian, one of the railway's most experienced fitters, is here to pass on his knowledge.
18:54All right, okay then, yeah. So what we're going to do now?
18:57So we're going to go underneath and do the ash pan. We've got to do the front and the back.
19:00All right, so we'll go and do that then.
19:02The ash pan sits beneath the firebox and collects the waste ash as the locomotive runs.
19:09Watch your head, because everything's low. We've got a torch.
19:12It needs regular cleaning and fitting with screens to prevent ash falling out.
19:17Can you up the front damper, please?
19:19And keep the engine running efficiently.
19:21I remember when he was five years old, he used to come with my dad, his granddad, most weekends.
19:26And it's definitely in his blood. He loves it. And he's coming on, he's just got a lot to learn.
19:31And hopefully he'll keep going at it and carry it on.
19:34All right, water on, please.
19:36Yeah, I see it's coming to work, do you know? Yeah.
19:38That's it, that's what you want.
19:40There you go, that's it.
19:42There you go.
19:44That's it, so you need the rake now.
19:46Right, do you want to get your rake and start raking it in that corner?
19:49All right, let's get that big lump and we'll get it washed again.
19:52Marvellous.
19:54Right, so water on, please. Half.
19:56A bit more, please.
19:58If you don't know, I'll get wet.
20:00Yeah, yeah, you will get wet.
20:04I'll try it on a winter's day, it's freezing.
20:10Right, and that's about to throw your water off, please.
20:12That's, that's the lot.
20:13There you go, done with the water.
20:15Marvellous.
20:16Shall we check this side?
20:18Yep, that's fine.
20:19Right, you can shut the back damper now, please.
20:21The pan's done.
20:23There you go.
20:25Job's done, let's get out.
20:27Adrian started volunteering in 1991 with his dad.
20:30And after they both received their 20-year volunteer award,
20:34Adrian was offered a full-time job as a fitter.
20:37How many people can say that, you know,
20:38there's been three generations, four generations,
20:41working on steam engines?
20:43Yeah, he did a good job, just need to keep practising.
20:46The more times you do it, the easier it is.
20:48Really, so...
20:50It does look hard, but it is quite easy.
20:52It's getting yourself into a decent position,
20:54not to cover yourself in ash and water.
20:56I mean, you will get wet, but jobs are good.
20:59Yeah.
21:00All right.
21:01All right.
21:02Right, I think a tea break is well-earned.
21:06No worries.
21:07A quick stop down memory lane with some of Will's favourite photographs of his granddad.
21:12So, when was this?
21:13It was, like, years ago.
21:14It must have been about 2019, something like that, I think.
21:17That's one of my favourites.
21:19You haven't changed, have you, apart from the beard?
21:21Yeah.
21:22No, you haven't.
21:23I think you've still got that hat.
21:24Somewhere, probably.
21:25Yeah, yeah.
21:27Hi.
21:28Good memory, sir.
21:29And this one here, one of my favourite ones have gone up there.
21:32Oh, yeah.
21:336619, yeah.
21:34Yeah.
21:35I think it was its last one.
21:36Yeah, it would have been.
21:37It would have been about 2013, wouldn't it?
21:41Steam isn't Will's only passion.
21:42He loves snapping the railway in action, too.
21:45And like most of us, he's got a particular soft spot for our celebrity engine, Tornado.
21:51So, where do you want to go, then, Will?
21:52Just a corner here.
21:55The corner?
21:56Yes.
21:57On that curve?
21:58Yeah, so I can just get Tornado.
21:59One of the perks of all the safety training you get as a volunteer is that you are allowed to go trackside.
22:05And for Will, that means getting VIP access to snap some truly memorable souvenirs.
22:13Amazing.
22:15Absolutely amazing.
22:19Yep, there you go.
22:21All right.
22:22Come first, look at that.
22:24And having spent the morning working on engine 548 Eric Tracy, Will is keen to get a shot of its steaming past Tornado to add to the memories.
22:35That should be long. A couple of minutes, I think, isn't it?
22:37Yeah.
22:39Yeah, four minutes.
22:40Four minutes?
22:41Yeah.
22:42Four minutes.
22:43Have you got Tornado on your screensaver as well?
22:44Yes, I do.
22:46I haven't really seen the headboard on it.
22:48He's that keen, he's that keen.
22:49Yeah, I'm that keen.
22:51You get a good shot? What have you got?
22:52Yeah, that's good.
22:53That's lovely, that, yeah.
22:54Very nice.
22:55Nice position, that.
22:56I like that, yeah.
22:57Looks good.
22:58It's not just a day's work.
22:59Every task is part of a tradition that's carried on through the years.
23:01I remember working with a load of older guys and they all said, oh, well, in the future you'll need to pass on the information so it needs to stick in.
23:02Now I'm doing that.
23:03It's weird.
23:04You know what I mean?
23:05It's weird.
23:06So I'm thinking, God, I'm the older guy now.
23:07Right, excellent.
23:08Yeah, it was a good shift, that.
23:09Right, excellent.
23:10Yeah, it was a good shift, that.
23:11Time to go, I think.
23:12And that's what keeps the railway alive.
23:13One generation teaching them what to do.
23:14So, we're having a lot of peace.
23:15It's quite a great day, really.
23:16We're having a lot of peace.
23:17It's very, very nice, nice position.
23:18I like that, yeah.
23:19Looks good.
23:20It's not just a day's work.
23:21Every task is part of a tradition that's carried on through the years.
23:24I remember working with a load of older guys and they all said, oh, well, in the future you'll need to pass on the information so it needs to stick in.
23:31Now I'm doing that.
23:32It's weird.
23:33You know what I mean?
23:34So I'm thinking, God, I'm the older guy now.
23:35Right, excellent.
23:36Yeah, it was a good shift, that.
23:37Yeah.
23:38Time to go, I think.
23:39And that's what keeps the railway alive.
23:41One generation teaching the next, just as it has for decades.
23:53I'm firing Tornado across the North York Moes National Park.
23:57We're travelling from the remote village of Levesham to the end of the line at Pickering.
24:02After having to press pause on our beloved steam engines right in the heart of our busiest season,
24:08getting Tornado out on the tracks again feels like a huge win.
24:12And I'm loving every minute of it.
24:14So another thing with Tornado, you'll hear it does sound slightly different to the other engines in that it's three cylinders.
24:20So it's got a different kind of beat to it.
24:23This is a thoroughbred racehorse that's designed to go express passenger trains up and down the East Coast main line.
24:30Of course, we can't really put Tornado through its paces on this line.
24:34It has travelled at a record breaking 100 miles an hour.
24:37But we have to stick to the 25 mile an hour speed limit.
24:41But at least that means you can appreciate the countryside more as you steam through at a more leisurely pace.
24:47Nice area this round there.
24:49Keep an eye out, you can see the Annas sunbathing on the side of the line.
24:53Quite often out warming up, physically on a day like today.
24:57We're just so lucky that this is our place of work and we get to share it with so many people who love the railway as much as we do.
25:12North Yorkshire Moors is different to some heritage railways in the fact that it's not just a straight line.
25:20You go through the moors and you can see all the scenery and you get a real experience of what it was actually like.
25:27With the restored stations like Pickering, it's very impressive.
25:31I'm seven and my favourite things about trains are the short steam and like the engineering bits.
25:43I was able as tangy-tot to travel on steam trains a long time ago.
25:52The heritage aspect is so important.
25:56I admire so much the volunteers who keep these railways going.
26:02So obviously as well as the engines requiring a huge amount of maintenance, everything on the railway requires maintenance.
26:14And when you've got a long railway like this, that means there's a lot of assets to look after.
26:19We'll double check the fire.
26:22And that includes the stations themselves.
26:25All of which are looked after by some of our thousand strong army of volunteers.
26:30Down at Pickering, the last stop on the line, there's a group of around 15 volunteers.
26:36They're responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the station.
26:40And it's something they take great pride in.
26:51I've loved railways all my life.
26:53So although I'm not driving a railway engine or anything like that, I do like being round them.
26:59And so combining sort of woodworking, painting skills.
27:04Yeah, those sort of things.
27:06A lot of satisfaction.
27:08John is in the group of volunteers who come along twice a week and get stuck in with whatever jobs need doing.
27:15I started volunteering here roughly 16 years ago.
27:20Sadly, my wife died and I had to find things to occupy myself.
27:25And living in Pickering, it's only a short walk here.
27:28So it's a natural progression to come here, be around my beloved railway and engines.
27:33One regular job these loyal volunteers do is to wind the station clock 13 times to ensure it can keep time efficiently.
27:42It's an old mechanical one, got a pendulum, got a big weight that actually makes the mechanism work.
27:49And so it needs doing every single week.
27:53Once the clock is wound, the team can then check it's set to the right time.
27:57Right, this is how we adjust the time.
28:00Put the spanner on that nut there.
28:03And if I turn it, you should see the hands move.
28:07So somebody hopefully out there will shout to me and tell me when we're spot on.
28:12Keeping time on the railway is clearly important.
28:15But back in the 1800s, it was common for towns to set their own time.
28:20As the railway expanded in the 1850s, Greenwich Mean Time was adopted as standard.
28:26And platform clocks, including ours, have been set to GMT ever since.
28:31OK, John, take it back a couple of minutes.
28:34OK.
28:35Keep going.
28:37Slowly.
28:38Slow.
28:39Yeah, that's lovely.
28:41That it finished?
28:42Yep, we done.
28:44As well as looking after the station clock, the team are responsible for big jobs like paintwork,
28:50maintenance and keeping the platforms tidy.
28:54But they also sometimes get the chance to be a bit creative with the station decor.
28:59The bunting goes in and out the box probably several times a year.
29:04And depending on who's put it away, sometimes it's tangled and sometimes it's not.
29:09It's all about making the station look lovely for visitors and giving them a good customer experience.
29:14It's what drives us all, creating a great day out for visitors while we get to indulge in our love of steam engines.
29:21Right, we're going to have to move back just a little bit.
29:29That will do.
29:30You'll go reaching too far, Tim.
29:38There we go.
29:39My father worked on the railways as a locomotive fitter and really I guess I caught the bug from him.
29:46I first visited the railway in 1977 just after I graduated and I always promised myself I'd like to volunteer
29:54but due to life circumstances that wasn't really possible until I retired, which I did six years ago.
30:03I was a supply chain specialist so it was really quite a stressful job.
30:10There we go. Job done.
30:12So it's just a real pleasure to come, meet with some nice people, have some banter and do something that's really worthwhile.
30:21Well, I think that looks all right.
30:24Yeah, it looks much better now. It matches nice and tight.
30:28Very nice.
30:30It matches everything else so I think it's 10 o'clock in time for coffee.
30:34Great.
30:35Yep.
30:44While the guys at Pickering have a well-deserved coffee break, further down the track,
30:48the Gulfland Station Group are cracking on with their list of jobs.
30:52The 1920s-style platform with its tea room and souvenir shop is looked after meticulously by the team.
30:59But the flower beds, which adorn both sides of the platform, are cared for by Anne,
31:04who's been a volunteer since she was a young girl.
31:07Try not to get too modern a plant.
31:11You know, I'll put a few grasses in which I'm not too sure they wouldn't have had those in those days.
31:16This is a rambler rose.
31:19I think it's called seagull.
31:22It's a white single flower.
31:27Very good scent.
31:29And it's out around May, June.
31:34Anne started volunteering with her mum and dad right at the start of the North Yorkshire Moes Railway.
31:40The whole family started on the railway about, obviously, over 50 years ago.
31:46My elder brother started first, but my dad was a joiner, an industrial model maker.
31:52And my mum followed my dad, so she loved gardening.
31:56That's where I've got my love of gardening.
31:58And we started here because nobody was doing it.
32:02It was a bit of a ruin.
32:05For Anne, like many of our volunteers, the family connection to the railway runs deep.
32:11This seat is a memorial to both my parents.
32:16And they love the area so much that their ashes are scattered at the top of the moor overlooking the station.
32:28And we've got the two plaques there.
32:31It's in memory and appreciation of William Clifford Wetherill, 1908 to 1978,
32:38whose love for this railway is shown in all his work.
32:42This seat is donated by his friends.
32:46And this is my mum's plaque.
32:48In memory and appreciation of Margaret G. W. Wetherill, 1920 to 2012,
32:56she loved and tended these gardens, which are her everlasting memorial.
33:03I still get a bit emotional with my mums.
33:05I think of them all the time.
33:06You do with your parents.
33:07You think they're going to last forever, but they don't.
33:10As well as the day-to-day jobs, the station groups get involved in bigger restoration projects
33:22that unfold over years of hard work.
33:25One of those projects is this North Eastern Railway ballast brake wagon, dating back to 1914.
33:33It would go out on the rails to assist in track maintenance,
33:36and it's a real piece of railway heritage.
33:38And the team has spent the last six years lovingly restoring it.
33:43You begin to get a feel for heritage when you're here,
33:46of keeping things going instead of just scrapping and replacing.
33:50We're so used to that in our world.
33:52And I think it's very important that when you've got something which is recoverable,
33:58you should try to do that.
33:59And it's our pet project at the minute for the station.
34:03I don't think it'll ever run again, but it'll look lovely.
34:06It really is a constant source of pride that the railway attracts such a dedicated bunch of skilled folk from all over the country.
34:14Well, the volunteering is really about forming the team.
34:18I live in the village, but a lot of these guys come a long way.
34:21They've got to call for a good reason.
34:23And the fact we've got good jobs challenging things to do, and that idea of pride that restoring things,
34:30that is one of the main things that makes volunteering very worthwhile for them.
34:35And it's that sense that you're not just improving things,
34:40but you're actually making things possible that would not be if there weren't these volunteers to come and do it.
34:46Don't listen to it.
34:48No, don't listen to it.
34:49Say cheese.
34:56I'm approaching the end of the journey on the footplate of Tornado,
35:01steaming across the Yorkshire countryside between the village of Levisham and the market town of Pickering.
35:07Set me fire.
35:08Our passengers always enjoy the unique steam engine soundtrack.
35:16The connectors between the carriages, the sound of the steam going through the valves,
35:20the letting off of the steam release valves on the engines.
35:25And actually, it's almost like breathing, you know, when you hear the engine goes past.
35:30Pickering is a busy little town, right at the foot of the North York Mores.
35:38It's known for its 13th century castle that's right beside our railway track.
35:45The castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1069,
35:48and used as a hunting lodge by a succession of kings,
35:51who no doubt took advantage of the surrounding moorland.
35:54And as we get close to the town itself, I need to start looking out for the signals.
36:02So we've got a green on the repeater,
36:05and that repeats the signal round the corner.
36:13Green.
36:14Green.
36:15Nice one.
36:16Green signal.
36:17So it's important on an engine relaying the signals
36:19as we're heading towards Pickering.
36:22I'm just going to put a drop of water in the boiler now,
36:25especially as we'll be stopping soon.
36:34We've also got a road crossing here,
36:36which is all about keeping a look out
36:38and being aware of what's happening on the railway.
36:44So literally an engine like this, even with seven coaches on,
36:47fairly working.
36:48From a fireman's point of view, this is easy.
36:50Now you can have a moment to sit down and enjoy it.
36:54That pretty much sums up my day.
36:56What a privilege to get out on Tornado.
36:59And I'm never happier than when I know our visitors are having a blast themselves too.
37:05So we're always working hard to make sure even more people can experience the joys of steam trains.
37:11And just a few days ago, we had an exciting visit from some special passengers.
37:18Thanks guys for coming today.
37:22It's not raining. It's a bonus, isn't it?
37:24Guide dog puppies, Charlie, Mitch, Alma and Scrumpy,
37:28from a charity that specialises in training guide dogs for the blind and partially sighted.
37:33They're learning to navigate the world with independence,
37:37something we want everyone to feel when they travel on our line.
37:41Like us, they're supported by hundreds of volunteers,
37:45all helping them gain experience they need to grow into life-changing companions.
37:50Well, today we have been invited very kindly to bring our puppies onto the train
37:56so we can see how they enjoy going onto a train,
37:59see that they can relax and that they can cope with the environment.
38:02Partnerships like this are a wonderful chance for us to see how guide dogs in training
38:06help people who are partially sighted or blind
38:09and learn how we can make the railway welcoming for everyone.
38:13Today they will have their first ride on the steam train with lots of new sights, sounds and smells.
38:21Socialisation like this helps them become confident, adaptable and ready for the next stage of training.
38:28So one thing we also need to consider today is the whistle that occurs before they set off,
38:33maybe using a bit of kibble or a toy that we've got with them.
38:36Give them a stroke just so that when that whistle does occur and the steam sets off,
38:40it doesn't make them jump and that they can be nice and happy and relaxed with it.
38:45OK?
38:46It's experiences like this that help prepare the pups for the day they become someone's guide dog.
38:52We give out our dogs to guide dog owners to enhance their independence
38:57and if what we do helps the dogs get through the process
39:00so that the guide dog owners can live as normal life as possible, then we're doing a good job.
39:05As they take a few poor steps towards that mission,
39:08it's a great chance to practice the skills they will need for their future role.
39:11Lovely!
39:13This is Mitch and he's 14 months old and he's about to go to big school any minute
39:20and I'm sure he'll enjoy his ride with his friends and colleagues today.
39:23Wow! Look at the train!
39:27Yeah! Good boy! Good boy! Good boy!
39:36With a whistle and a puff of steam, it's time for their first big journey.
39:42Come on then, young lady! What a good girl!
39:45Well done! Good boy! Good boy! Good boy!
39:51That's lovely! Brilliant stuff!
39:54That's it! Just get a bit of kibble out and encourage him under!
39:58That's it!
40:00Wonderful! Good boy!
40:02Wonderful!
40:03Good boy!
40:04And Mitch is trying to just understand what the noises are.
40:23He's normally used to going on normal diesel trains that are quite quiet.
40:27So it's just constant reassurance to make sure he's okay so that he knows he's not in danger.
40:34Good boy! Well done! Good boy!
40:37The pups are travelling 20 minutes along the line from Levisham to Gautland
40:41in the opposite direction to my journey today.
40:44It's just enough time for them to get used to the train without tiring them out.
40:49How's Charlie doing?
40:50It's Charlie!
40:51He's Charlie!
40:52It's Charlie.
40:53It's just Charlie.
40:54He's insane.
40:55Wherever you go.
40:56Wherever you go, he's very chilled out.
40:58Brilliant stuff.
40:59Well, his tail's wagging now and he's very, very happy.
41:02Yes, you are.
41:03Well done!
41:04You are very clever, aren't you?
41:06Yes, you are.
41:08He's very lovable.
41:09He is, isn't he?
41:10Very, very lovable.
41:11Yeah.
41:12He loves it.
41:13Thank you for all the time you're putting into him.
41:15It's invaluable.
41:16It really is.
41:17It's the best thing I've ever done in my life.
41:18Really?
41:19Yeah.
41:20Well, you get lots of it.
41:21Yeah.
41:22Not quite.
41:23When they go on to full training, he makes a life-changing for anybody who's blind.
41:30That's the best thing about it.
41:41I've been a puppy raiser for five years now.
41:43We've got Alma at the moment.
41:45She's eight months old.
41:47Alma's never been on a train before, let alone a steam train.
41:50So this is a really great experience for her.
41:53She loves going out and about.
41:55And she didn't hesitate to get on board the train.
41:58She loved it.
41:59When we look at matching a dog with a client, we're going to take into account how much
42:10time they spend on public transport.
42:12So if we can cover as much as possible at puppy raising, then we've got a better idea of which dogs are going to excel in that area later on as adults.
42:21The puppies have coped well with the journey so far, but now they are facing a real test, getting off at the busy and noisy platform at Gautland.
42:30Right, we need to start walking through the carriageway now, guys, to get off at the other end.
42:34So if you keep the dogs behind you, and if you follow me, well done that young man.
42:40Well done.
42:41As they climb off the carriages, the puppies seem to have enjoyed the experience.
42:48So we've got sensory overloads, so we've got steam coming out, we've got doors banging, we've got people waiting to get on and people getting off.
42:58It's all happening, all at once, and the dogs are having to take all in their stride, and they're again smashing it, doing really well.
43:09Today's training has been a huge success.
43:11Now it's time for the K9 students to put the paws up.
43:15Right, okay guys, if you want to set yourselves down, jackets off, have the pups nice and relaxed, and then you all deserve a coffee, most definitely.
43:24Well done, everybody. They've done brilliantly, really pleased with them.
43:29It's been nice to get all the puppy raisers together and get on the train and see all the countryside of the North York malls again.
43:36The last time I was here was when I was six, so it's bringing back some memories.
43:42So yeah, I think it's been fab, and I think the dogs have been really well behaved, and they've all taken it in their stride really well.
43:49It's been a lovely day for the puppy raisers and for us, teaching our pups how to behave and how to accept these environments is vital.
43:56And then hopefully when they go out to be guide dogs, they can take their owners anywhere and everywhere and have an amazing time out and enjoy their lives together.
44:03I've got to concentrate now as we come into Pickering and make sure I'm looking out for all the lights and signals.
44:18Yeah, so we're coming up to Newbridge Crossing. I want to pass this to the signaller.
44:27Thank you!
44:31Right.
44:32And approaching the station itself, they come thick and fast.
44:39White flashing light.
44:41White flashing light.
44:42Crossing clear more times.
44:44Crossing clear.
44:45There we are, across that.
44:49Two whites for number one, so the indicator's telling us we're going into platform one.
44:54Half us.
44:55We're nearly here.
44:56The end of the line.
44:57And I'm going to open the firewall door so I don't put too much smoke into the station.
45:11There we are, under the roof of Pickering Station.
45:14The end of the line.
45:16So I really enjoyed that. We've handed it over to another crew now.
45:26They're going to get their go on the engine.
45:28But that was a, you know, really nice experience to have a go on a thoroughbred steam engine.
45:33You know, for me, coming into the platform and seeing all of them people on it was just amazing.
45:39That's what it's all about.
45:40People coming to see it and experience it.
45:42So, well happy.
45:43Tornado just needs to keep working her magic for a few more days before she goes back to her home in Darlington.
45:51But if today is anything to go by, I'm feeling optimistic.
45:55But now it's on to my next job, which is Steam Gala.
45:58It's like our World Cup.
46:00Big event for us in a few weeks.
46:01So my focus is making sure we deliver that event.
46:04We want everyone to have a great time.
46:05It's going to be super busy.
46:06So I'm going to go get myself a cup of tea and then I'm going to crack on with gala planning.
46:13Next time, I attempt to bring a 60 ton steam engine 300 miles across land and sea from the Isle of Wight.
46:23The North York Moors reveals hidden secrets of railway history.
46:28And everything is on the line as the gala approaches.
46:33Keep in mind, as it looks.
46:34Keep in mind.
46:35Keep making sure you stay.
46:37Thanks, guys.
46:38.
46:40I'll see you later.
46:41The Institute for us today.
46:42We hope they're making out.
46:43We hope they can get you.
46:44Welcome to the Institute for the Arts for Professionals.
46:45We'll see you later.
46:46Bye-bye.
46:47Bye-bye.
46:48Bye-bye.
46:49Bye-bye.
46:50We'll be happy to see you later.
46:51Bye-bye.
46:52Bye-bye.
46:53Bye-bye.
46:54Bye-bye.
46:55Bye-bye.
46:56Bye-bye.
46:57Bye-bye.
46:58Bye-bye.
46:59Bye-bye.
47:00Bye-bye.
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